Scottish licensees buy Ballater hotel

Experienced licenses Gordon and Susan Bell have bought the three-star Glen Lui country house hotel in Ballater, Royal Deeside.

The Bells, who previously ran the Crook Inn in Tweedsmuir, Scottish Borders, bought the property off a guide price of £850,000.

The hotel occupies two acres of landscaped gardens that overlook Ballater Golf Course. Ballater itself sits on the River Dee and is near Balmoral Forest.

Most of the hotels 19 en-suite bedrooms (including two suites) are housed in the main building, while the remaining nine are found in pine lodges to the rear of the property.

Glen Lui has a 54-seat restaurant, two function rooms for 24 and 14 delegates and a detached owners' bungalow with four bedrooms (including a master bedroom), a large dining area, a bathroom, a kitchen and an office

The Edinburgh office of Christie + Co sold the property at the request of previous owner, Marion Hart.

By Angela Frewin