Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa given green light for £3million 4 star redevelopment

An extensive redevelopment project has begun at a prominent Mull hotel, despite the pressures of the pandemic.

Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa, owned by Crerar Hotels, will undergo major redevelopment commencing October 2020 with the aim of re-opening to the public in April 2021.

Over £3million will be invested by Crerar Hotels to bring a brand-new four-star hotel to the island with 72 luxury bedrooms and bathrooms. The renovation will also result in the creation of 20 new full-time jobs at the hotel.

A collection of generously proportioned, individually designed sea view suites will be added to the hotel’s portfolio, complimenting the venue’s extensive spa offering and 17 metre swimming pool.

The hotel’s public areas will also be fully refurbished with a new restaurant and two bars being added to the venue’s offering. A new external balcony adjacent to the restaurant will treat guests to panoramic views across Craignure Bay.

The grounds surrounding the hotel are also due for redevelopment, with a full remodelling and landscaping planned throughout the gardens right down to Craignure Bay. The hotel will also be adding a range of outdoor facilities including an ‘enchanted fairy walk’, sea deck dining, boat moorings and external spa treatment rooms.

This multi-million pound redevelopment brings Crerar Hotels’ total investment into its Hotels to over £11 million. The project on Mull follows extensive renovation at Oban Bay Hotel, Oban, which was recently awarded 4-stars by the AA and an AA Rosette.

This news has been welcomed and supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, allowing the hotel’s renovation plans to kick off ahead of schedule.

Chris Wayne Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels said:

"Crerar Hotels is excited to announce the redevelopment of Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa. Commencing this month, the hotel will receive a total face lift and major internal renovation. This will bring the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa up to the level of our other flagship hotels including Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, Oban Bay Hotel and Golf View Nairn, all of which have received a significant redevelopment in the past few years.

“Crerar Hotels are injecting over £3million into this project resulting in the development of 20 new jobs across the hotel. I’d like to thank the ‘Mullochs’ for all of their support over the years and Highland and Islands Enterprise who have provided us with additional funding, allowing us to start work ahead of schedule. In spite of the current external economic environment, Highlands and Islands Enterprise continue to support local businesses and the region. Their backing has unlocked this opportunity for us and, in return, will help continue to push the hospitality offering on Mull.

“The first stages of the multimillion pound plan to create the brand new coastal resort are already underway and we look forward to welcoming guests back to the hotel in April 2021.”

Paddy Crerar CBE, Chairman of Crerar Hotels added:

“In Scotland, we have the greatest natural assets in the world. We all have the opportunity to make the most of those assets regardless of the circumstances that challenge us. If there is good to come from the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s surely the lesson that we must take every chance to make the most of what we have on our doorstep. It makes us more determined than ever to press on with our plans, committing £3m to Mull backs that ethos. As does (as an independent Scottish business) having committed close to £12m reinvesting in Scottish hospitality in the last 20 months. Every penny well considered and well spent, even in these dark days we can already see that commitment bearing fruit.

“Maybe, more importantly, there are many people worried for their employment future just now; many just starting out in their career who might now be wondering what’s ahead for them. We want hospitality In Scotland to be something that is more than an option; we want it to be their first choice. When the folk of Mull or wider Argyll take a look at what we are doing at the hotel I truly believe they will see something they want to be part of and rightly so.

“Mull is a place of enormous depth and beauty. Be it the extraordinary breadth of so easily accessible wildlife from orca to sea eagles or its amazing diaspora or its bloody clan history, all the way through to the most spectacular wild harvest of the highest quality ingredients grown, foraged and created from land and sea. It’s an unbeatable combination and it’s little wonder it gets such high ratings from everyone who experiences what is in offer. Our job is to and will be delivering hospitality to match this world-class Island experience.”

“Covid-19 has been incredibly tough, however, we’re not letting that slow us down as we push ahead with our extensive renovation project at Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa. This redevelopment sees Crerar Hotels investing a further £3million into the collection, bringing our total recent investment to over £11million across the venues, a significant amount for an independent Scottish business.”

“We’re very positive that Scottish tourism will continue to flourish as we move into 2021. Mull is a fantastic destination for everyone, from foodies to historians and hill walkers to water sports fanatics, so our belief in the island and the hotel is unwavering.”

Crerar Hotels was founded by Paddy Crerar CBE. The collection includes five luxury hotels and two inns. Each of the seven properties prides itself on its unique personality which is inspired by its location and history. The portfolio comprises of Balmoral Arms (formerly Deeside Inn), Ballater, The Glencoe Inn & Gathering, Glencoe, Golf View, Nairn, Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa, Craignure, Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, Inveraray, Oban Bay Hotel, Oban and Thainstone House, Inverurie.

Crerar Hotels are also well known for their unique community approach. More than half of the company distributable profits are gifted annually to local causes and charities through their Crerar Trust which is chaired by Paddy Crerar CBE.

For more information on Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa, visit: https://www.crerarhotels.com/isle-of-mull-hotel-spa/