Malvern Guest House 54 Kenneth Street, Inverness, IV3 5PZ

Excellent guest house with 8 en-suite letting bedrooms and spacious 2-bed owners accommodation in a great trading location within walking distance of Inverness City centre.

• Attractive 3-Star VisitScotland bed and breakfast business set in the ever-popular City of Inverness.

• Exceptional trading location within walking distance of the City centre and the wide range of facilities on offer.

• Well-established and substantial property with 8 modern letting bedrooms and attractive public areas.

• Excellent opportunity to purchase an easy to operate and highly profitable seasonal trading entity with capacity to increase trading.

• Spacious and attractive owners' accommodation including 2 bedrooms (1 double and a single) plus ample off-road parking.

DESCRIPTION

Malvern Guest House provides a superb and rarely available business opportunity set within the heart of Inverness. This property dates from the c1870s and is reflective of its Victorian origins with lovely cornicing and ceiling roses. The property has been extended over the years to present an 8-bedroom trading unit with ample 2-bedroom owners' living space and a lovely conservatory to its front. The subjects have a substantial footprint and unique trading aspects with private parking within the grounds. Trading from a most convenient location for guests wishing to walk into the City centre, Malvern is located on one of the main thoroughfares in Inverness benefiting from good signage. The guest house has undoubted appeal as an easy-to-operate trading entity and has been developed to a high level by the current owners. The business and property are presented to the market in walk-in condition with a strong trading platform and undoubted growth potential. The sale of Malvern Guest House represents an exceptional opportunity for new proprietors to own an impressive property and operate a lifestyle business set in the Highlands Capital, Inverness.

REASON FOR SALE

Owned and operated by the vendors since 1990, after 28 years of trading Malvern Guest House, they have now reluctantly brought the property onto the market to retire from the hospitality sector.

TRADE

This is a well-established and successful guest house, trading on a limited seasonal basis through choice by the vendors. The business opens in May until September, operating only 6 of the 8 potential letting bedrooms. Despite these self-imposed restrictions Malvern generates a commendable level of turnover with a good level of profitability. The business has a sound reputation for the quality of rooms and personal service. The guest bedrooms are all presented to a comfortable and modern standard with en-suites. The business has an easy-to-operate business model offering a continental style breakfast only which is popular with guests. However, there is a modern kitchen should new owners wish to revert to the traditional cooked breakfast option. In addition, the present trading model also restricts many guest to a minimum 3-night stay which reduces workload in terms of room turnarounds, laundry etc.

Malvern would be a suitable acquisition for those with no formal hospitality experience but who wish to trade a commercial venture. The business utilises VisitScotland and has a solid trading reputation as reflected on a number of review websites, plus a 3-Star grading. Malvern does not have its own website at this time and new owners may see this as an area of development. Many of the guests are repeat visitors who visit the Highlands for many reasons be it business or to enjoy the great outdoors. Tourists include walkers, winter-sports enthusiasts, cyclists, bird-watchers motorcyclists, golfers and fishermen plus there are a number a specific events that draw in visitors.

LOCATION

Malvern Guest House is ideally situated centrally to Inverness City centre, highly convenient for guests wishing to walk to nearby shops, restaurants etc. The city itself has extensive facilities for visitors boasting two golf courses, an excellent indoor swimming complex, cinema, bowling and ample opportunity to enjoy evening entertainment at a range of venues which include Eden Court Theatre. Nearby Cawdor Castle offers a taste of Scotland's medieval past while Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre is an ongoing testament to Bonnie Prince Charlie's final futile attempt to gain the throne in 1746. Whether it be a Whisky Trail, a boat trip on Loch Ness or a visit to one of the many accessible Scottish castles (including Inverness Castle), the property is an ideal base being within easy reach of a wide range of visitor attractions. The City of Inverness has benefitted from much expansion over the past few years and has a full range of social and welfare facilities associated from a modern city.

Inverness is also a popular city in which to live with a vibrant cultural offering and the presence of many social and entertainment venues close-by. The city also has excellent communications links (bus and rail station, with the airport 15 minutes' drive away). Schooling in Inverness is plentiful plus UHI provides a wide-range of tertiary level courses. The welfare amenities in Inverness are also excellent with a major hospital plus many outreach services.

THE PROPERTY

The original property is of traditional stone construction under a pitched slate roof and dates from c1870. The property is set to 2 floors and is presented in generally very good condition. In keeping with customer demands, the public areas are pleasantly furnished and attractively decorated.

PUBLIC AREAS / LETTING BEDROOMS

The main entrance is located to the front of the house which leads into a spacious reception hallway. From the reception guests access the charming breakfast conservatory which comfortably seats 10 guests. Leading into the house there is a further inner reception area with bedrooms 1 and 2 off plus a secondary dining room which could comfortably seat an additional 10 guests. The house has 8 potential letting bedrooms but only trades 6 currently. In-room facilities include Free-view TV, hospitality trays, bottled water, hairdryers, heated towel rails, towels, ample storage etc. The quality of decor and furniture is of a good standard with bedrooms being configured as follows:

Ground Floor

Room 1 - Double standard - currently used by the owners

Room 2 - Double with en-suite shower room - currently used by the owners

First Floor

Room 3 - Double with en-suite shower room

Room 4 - Family (double and single) with en-suite shower room

Room 5 - Family (double and 2 singles) with en-suite shower room

Room 6 - Double with en-suite shower room

Room 7 - Double with en-suite shower room

Room 8 - Family (double and 2 singles) with en-suite shower room

PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION / SERVICE AREAS

An attractive aspect of this sale is the private and spacious owners' accommodation set to the rear aspects of the property. The owners' have a 2-bedroom (double and single) unit with a large shower room. There is a well-presented and functional kitchen with ample wall and floor mounted storage units. Off the reception hallway is a comfortable and spacious owner's lounge and throughout there is ample storage. The owners also presently utilise two bedrooms for their own use on the ground floor; one with en-suite facilities. New operators with an extended family could continue this operation or, should they so desire, bring these rooms into use as additional letting accommodation generating greater turnover.

GROUNDS

Malvern Guest House has an entrance off the main road via a shared drive to a spacious tarmac area with 6 parking spaces, marked to bays. The business also has parking permits for road-side parking for larger vehicles and over-spill. The property has well-maintained and attractive garden grounds to the front and there is a shed to the rear which is used for bike storage plus as a laundry and utility space. There is a small private sitting area in the garden.

SERVICES

The subjects benefit from mains electricity, gas, water and drainage. The property is double glazed and has gas central heating. There is Wi-Fi is available in the house.