WORK to transform Andy Murray's new hotel is set to start next month – and will include a new tennis court.
Murray, 25, bought Cromlix House in Kinbuck – five miles from his home town of Dunblane, Stirlingshire, in February for £1.8 million. The world No 3 tennis star wants to transform the 15-bedroom property into a five-star hotel, creating 40 jobs.
It is hoped the Victorian former country house hotel, where Murray's older brother Jamie married Alejandra Gutierrez in 2010, will be open in time for the Ryder Cup at Glen-eagles in September 2014.
Planning applications for the hotel have been lodged with Stirling Council for changes including the formation of a tennis court and a new parking area.
Murray's grandmother yesterday said she was overjoyed the tennis star would re-open the hotel, because it has played a big part in their family life.
Shirley Erskine said: "I think it's great that Andy is back making links with his hometown. We had our silver wedding anniversary at Cromlix way back when it first opened as a hotel and my husband Roy was the optician in the town. We went back and we had our golden wedding there too. Then Jamie got married there.
"Even now we walk our dog in the grounds to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. It's a vast estate on our doorstep, and you just feel away from it all. Never in our wildest dreams did we ever think it would be in the family. It's lovely. We have so many happy memories of the hotel. Now I'm sure there will be many more."
Listed building consent is also sought to relocate gateposts, linked to the new parking, and a 400-year-old sundial, put up at the hotel some time after 1920. It once stood near Dunblane's old police station.
Hotel group Inverlochy Castle Management International will manage Cromlix on Murray's behalf. Managing director Norbert Lieder said: "This will be a straightforward refurbishment with no major layout changes. There will be small changes to the entrance and we are increasing the number of car-parking places and creating a larger restaurant.
"We already have a tennis court but we are changing its location because there are a lot of trees in that area and leaves are a problem."
Asked if Andy would be marrying his long-time girlfriend Kim Sears there, Mr Lieder replied: "I don't know if he is getting married. But we are doing the work on his behalf. It is his hotel at the end of the day."
In Dunblane, butcher Graham Fleming, 48, said: "It will be excellent for the local community. Andy will have the passion needed to make it a success."
Graham Houston, SNP councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, said: "Cromlix House was always an important addition to the hospitality and tourism offering in and around Dunblane and I think there was great sadness when it closed.
"Bringing it back to operation is great news and that news is enhanced by the fact that it is being done by someone like Andy, who is using his tremendous success to invest back into the community."
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