BEN MORE LODGE HOTEL, CRIANLARICH, FK20 8QS A S GCommercial Offers Around £425,000 (Freehold) Substantial business proposition with 4-Star (STB) restaurant and 3.5-Star (STB) letting accommodation Strategic trading location on the A85 close to the intersection with the A82 (the arterial route from Glasgow to Fort William) Includes 11 quality en-suite letting lodge rooms, traditional bar and spacious restaurant High levels of trade from year-round business generating sound profitability with further earnings growth potential Spacious grounds contain 3 static caravans and a separate lodge with potential to expand letting accommodation subject to planning consents An excellent opportunity for either first- time buyers or experienced operators DESCRIPTION The Ben More Lodge Hotel is an attractive property with the original aspects dating around the 1950’s. This impressive business comprises of a stone building with slate roofing which houses the bar, restaurant and kitchen plus an additional five detached timber lodges where the letting accommodation is located. The business is well sign-posted on the A85 within the village of Crianlarich and benefits from splendid views to the front over the rolling countryside towards Ben More. Its prime roadside frontage with prominent trading location provides an easy to locate establishment benefitting not only from pre-booked accommodation but also a high level of passing trade. The business operates year-round generating a positive level of turnover from the 11 quality en-suite letting rooms along with meals and wet sales through the restaurant and bar. There is potential to generate higher turnover with expansion of letting accommodation subject to planning permissions. The business trades with the accreditation of a 3.5-Star (STB) rating for the letting accommodation and a 4-Star (STB) rating for the restaurant. These accolades present a true walk-in operation for new owners to trade on a turn-key basis. This well-maintained property combined with exceptional trading prospects, spacious outdoor seating and service areas presents a remarkable trading prospect for new operators. The present owners bought Ben More Lodge Hotel in 2010 and it has offered them a rewarding lifestyle to date. It is their desire to relocate closer to family and reduce business interests that brings this property to the market. LOCATION Crianlarich is at the junction of the A85 and A82 providing easy access to Glasgow, Perth, Oban and Fort William in turn making Ben More Lodge Hotel a perfect location for trade across the West Highlands. Crianlarich is also set at the North- Western extent of the beautiful Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. This strategic location ensures that the area is supported by a large influx of visitors in the peak trading season plus a steady through put of business travelers and winter tourists during the quieter months. Ben More Lodge Hotel is close to the West Highland Way, one of Scotland’s best known walks, which runs from Milngavie in the South to Fort William in the North. The halfway point of the walk is at Tyndrum making Crianlarich an ideal place to have an extended rest. The property is surrounded by an abundance of breathtaking scenery. The village is situated beneath several Munro peaks, including Ben More, Stob Binnein and Cruach Ardrain. There are 50 Munro’s within 1-hours’ drive, therefore, providing a number of walking and climbing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. The wider region offers a great many activities from fishing to skiing, sailing to golf etc. Ben More Lodge Hotel is well positioned for guests wishing to walk to the nearby shop, pubs, restaurants etc. Crianlarich train station is conveniently located 0.5 miles away offering some of the most beautiful train journeys in Scotland plus the sleeper train to London. There is primary schooling in Crianlarich with secondary education in Callander (30 miles away). THE PROPERTY PUBLIC AREAS Situated within spacious grounds overlooking rolling hills to The main building houses the bar and restaurant where guests the south, access is via two tarmac roads leading to an open check-in on arrival. Access is gained via the front door with plan site. The original aspects of the business date back to the disability access that leads into a hallway and thereafter to the 1950’s while the chalets were built in the 1980s. The letting bar and lounge area. These areas can seat around 20 people. accommodation has recently been refurbished throughout to The bar is of timber finish with traditional tartan decorations bring it up to an exceptional standard. The main building is of with four under counter storage fridges, eight taps and a coffee traditional stone construction presenting an attractive detached machine. The bar also benefits from a homely stone feature property under a combination of corrugated tin and corrugated fire place providing a welcoming atmosphere to customers on onduline roof with guest seating area to the rear. There are three arrival. static caravans to the side of the property which are currently From the bar access is gained into the restaurant area through used as staff and owner’s accommodation. There is a separate glass doors which has the facilities to cater for 42 covers with timber lodge within the grounds which was previously used as potential to increase subject to new owners requirements. The an additional guest room housing three bunkbeds along with restaurant has also been recently redecorated providing a fresh en-suite facilities. This has been converted into a lounge area feel while still maintaining the traditional Scottish ambience. for the owners and could be used for either purpose depending The lay out of this area could also be used for functions should on the new owners’ desires. the new owners wish to venture down this avenue to increase turnover. To the side of the bar is the pool / games room which leads onto the guest patio area to the rear of the property via glass patio doors. The pool room provides access to the male bathrooms with female bathrooms located off the bar area. LETTING BEDROOMS Ben More Lodge Hotel currently has 11 newly refurbished (2016) and well-appointed letting bedrooms configured as follows: Room 1 - Double shower en-suite Room 2 - Double shower en-suite Room 3 - Double shower en-suite Room 4 - Family (double plus bunk beds in separate room) shower en-suite with built in storage Room 5 - Family (double plus bunk beds in separate room) shower en-suite with built in storage Room 6 - Double shower en-suite Room 7 - Double shower en-suite Room 8 - Double shower en-suite Room 9 - Double shower en-suite Room 10 - Double shower en-suite Room 11 - Twin/ triple shower en-suite All lodge rooms benefit from private outside seating areas with views of the natural surroundings with guests parking facilities within the grounds of the lodges. The rooms are attractively furnished and decorated to a high standard throughout. All include satellite television and tea/coffee hospitality trays. SERVICE AREAS / PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION Within the main building is the large fully commercial kitchen. There are two access points via the bar serving area or customer seating area to allow service to be carried out with ease during peak hours. With most fittings recently upgraded the kitchen provides ample space to cater for guests and customers. Set to an open plan layout the kitchen has a large service and prep area in the middle of the floor with pot wash and storage areas to the rear. There is an additional entrance which can be gained externally via the grounds to allow deliveries of food and drink to be handled with ease with no disruption to guests. Leading off from the kitchen is a well-appointed office space along with a maintenance room and the bar cellar which has substantial storage facilities and is also easily accessible from the bar area. The current owners are utilising one of the four static caravans within the grounds for their own personal use. The caravans are decorated to a high level with two bedrooms, bathroom, lounge, dining area and kitchen. To the side of the guest lodges is an additional lodge which has previously been set up as a A three bunk bedroom with shower en-suite. The current owners have converted this into a lounge area which the owners could use for their personal use or alternatively re-configure into additional letting accommodation to increase profitability. S GROUNDS Ben More Lodge Hotel is a substantial property benefitting from a prime roadside trading position. There is parking for circa 30 Commercial cars within grounds, this space also has the ability to house G coaches or campervans with three electrical connections located Hotels outside the bar and restaurant. The area to the front of the property is mainly laid to hard standing for ease of maintenance Guesthouses and an elevated grass area. To the rear of the property there is a large wooden decking area (50 x 36ft) with additional space Licensed which could house supplementary accommodation subject to DIRECTIONS OFFERS Retail planning permissions. There is a large shed within the grounds The property is set within the village of Crianlarich All offers should be submitted in writing to ASG which is currently used for storage, however, it would also be Offices – see map insert. Commercial Ltd with whom purchasers should ideal as a drying room or for bike storage for guests. register their interest if they wish to be advised of Industrial SERVICES EPC RATING a closing date. The property has an energy rating of tbc. The subjects benefit from mains electricity and water, electric Units for cooking with a septic tank drainage.