Glasgow bar operator buys Dumbarton hotel

Licensed Leisure, the Glasgow-based bar and club company, has made its first major foray into the hotel market with the acquisition of Dumbuck House hotel on the edge of Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire.

The hotel, which is one of the best-known country house hotels in Western Scotland, was sold by Knight Frank in an off-market deal from a guide price of around £2m.

Previous owner Major Hotels and the McGroarty family retain the Abbotsford hotel, also in Dumbarton.

Dumbuck (which means "hill of the deer" in ancient Scots) lies in the Old Kilpatrick parish of Dumbarton close to the A82, the main tourist route north. It is mid-way between Glasgow's International Airport and both Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

"Whilst we have been based in Glasgow and its suburbs for many years, primarily in bars, clubs and property, we are delighted now to have made our first serious venture into the hotel business with the acquisition of Dumbuck House," said Iain Donaldson, managing director of Licensed Leisure.

"We very much see Dumbuck being our entry into the quality hotel market where we would like to build up a small chain within the next few years."

By Angela Frewin