The final phase of a project to restore a Kirriemuir hotel back to its former glory is about to be completed.
A huge amount of work has taken place at the Airlie Arms since the Ewart family bought the property in November.
The B-listed building required extensive repairs to its roof and the interior needed significant attention which wasn’t helped by a pipe bursting on the day of the sale.
The bar reopened in May, followed by the hotel’s 10 rooms and, earlier this month, its restaurant.
The last phase of the work is repairs to the function suite, which will be officially opened on September 4.
It has been given to the Kirriemuir Festival free of charge to hold ceilidhs across three nights.
Owner Dilys Ewart said she has been overwhelmed at the reaction from people in Kirriemuir.
“We’ve had unbelievable support from the community,” she said.
“We held a small private function in May just to test out the bar and things were going so smoothly we decided to open to the public.
“I posted a single message on Facebook and that night we had 150 people walk through the door.
“It was a fantastic response and we’ve continued to receive positive feedback.
“People are very happy to see the hotel back into use.
“We’ve got 20 members of staff but I received more than 200 applications for jobs, so it’s safe to say they were needed in the town.”
Dilys has been helped by her sister Nicola, who does the hotel’s baking, and her father Barrie, who owns the town’s Autosales garage.
“He’s meant to be a silent partner but he checks in most nights and has been a huge help,” Dilys said.
The project had been approved for a £102,000 grant from the Kirriemuir Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme. However, in the end the family turned the funding down so they could complete the repair works more quickly and open for business.
“Meeting the conditions attached to the funding would have meant about a three-month delay and we just wanted to get going as quickly as possible,” Dilys added.
Angus Council is very happy that the hotel has now been brought back into use.
A spokesman said: “We’re delighted that local owners are breathing new life into a much-loved building.
“The Airlie Arms was a protected building, and rightly so given its place in the community and the affection in which it is held.
“We wish every success to Dilys and her staff.”
Photo by Angus Pictures