Andy Murray’s New Hotel Is Running Into A Stumbling Block

Written by: Staff on 24th May 2013

Andy Murray’s New Hotel Is Running Into A Stumbling Block

epa03691077 British tennis player Andy Murray serves the ball to German Florian Mayer during their second round match of the Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica pavilion in Madrid, central Spain, 07 May 2013. Murray won 6-4 and 7-6 (5). EPA/Emilio Naranjo |

Scottish conservation groups look like throwing a monkey wrench in the works of Andy Murray’s ambitious project to turn a derelict Victorian pile into a posh hotel in his native Dunblane.

After much celebration this spring when it was revealed that the multi-millionaire world No. 2 had bought Cromlix House as a fixer-upper hotel for nearly $3.5 million, the other shoe dropped on the plan.

Murray’s plans call for transforming the historic property into a 15-room luxury hotel, creating 40 local jobs and doing it all in a year before the Ryder Cup is played in the area. Now, the plans are up in the air.

The sticking point is a 400-year-old stone sundial and gate posts which are set to be moved, a plan which has drawn the ire of local heritage groups. The sundial may be old, but it was moved 93 years ago and installed at the premises without any problems.

Scottish media have reported that Historic Scotland is “disappointed” with the lack of detail in a planning application. They want a “stone expert” drafted in for another opinion. Another body says it has the right to inspect the premises for two to three months, surely putting the entire effort well behind schedule. It’s all in the hands of local government now, certainly another time-consuming process.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Andy Murray hotel, Cromlix House, Dunblane tennis news, Scotland tennis news, Scottish tennis news