Dubai-based Dutco Group, supported by investment and asset management firm Align Partners, has bought Scotland's luxury Mar Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort out of administration.
Dating back to 1826 and first opened as a hotel in 2004, it is the first sale of the property in almost 20 years. In that time, Mar Hall has hosted celebrities including Beyonce, Harry Styles, Brad Pitt, Liam Gallagher and Ed Sheeran.
A £15 million investment package has been committed to expand and upgrade the property, with the duo saying it will reposition it as an "international destination".
It added that early design plans are for a "sympathetic restoration, capturing the essence of Mar Hall’s rich Scottish heritage, while adding a modern twist that will see it rival world-class resorts such as Cameron House and Gleneagles".
Mar Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, located in the 240-acre Earl of Mar Estate in Bishopton near Glasgow, is a five-star hotel with an 18-hole championship golf course and spa next to the River Clyde.
Dutco Group and Align Partners said they are in conversations with architects and interior designers, with appointments expected in January for commencement of the refurbishment in early 2024. Plans include an expansion to the resort with luxury woodland lodges, improved leisure and spa facilities, and a refurbishment of the guest rooms and public spaces.
Business will continue as normal, with all pre-existing wedding, leisure and business bookings retained.
Dutco Group has worked on the JA branded luxury hotel properties in Dubai, Maldives and Seychelles.
Align Partners has been involved in recent refurbishments of The Morrison Dublin, Curio Collection by Hilton, Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa in Liverpool, and Powerscourt House & Gardens in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Nelson Gibb, group chief executive officer at Dutco Group, said in a statement: “This is our first hotel acquisition in Scotland which is recognised as a world-class destination for hospitality. This deal is testament to our confidence in Mar Hall and what we believe we can achieve through targeted and creative investment."
Chris King, managing director at Align Partners, added: “Mar Hall has strong fundamentals which made this hotel a solid proposition for us. In addition to its physical assets, its striking setting, coupled with its previous reputation for excellence, position it well for redevelopment."
The joint administrators at EY were advised by Savills and Addleshaw Goddard LLP. Mar Hall Hospitality Ltd (a Dutco Group company) was advised by Pinsent Masons.