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Price:
Freehold - £599,000
Location:
Scotland, Caithness, Thurso
Business Type:
Food Service Businesses, Hotels, Pubs
The Central Hotel is a most substantial property prominantly located within the centre of Thurso. Its excellent trading position is ideal to make the most of the diverse customer base, enjoying a strong level of trade across all three traditional revenue streams of beverage sales, catering and accommodation. With a consistently high level of local support and a most positive reputation, the Central Hotel is a landmark business within the town. The trading ethos of the business is to meet the wider needs of the whole community and visitors alike through the provision of a wide range of services on differing levels. Income is drawn from a number of trading elements. Café Cardosi is a smart and contemporarily fitted out coffee shop with bright modern fittings serving a simple fayre of hot and cold beverages complemented by a wide range of home-made cakes, pastries and a selection of snack foods. On the ground floor is Top Joe’s Bar, a bright, well appointed and up to date venue which offers a wide range of local ales and an offering of excellent ‘pub grub’. With 2 active pool teams, a range of music nights and sporting events, Top Joe’s Bar has a strong local support. Located on the first floor is the Hotels main bar, which has a family theme. With its own soft play area and bouncy castle, the Central Bar is a favourite for both kids and parents alike. Saturday nights are disco nights and again many other entertainment events frequently take place including Karaoke/music sessions etc. The restaurant adjacent to the Central Bar has 56 covers and is a popular day time and evening dining choice. This facility has excellent quality tables and chairs with a most pleasant décor and ambience. The 10 letting rooms are all located on the second floor and offer good quality en-suite budget accommodation. The ‘modus operandi’ of this well orchestrated business is to offer good food and excellent service to a simple operations plan.
The business community is highly active in the county resulting in a strong year-round demand for accommodation supplemented by tourists, sporting enthusiasts and the many other visitors who travel to the area. With its prominent location in the heart of the town the Central Hotel is well supported locally. These business streams, from those who enjoy the quality of the Hotel’s cuisine, the comfortable accommodation and the warm welcome, converge to form the strong business that exists today. Each of the Hotels trading elements offer a traditional Highland welcome making this a profitable business resulting in this satisfying and successful self-employment opportunity.
The busy town of Thurso sits on the far north east coast in the county of Caithness on the Thurso River estuary. Caithness has long been a mecca for the field sport enthusiast. For salmon anglers, other than the renowned Thurso River itself, the rivers Wick, Forss, Halladale and Helmsdale are all a comfortable trip by car for those seeking a bit of variety. Not only does the area host this impressive range of top salmon rivers, it is a prime Scottish destination for wild brown trout angling. Lochs Watten, St Johns, Heilan and Toftingall are but a few of the fisherman’s favorite choices from a plethora of wild hill lochs. Sea fishing from Scrabster harbour offers an alternative to game angling, these opportunities combining to offer year round sport. Golfers are also well provided for with 18-hole courses at Thurso itself, nearby Wick and Reay.
Caithness is an area rich in wildlife, home to herds of wild red deer, the otter and the Atlantic salmon amongst other species. Ornithologists are frequent visitors to the county, attracted by the golden eagle, hen harrier, peregrine falcon, short eared owl, numerous other birds of prey and both black and red grouse. Puffin on nearby cliffs, red throated divers on a hill loch or perhaps corncrake sightings on a local farm are other attractions. Such are wildlife numbers that a sustainable cull of deer and sporting birds brings stalkers and shooters to the area, generally in the winter months. As for the tourist, there are lots of options; a day trip to Orkney, numerous sites of archaeological interest, the Castle of Mey to the north, Dunrobin Castle to the south or perhaps a day out to John O’Groats. The final income stream for the Hotel is driven by the thriving Caithness economy which includes the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority facility at Dounreay and adjacent site of HMS Vulcan which bring a large number of business travelers to the area. The nearby thriving harbour at Scrabster is another asset to the area bringing revenue from fish landings, commercial / cargo vessels and passenger liners. With an increased focus upon renewable energy the County has attracted various wind farms and is set to lead the field in harnessing energy from the tidal flows of the Pentland Firth.
The Hotel has been within the current owner’s family for approximately 40 years. Many of the public areas have benefitted from internal investment through a programme of refurbishment and renovation. The investment in the structure and fabric of the building is clearly evident and improved facilities have in turn created a strong demand for the Hotel’s services and an excellent resultant turnover. The owners believe that there is additional scope for further improvement under fresh stewardship. However, with a number of ongoing business commitments they have decided to focus on their other business interests.
The Property
The Central Hotel is of traditional stone construction under a slate roof with the extensive subjects arranged over 3 floors. The property is located on a corner location at the confluence of Traill Street and Olrig Street; a most convenient trading location.
