* An attractive fully licensed inn located in a beautiful trading position on the NC500.
* Offers a traditional snug bar with 3 attractive and individual letting bedrooms, external seating areas and generous guest parking.
* Trades throughout the year generating good profitability and turnover.
* Various exciting development opportunities available.
* Pleasant and comfortable owners accommodation together with well - equipped service areas.
**Description**
Strathy Inn is a striking detached property. Parts of the Inn date from 1810
when used as a coaching inn and subsequently extended to meet the growing
demand for accommodation and food. The business is located on the stunning
northern Coast of Sutherland at the side of the A836, and benefits from being
directly on the North Coast 500. With wild but beautiful scenery, beaches and
wildlife on the Inns door step, this is a tranquil and peaceful place. The
front of the building looks south with stunning view to hills and moorlands of
Sutherland, whilst the North of the building overlooks the North Atlantic and
to Orkney.
The Inn is well - known and enjoys a good reputation for the quality of the
provision offered. With a great standing as evidenced on various review sites,
there is no doubt that the purchase of the Strathy Inn offers an exciting
opportunity. The business normally trades year - round, with the majority of
trade occurring during the main tourist season (April to October). This
welcoming Inn offers guests a high standard of accommodation in both the bar
areas. The 3 letting bedrooms are all individually finished to a beautiful
standard. The opportunity to relax in a comfortable outside space makes the
most of the beautiful location.
**Reason for sale**
Having bought the property in 2007, the current owners successfully developed
the business into the successful operation it is today. It is now their wish
to retire that brings this attractive business to the market.
**Profitability**
Whilst the vendors currently run the business under capacity through choice,
the Inns profitability levels are improving. The vendors have continued to
invest in the property while still achieving solid profitability levels.
**Location**
The Inn is situated within the village of Strathy, on the A836, located above
the mouth of the Strathy River and overlooking some stunning scenery including
Strathy Bay. The site is very centrally situated on the North Coast 500 and
ideal for any John O Groats to Lands End challenge avoiding main roads. The
village of Strathy emerged in the late 19th century as the north coast was
populated by families forcibly displaced during the Highland Clearances.
Strathy is located close to the town of Thurso. This region has long been a
Mecca for the outdoor sports enthusiast. Not only does the area host an
impressive range of top fishing rivers and lochs, it is a prime destination
for all outdoors sports, particularly surfing and many watersports. The
northern coastline boasts an impressive array of spectacular beaches, hill
climbing, walking and family activities - all of which have greatly increased
in popularity with the success of the NC500 touring route.
Sutherland is an area rich in wildlife, home to herds of wild red deer, sea
life and a multitude of bird species amongst others. Ornithologists are
frequent visitors to the county, attracted by the golden eagle, hen harrier,
peregrine falcon, short eared owl, puffins and numerous other birds of prey;
all of which can be seen at the nearby Forsinard rspb site or local coastal
areas. There are many tourism options to keep visitors interested and
entertained. From John o'Groats to Durness on the North West coast, Strathy is
perfectly centrally located for easy access to both coastlines. A day trip to
Orkney is within easy reach, as are numerous sites of archaeological interest
and visitor centres such as the Castle of Mey. The nearby town of Thurso
offers a wide range of shops, restaurants and facilities. The United Kingdom
Atomic Energy Authority facility at Dounreay and adjacent site of hms Vulcan
brings a large number of business travellers to the area, along with regular
visitors via the renewable energy sector with both sse and multiple private
wind power companies seeking to build in the area. Primary School aged
children go to Melvich Primary School, some 4 miles away with Senior Schooling
at Farr High School (North Coast Campus) in Bettyhill, some 12 miles away.
**Trade**
The current owners do most of the work themselves, using occasional/casual
staff in the summer months to supplement their input where required. The
business has usually operated all year except closing for a few days here and
there to allow the owners some down time. Currently the owners open the bar 6
days a week and trade 2 of the 3 bedrooms with changeovers 6 days per week,
with a Monday off. The bar and restaurant have been opened for limited hours
over the winter months. Limiting the trade, provides opportunities to develop
more profit should the new owners wish to do so.
**The property**
The Strathy Inn is a substantial detached villa set in spectacular rural
environment. Originally built around the 1810 as a coach house, it has stone
walls and a slate roof. A number of extensions and some internal
reorganisation has occurred over the years to convert the Inn into what we see
today. There are a number of parts to the building, working from west to east;
the barn, the letting accommodation, owners’ accommodation, bar / restaurant,
5 bed house and the bothy. Each of the developed areas are well considered and
arranged, with the undeveloped areas offering great development opportunities.
The surrounding grounds are laid to grass or gravel to facilitate low
maintenance.
_Entrances_
On arriving at the Inn, you enter through a very pleasant lobby, which is
bright and airy with a reception desk and soft seating. This area catches the
sun throughout the year and is a relaxing place to enjoy the winter sun. The
lobby opens into the main circulation corridor, which provides access to the
letting accommodation, Breakfast room and the owners accommodation.
The bar / restaurant is accessed through a separate door directly from the car
park.
