A popular hotel on the 'whisky island' of Islay is to expand with additional rooms and a new bar and restaurant.
Glenegedale House , between Bowmore and Port Ellen, will add four bedrooms, while existing rooms will be upgraded.
This expansion follows the hotel's acquisition by owners Emma and Graeme Clark, who had previously rented Glenegedale House for six years.
The Clarks bought the hotel from Emma's parents, who had run it as a guest house.
The couple moved from Glasgow to take over in 2013. Graeme is a former manager of the famous Buttery restaurant in Glasgow and a customer relations manager at the city's Marriott Hotel.
The couple said the opportunity to buy the building has given them the freedom to reinvest capital into the business. The business has received a £410,000 funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland to support its expansion.
The hotel opened in February 2013 and now attracts around 1500 guests every year. The owners said the additional rooms and renovation will enable the hotel to continue growing revenues from guests.
Emma is involved in tourism on the island and is supporting plans for Islay’s first food,drink and foraging festival – Taste Islay and Jura – in partnership with Argyll and Islay Cooperative and Islay and Jura Marketing Group.
There are now nine working whisky distilleries on the island following the official opening of Ardnahoe earlier this year.
Emma said: “Islay is a beautiful island with a vibrant community within a tranquil environment. We’re pleased to say Glenegedale House will continue contributing to that for years to come.
“It has been a wonderful experience building a business on the island I grew up on and to see it go to strength to strength as more visitors come to stay every year, has been fabulous.”
