The Royal Marine Hotel in Brora is to reopen to the public following its £1.6 million refurbishment.
All 21 bedrooms have been given a complete makeover, with the public areas on the ground floor also having been renovated.
Guests can look forward to new food and drink concepts, including the opening of The Curing Yard Restaurant, the Megan Boyd Bar and the James Braid Lounge.
Huge investment in hotel group
Owned by Highland Coast Hotels (HCH), the Royal Marine has been refurbished as part of the company’s substantial investment and modernisation programme.
Earlier this year it received a £4.45m publicly-backed investment as a loan from the state-funded Scottish National Investment Bank to boost jobs and training for the local area.
HCH’s portfolio also includes the Plockton Inn, Kylesku Hotel, Newton Lodge, in Unapool, and the Royal Golf Hotel Dornoch.
The Royal Marine Hotel will open its doors to the public on June 25 and local building contractors, joiners, suppliers and materials have been used wherever possible during the renovation.
The new interiors have a “Scandi-Scot” feel, ensuring the theme centres on the story and history of Brora.
Supporting local businesses
The design was developed by ISA, an Edinburgh-based architecture and interior design practice, while the new beds have been sourced from Inverness-based Highland BlindCraft Beds, an ethically run business employing and supporting local people.
Other local artisans featured include Sutherland-based master potter Fergus Stewart and Sheenagh Harrison from nearby Tain, who creates Highland-inspired seascapes.
This is in addition to Skye-based digital artist Cath Waters, whose inspiration comes from travels around the Highlands, Islands and west coast of Scotland.
Bespoke tartan blankets in all the bedrooms are from The Tartan Blanket Company.
HCH chairman David Whiteford said: “The redevelopment of the Royal Marine Brora is as much for the local community as it is for visitors to the north Highlands of Scotland.
“As always, much of our focus has been on showcasing, wherever possible a wide range of locally created products from suppliers, who, in turn, try and source their raw materials as close to home as possible.
“We see this refurbishment as an opportunity to play our part in helping to fulfil the ambitious and exciting ‘vision for Brora’.
Community group set up
Throughout the refurbishment HCH was in touch with Brora locals, thanks to the setting up of a community liaison group to gather feedback on the company’s plans.
Anybody living within a 15-mile radius of the Plockton Inn will also be eligible for the new Highland Coast Hotels Community Card which provides a 30% discount in its restaurants and bars all year round and a 50% discount for an overnight stay at any hotel, from October to March.
Local resident and community group member Deirdre Mackay said: “The Royal Marine Hotel has been completely transformed.
“Whilst tastefully preserving its traditional charm and character, the refurbishment has certainly delivered the ‘wow factor’ and it’s great to see this standard of facility on our coast.”
Conversation