_Barn_
The barn is currently used for storage. It measures circa 7. 6m x 4. 2m
internally and would ideally make a 1 bed studio self - catering unit. The
building is currently neither insulated nor lined and there would be some work
required to bring it up to standard. However, the structure does appear to be
sound, so presents an opportunity should new owner desire. We understand that
there is capacity with the main building to serve this property.
_Letting Accommodation_
Entry to the very well - presented guest accommodation is to the left of the
main entrance with access to the Breakfast room and to the ground floor and
the first floor bedrooms. In total, the Inn offers 3 individually decorated
letting bedrooms which are all light and inviting. Please note that bedroom 3
is not currently traded to suit the owners trading model. Each of the lovely
rooms are well - equipped with attractive furniture. All rooms have comfortable
beds and are centrally heated. The in - room services include a TV, free WiFi,
hospitality trays, complimentary toiletries and hairdryers. The letting rooms
are configured as follows:
Room 1 - Ground floor king size with shower en - suite
Room 2 - First floor family room with a double and a single with en - suite
shower room (please check spacing of this word on the schedule)
Room 3 - First floor small double bed with private shower room
The room bookings are made through the web freetobook platform Expedia and by
email.
_Owners Accommodation_
The current owners accommodation is located in two separate areas within the
south east end of the building. The accommodation comprises 3 pleasant double
bedrooms and a spacious bathroom on the 1st floor whilst on the ground floor
there is a comfortable lounge, office and domestic kitchen. There is access
into the commercial kitchen from the owners accommodation, facilitating easy
movement between the various areas of the building.
_Restaurant / Bar_
To the east of the building there is a lovely restaurant / bar area which can
accommodate 16 to 20 covers. This is a delightful traditional area in which to
enjoy your breakfast or evening meal. The attractive restaurant / bar is
freshly decorated with comfortable tables and chairs and can also be used for
functions. To the side of the area there are male and female toilets. There is
the opportunity, if the owners wished, to increase the restaurant capacity by
including the current owners lounge.
The bar area is located to one end of the restaurant and provides plenty of
space to house a well - equipped bar. This area provides storage for bottled
drinks and benefits from direct external access for ease of deliveries. The
main spirit / alcohol store is located close by within the property.
_5 Bed House_
This building was originally built in the 1970s and was taken to a certain
point before construction stopped. At one stage the building was wind and
water tight with the 1st floor being occupied by staff. The ground floor has
never been occupied. At some point before the current owners bought the
property the building was allowed to deteriorate. Currently the windows,
possibly significant sections of the roof, and some internal areas which had
previously been fitted out, will require to be reconditioned. This building is
typical of its time, being constructed from a timber kit with a rendered
blockwork and external weather skin with a tiled roof. The weather skin does
appear to be sound. Anyone taking on this property with the view of completing
the development would be advised to have it surveyed and then verified with
the statutory authority as to what would need to be undertaken to complete the
build.
_Bothy_
The bothy is a stone construction lean - to, attached the to 5 bed house. It
measures approximately 3. 7m x 3. 9m and represents a further development
opportunity for new owners as it could be developed into a “king suite” type
of self - catering room. We understand that there is capacity with the main
building to serve this property. As it stands, the enclosure needs a
reasonable level of work and it is anticipated significant work would be
required on the roof but it is a further opportunity to develop the business.
_Static Caravan_
There is a 2 bed traditional static caravan which has been used as letting
accommodation in the past. It appears in reasonable condition so could be
easily freshened up, thus possible providing staff accommodation, if desired.
The bedding is set to a double and twin. The caravan has an open plan kitchen
/ dining / lounge area and shower room.
**Service areas**
The Inn benefits from an appropriately sized commercial kitchen. The kitchen
is equipped with a 6 burner gas range stove with oven under a canopy exhaust,
surface mounted grille and microwave. There are separate prep and a wash up
areas. Within the wash up area there is a dishwasher. The kitchen has ample
work surfaces, servery and storage . There is a direct connection into the bar
/ restaurant making service simple.
Throughout the building there is good level of distributed storage for linen
and cleaning materials and hoovers etc. The Inn has its own laundry at the
rear.
**Grounds**
The property has road side signage within the grounds to assist guests find
the Inn. Access to the Inn is via a gravel car park on the south side of the
building. This area has capacity for more than 10 cars whilst still having
plenty of the space for delivery truck manoeuvring. To the east of the car
park in a low walled garden with views all round, this is mainly laid to
grass. Picnic tables have been placed here with easy access to the bar .
To the east side of the Inn building there is a second enclosed area, which
acts as the front garden to the house. This is mainly grassed, with limited
perimeter planting and can also act as a delivery entrance to the kitchen and
bar, with bin storage. To the rear of the property there is a grassy section
with a washing line mounted along the top of a grass bank running along the
north edge of the property. The lpg gas bottles and oil storage tank are both
located here, as is the static caravan. The rear is accessible through a metal
gate on the west end of the property.
**Services**
The property benefits from mains electricity, oil heating and hot water, lpg
gas for cooking, mains water and dedicated septic tank drainage. The inn
complies with environmental health requirements, has a fire alarm system and
is Wi - Fi enabled throughout.

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