The entire contents of the Breadalbane Hotel in Kildonan were sold at auction for £5000 last Thursday as the owner prepares to redevelop the land.
Around 200 locals attended an auction at the hotel looking to buy a souvenir.
Everything inside the building was for sale including the brass reception bell, all internal doors, bar stools and an antique carved dresser.
Speaking exclusively to The Arran Banner, owner Derek Callaghan explained why he had decided to close the hotel.
He said: ‘A five bedroom hotel just isn’t feasible any more. We decided that in this village there isn’t enough trade to compete with another bigger hotel. Yvonne, the previous owner, asked us to honour the bookings that she already had in place. We have done that and now it is time to move on.’ Since Mr Callaghan bought the Breadalbane in April this year, there has been much discussion about the hotel’s future. The owner confirmed that the site would be used to build flats. Plans will be submitted for the redevelopment within the next few weeks,’ Mr Callaghan said, ‘These will include flats, some of which will be sold on but I will hold on to a number of them for rental purposes.’
The Banner spoke to former owners of the Breadalbane Hotel, Yvonne O’Reagan and John McBride. John said: ‘We have not heard what the new owners are planning. When you sell something you can’t tell the buyer what to do with it. If they are going to knock it down and build houses it would be a sad day. The bedrooms were completely refurbished only seven years ago and the sun lounge and decking is just a couple of years old. I’m very sad to hear that’s what might become of the old place.’
The property extends to the field in front of the hotel and John reckons that a developer could easily build eight houses with an access road and good-sized gardens. The Kildonan Keys development next door to the Breadalbane still has three of the 12 houses unsold.
Rod and Anne Acuna, owners of the only other hotel in the village, the Kildonan Hotel, were at the sale on Thursday. They said: ‘Breadalbane closing is not really good news for us. How do you suddenly increase the size of your kitchens, take on new staff and find accommodation for them?’ Many locals left the auction with a bargain purchase. A whole bathroom suite including toilet, shower, sink and tiles sold for just £2.
The low prices were due to the fact that the purchaser had to remove all their goods from the premises by noon the next day. The most expensive item was a Foster Walk-In Chill bought for £560 by another island hotel.
A former Breadalbane regular bought the bar and the Breadalbane Hotel sign for £20.
Mr Callaghan was asked what had happened to the pool table, which was listed in the itinerary. Apparently it was only leased but he said: ‘The auctioneers said to put it in the schedule. It always puts another 50 customers on the attendance.’
By 11am on the Friday morning the hotel was just a shell with even the carpets removed.
