A prominent Dundee hotel has been sold to a well-known Asian businessman for a undisclosed fee.
Harry’s Bar founder Mohan Mulani has taken his first step into the UK hospitality arena with the purchase of the DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee.
The 95-bed hotel on the outskirts of the city – which is still often referred to locally as The Swallow – will operate as normal under its new proprietor and its 75 strong workforce has been retained.
The four-star hotel will continue to be run on a day-to-day basis by incumbent general manager Richard Ellison.
In addition to his normal duties, Mr Ellison has been appointed as a director of 7 Hospitality (UK), the trading vehicle set up to complete the purchase of the hotel from former owners BDL Select Operations.
Mr Ellison said customers would not notice any immediate change to the hotel but he said Mr Mulani did have plans to invest in the site in the medium term.
“We are still operating as DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee. Our new owner was the chair CEO of Harry’s Bar in Singapore but he sold up about two years ago and this is his first venture into UK hospitality,” Mr Ellison said.
“I will work with him as a director of 7 Hospitality (UK) on plans to enhance the site, ideally within the next two years within the Hilton brand.
“One of the first things we are looking at is an additional function suite for the DoubleTree.”
Mr Mulani is understood to have viewed several other potential investment opportunities before settling on the DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee for his first foray into the British leisure market.
The Courier understands that further additions to Mr Mulani’s UK hotel portfolio could follow, although no deal is imminent.
Specialist broker Christie Finance arranged the funding package for the purchase of the Dundee hotel.
Director Craig Dickson said: “We are delighted to have secured the funding to enable our clients to progress with the acquisition of the hotel.
“We are seeing more and more overseas hotel operators/investors now looking outside of London. With the ongoing waterfront development, which will include the V&A Museum of Design, the Dundee hotel market is well placed to take advantage of the expected increase in tourists.”
The Harry’s group founded by Mr Mulani grew to become one of Singapore’s best known bar and eatery chains following its establishment in 1992.