Public Areas
The entrances to the Hotel’s trading elements are all accessed from street level. With excellent signage the premises enjoy a most prominent position. Top Joe’s Bar is exceptionally well appointed with extensive use of wood paneling both on the walls and the bar servery. A mix of soft seating, traditional tables and chairs plus contemporary stools to seat approximately 40 makes this bar most welcoming. This well maintained venue has both tiled and wooden floored areas coupled with clean décor, large windows to the main street make this bright and spacious bar appealing to a wide range of clientele. The horse-shoe shaped bar provides an excellent servery space and facilitates the display of a wide range of local beers, wines and spirits. With a pool table and four large TVs (showing Sky channels) the bar is considered to be one of the best bar venues in Thurso. The bar has superb contemporary lighting both ceiling and wall mounted lights. The use of wooden blinds adds to a cosy ambience. On the first floor is the Central Hotel Bar which can seat about 60 and also features a pool table and a number of TV viewing points. With gaming machines and a Juke Box the bar is a popular place for music/karaoke nights. This facility also has a soft children’s play area with a bouncy castle and provides a favourite family day out. The Central Bar also has a raised area of seating which adds some additional character to the space. The long bar is ideal for busy weekend evening trade and is easily capable of coping with service to the restaurant adjoining the bar. The dining facility has seating for 56 covers with wooden tables and chairs. The decor is of a high standard with carpeted floors and this is a comfortable and popular restaurant. Both the Central Bar and dining area have excellent natural lighting making this commodious space bright and most welcoming.
Café Cardosi is situated at the corner of the building with twin aspect views affording good natural light which is complemented with tasteful up-lighting and attractive ceiling lights. This modern coffee shop is set out over two levels. The first is fitted out with an up to date servery with excellent display counters, some refrigerated, displaying a good selection of quality products. This lower level which is accessed via double doors from the street is fitted with contemporary functional bistro-style furniture and wall mounted shelf-tables with high stools. With tiled flooring and excellent décor this part of the café is well set-up to provide a quick customer turn-round. At the rear of Café Cardosi is a small flight of stairs leading to a slightly more compact room with soft leather sofas and low coffee tables. With a wooden floor, good use of mirrors and wood paneling this customer area provides a more relaxing location to enjoy the refreshments on offer. Customer restroom facilities are situated on the ground floor, in Top Joe’s Bar and in the Central Bar on the first floor: these are maintained to a very high standard.
Letting Bedrooms
The Central Hotel has 10 letting bedrooms to sleep 20 guests (2 triples, 1 double, 5 twins and 2 singles.) These are all well-appointed and most comfortable with modern facilities. All bedrooms have modern en-suite wet-walled shower/bathrooms rooms, central heating, tea/coffee making facilities and colour TV. There are cots and ‘Z-beds’ to accommodate small children. All bedrooms are located on the second floor.
Private Accommodation
The current owners do not presently live on the premises but there is capacity to reconfigure current space to accommodate new proprietors with some minor refurbishment without impinging on the income earning capacity of the business.
Service Areas
The Hotel has an abundance of service areas and storage space. To the rear of Top Joe’s Bar is a small store which leads to an open yard which in turn provides access to the extensive cellar and secure wine store. Above the cellar is a second floor which couples as a store and workshop area which is accessed from the yard. Beer and other deliveries are facilitated through a street level access which allows goods to be received without interfering with customer service. Within Café Cardosi are two small but perfectly adequate food preparation areas and a neat store.
On the first floor is a very well equipped commercial Kitchen with numerous ancillary pre-areas. This highly productive commercial catering facility has a fully vented extract system. There is a wash-up area with commercial dish-wash system, still room and laundry facilities. There are adequate refrigerated storage facilities with walk-in freezers.
The business has adequate storage facilities on the second floor with a room being used as a general store. There is a very substantial area set aside for management use including an extensive office suite, kitchenette and W.C. facility. Moreover there is a very large room presently used to house un-used furniture etc which could be better utilized as owner’s accommodation after some refurbishment.
Services
The subjects have mains electricity, gas, water supply and drainage. The business benefits from gas fired central heating supplemented by fixed and free-standing electric heaters. The property is fully compliant with fire regulations and has an internal security system.
Licenses
The business holds a license under the licensing Scotland Act 2005. A copy of the operating plan will be made available to interested parties post viewing.
Trade
The Central Hotel is a profitable business with strong turnover. Full accounting information will be made available to seriously interested parties subsequent to formal viewing.
Price
Offers over £599,000 are invited for the heritable property complete with goodwill and trade contents (according to inventory), excluding personal items. Stock at valuation.
The busy town of Thurso sits on the far north east coast in the county of Caithness on the Thurso River estuary. Caithness has long been a mecca for the field sport enthusiast. Wick 16, John O’Groats 19, Inverness 102.
The main arterial A9 stretches from Inverness to Thurso on the north coast. The Hotel is easily found in the centre of town
Open all year. Hours according to licence
Letting Bedrooms
The Central Hotel has 10 letting bedrooms to sleep 20 guests (2 triples, 1 double, 5 twins and 2 singles.) These are all well-appointed and most comfortable with modern facilities. All bedrooms have modern en-suite wet-walled shower/bathrooms rooms, central heating, tea/coffee making facilities and colour TV. There are cots and ‘Z-beds’ to accommodate small children. All bedrooms are located on the second floor.
Private Accommodation
The current owners do not presently live on the premises but there is capacity to reconfigure current space to accommodate new proprietors with some minor refurbishment without impinging on the income earning capacity of the business.
North Yorkshire
£ 750,000
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