A new hotel has been opened in the Highlands by an Indian entrepreneur who complained about the standard of hospitality on offer in the area following a visit last year.
Sanjay Narang opened Rokeby Manor on the outskirts of Invergarry in a Victorian country house after deciding to move into the hotels business in the Highlands to show locals “how it should be done”.
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Following a hiking trip in the area last year with his sister Rachna, Mr Narang complained of paying up to £120 a night for dirty rooms, no hot water and microwave meals served by a carpenter.
Rokeby Manor is the first opening for the Black Sheep hotel group which Mr Narang has created from three hotels he bought for around £3 million and invested £9m in refurbishing.
“We fell in love with the Highlands on our first visit and decided to make this considerable investment, ensuring that other visitors can be as impressed as we are with the beauty of the area,” said Mr Narang.
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After relocating from India to Glengarry, Mr Narang expects to draw on expertise acquired running a big group of hotels and restaurants in Mumbai to help Black Sheep make an impact in Scotland.
Mr Narang developed the 13-bedroom Rokeby Manor in the building that was home to the former Craigard Guest House, with his sister leading on design issues.
The hotel restaurant will offer what is billed as authentic Indian cuisine.
It will be followed later this summer by the opening of The Whispering Pine Lodge at Spean Bridge, formerly the Letterfinlay Lodge, and the refurbished Cluanie Inn.
Overseas investors have bought a range of Scottish hotels since the Brexit vote in 2016, which has been followed by a fall in the value of the pound.
MGM Muthu of India bought five hotels including the Newton in Nairn and the Alexandra in Oban in 2017.
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