Two of the Highlands’ best-known independent hospitality businesses, The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe and The Grog & Gruel in Fort William are up for sale.
The Clachaig Inn, a former coaching inn dating back more than 300 years, is set in the heart of Glencoe, beneath the surrounding peaks – made famous in Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban – it sits just off the old road to Glencoe village and takes its name from Clachaig Gully, which climbs steeply to the summit of Sgurr nam Fiannaidh.
The inn has been run by the Daynes family since 1984, when Peter and Eileen Daynes took it on and began a major programme of modernisation. They increased the number of ensuite letting rooms to 23 and upgraded both the inn and its self-catering chalets. Their sons, Guy and Ed, joined the business in 1990 and have continued to develop it ever since.
The Clachaig became known not only for its location and atmosphere but for its focus on cask-conditioned ales and live music. Its FebruaryFest and Octoberfest beer festivals are mainstays of the calendar, with regular live music sessions taking place throughout the year.
Alongside its hospitality offer, the inn also became home to the long-running Winter Mountain Safety Lectures, established by Peter Daynes with the BMC. Now in their 40th year, the talks remain free and continue to attract hillgoers from across the country.
The Grog & Gruel, also owned by the Daynes family, sits on Fort William’s High Street, just 20 miles away. Set over two floors, the venue includes a traditional bar, first-floor restaurant, commercial kitchen and a beer garden to the rear.
Ed and Guy Daynes said, “Clachaig is more than just an inn, it’s an institution. There’s always been something very special about the place and the experiences that it creates. It’s been a family home for three generations of the Daynes family, and deciding to sell has been the hardest of decisions to make, but the time has come to find a new custodian.”
They added, “Things have come a long way over the years, from operating a ten-week season with just two full time staff, to the year-round multi-million-pound business that it is now.
“Our drive behind opening The Grog & Gruel was to bring great beer and good food to Fort William, and there’s always been a great synergy between the businesses. Running the two businesses side by side made so much sense, adding a further dimension to the business.
“It feels like the right time to step back, and the search begins for someone else with the vision and passion to take the business onto its next chapter.”
Christie & Co has been instructed to market both businesses and, Brian Sheldon, Regional Director – Hospitality at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale with Associate Director Tony Spence, said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire The Clachaig Inn and The Grog & Gruel, both of which have been owned and operated by the same family for over 30 years.
“Whilst trading as two separate businesses, the same ethos has been applied to both. Their locations, in Glencoe and Fort William, allow both businesses to benefit from trade from the many visitors who are attracted to this popular part of Scotland. There is great benefit to owning and operating both businesses, which are similar but offer something different: The Grog & Gruel offers more of a ‘town’ appeal, while Clachaig offers a much more rural outlook and feel, while both are renowned for the same quality of food and hospitality.”
The businesses are being marketed as a package, with a combined freehold asking price of £4.5 million.
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