A dilapidated north-east hotel is being given a fresh lease of life – as a respite for fishermen.
The Bayview Hotel in Macduff has been closed for many years, but now new owners have big plans for it.
Susie Seui and husband Jim Perry purchased the building last October along with their son Matthew and plan to run it as a charity and social enterprise.
The first change to the old hotel, which is situated across the road from Macduff Harbour, is that it will now be called The Bayview.
Inside, the first floor will be dedicated to fishing.
Two rooms on the floor will be large enough to house an entire boat crew if they get stuck in Macduff.
There will also be another couple of rooms for fishermen who are injured or unwell, and thus can’t go to sea, to rest and re-cooperate.
The accommodation will be part of the social enterprise.
It will cost £20 a night for the first week and £15 a night thereafter and money generated will go towards the upkeep of the building and fund charitable projects on the ground floor which include a sensory garden, an arts and craft workshop and a museum.
There will also be a vending machine cafe and a community meeting room on the ground floor.
The new owners keen to try and help the local community and are hopeful that the revamp will attract more people to Macduff.
Miss Seui said: “We want to give to the community.
“This can be a respite for fishermen stuck in port for any length of time.
“And this is also aimed at tourists and people visiting.
“There have been comments made that you go to the aquarium and you see the harbour and then what can you do?
“Here’s something that is safe and familiar.
“And it will be a place where people can come in and sit down and it won’t cost anything.”
The property requires considerable work inside and the owners are applying for a grant from Aberdeenshire Council’s regeneration fund.
They have also been assisted by a group of eight volunteers in doing up the building.
Miss Seui said: “The impact the volunteers have made has been tremendous, they work so hard, and we’re so grateful for them coming along and help us.”
