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A boarded-up hotel on Brodick seafront could see a new lease of life starting in spring with proposals announced for a luxury refurbishment.
The Douglas Hotel, more recently known as the McAlpine Hotel, has been boarded up since Easter but moves are being made by Douglas Hotel Management Limited to return it to its former glory.
The company is seeking approval from North Ayrshire Council for part demolition, refurbishment and development of the existing hotel.
Architect David McMillan said: ‘Because the hotel is a listed building we don’t know yet what will be allowed, so these are really just proposals.
‘We plan to demolish most of the derelict buildings to the rear, which will reduce the density of the hotel by about 50 percent.
‘We will then re-introduce a green garden at the back with mature trees. All of it is really to restore the building to its former glory.’
Last April owner Sean Henry, who lives in St Petersburg in Russia, told the Banner the hotel’s name would be changed back to the Douglas Hotel containing luxury suites.
‘This hotel will have top-class facilities such as air conditioning and under-floor heating. Everything we do is of the highest specification.’
Sean said he wanted it to be a welcoming family hotel.
He said: ‘I plan to make the Douglas child-friendly and hopefully open all year round.’
However, with so much to do Mr McMillan said they would not be open for at least one more year, and if the plans were approved work should begin in spring 2008.
David McMillan said: ‘Obviously with a listed building of this kind it will take about three months to get an answer from the council and then Historic Scotland must also give the project the go-ahead. We hope to start work around about April next year.’
Sean moved to Arran when he was 12 and attended Arran High School. His younger sisters Elaine and Janice went to Corrie Primary School and Arran High. Both women are involved in the project and he describes them as his business partners.
Most of his business is in apartment buildings and office blocks in St Petersburg.
Apart from the Douglas, he owns a couple of hotels in Estonia, one a 600-year-old medieval building in Talinn with 37 rooms and a presidential suite of 2,500 sq ft.
