The company hired to operate the newly refurbished Lews Castle on Lewis said it plans to create 25 jobs as it prepares to welcome 50,000 visitors a year.
Specialist leisure and travel company Natural Retreats has launched the ground floor of Lews Castle as a visitor attraction and luxury wedding and conference venue since it opened doors on the £19million refurbishment project.
Founded in 2006, Natural Retreats operates over 30 destinations across the US and Europe, including the the Inn at John O’Groats. In 2014, Highlands and islands Enterprise (HIE) also chose the firm to operate Cairngorm Mountain on a 25-year lease.
Lews Castle was built in the mid-1800s by Sir James Matheson and overlooks Stornoway Harbour. Owned by the Comhairle, the category A listed building laid empty for a decade before the massive project began to open it again to the public.
As well as being home to the newly-opened Museum nan Eilean, operated by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, where six of the world famous 12th century ivory Lewis Chessmen are now on permanent display, the castle has four restored ground floor rooms – the ballroom, dining room, library and morning room. The Castle’s Storehouse Café and Outfitters Store are also now open seven days a week.
The ground floor public rooms can be hired for fully catered weddings, conferences and events. From early 2017, the castle’s upper floor will also offer luxury self-catering accommodation, made up of 23 en-suite bedrooms, and configured as 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.
Matt Spence, founder of Natural Retreats said: “Lews Castle offers something for everyone, whether you are seeking an event venue with a difference, or a Scottish castle wedding in a beautiful location, or just looking for lunch made from local produce. We are proud to attract even more people to this spectacular corner of the British Isles, and showcase all that Lewis and the other islands of the Outer Hebrides have to offer.
“With direct flights from Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports to Stornoway that take around an hour or less, Lews Castle is more accessible than you might think.”
