An Inverness publican is offering a very rare double.
He has put his iconic Phoenix Ale House on the market only weeks after he said he was looking for a buyer for his busy Castle Tavern.
George MacLean said: “I am not retiring, just planning on taking things a little easier, because after all, I have been in the hospitality business for over 50 years.”
He has had the Tavern for about 10 years, and about a year ago bought back The Phoenix Bar which he renovated and renamed The Phoenix Ale House.
The Phoenix is now more refined and less of a working man’s bar. It majors on fine ales from 10 taps, and has just been voted CAMRA best Inverness pub.
The Phoenix at the bottom of Academy Street, along with the neighbouring former HQ of historic engineering firm AI Welders, are set to feature strongly in plans by civic leaders to regenerate the area.
The top floor of the Phoenix has architectural plans drawn up for four flats with various grants available, but no planning application has been lodged yet.
Mr MacLean added: “I am open to offers for a joint sale or individually. The Phoenix and the building next door are both iconic and listed buildings and there is a lot of support for them featuring in smartening up this end of Academy Street. There is also the prospect of student accommodation being built nearby.
“I am looking to do something different, which might involve the licensed trade, but I also want to spend more time on my houseboat and sports yacht I have on the Thames.”
The Phoenix Ale House is being offered for sale at offers around £545,000 and The Castle Tavern for offers around £1.1million.
Paul Hart, director of sales at ASG Commercial in Inverness who are handling the sales said: “The Tavern is an established business in a prime location on Castle Street opposite Inverness Castle and has a turnover of just under £1,000,000. This is the type of business that attracts a lot of interest and we expect a lot of inquiries.
“The planned opening of the castle to the general public puts the Tavern in an ideal spot to capitalise on this huge tourist attraction.”