After months of uncertainty the Panmure Hotel in Monifieth is under new ownership.
Park Leisure Dundee, which owns hotels, nightclubs and eating and drinking establishments, has confirmed it has taken over the lease in partnership with experienced hotelier Nedal Kaskasoli for an undisclosed amount.
A spokesman said Park Leisure intend to return the 13-bedroom hotel overlooking the first tee of Monifieth Golf Club to its former glory and play an active role in the community.
“We felt the hotel had faltered over the past six years or so and we wanted to see it come under local ownership again. We plan to bring our experience gained through our other hotel the Park House Hotel on Coupar Angus Road to the Panmure.
“It’s a great place for Monifieth and we want the community to get involved with what we do.”
The new owner plans to take advantage of the hotel’s location by offering golf packages.
“We will be doing a lot of golf packages and want to work with the local courses,” he said. “It is early days to know what sort of packages we will offer but that is our intention. Golf is a big part of Monifieth the ladies’ open is up here in July and the hotel is already fully booked for that.”
Despite the ownership of the business only transferring this week, there has been a buzz of activity at the building. Contractors have renovated the function suite and bar area, which opens to the public on Friday.
“There will also be a new menu available. Once we finish the work in the function suite and bar, we will move on to the bedrooms it is an exciting time for us,” said the spokesman.
At the start of the year the hotel made the headlines for all the wrong reasons after staff members claimed the previous owner had not paid them for weeks, prompting some to leave.
Now, Park Leisure and Mr Kaskasoli expect to hire 20-30 people once the business is fully up and running.
“When we took over there were no staff. Since then we have taken on three former employees and would be delighted to hear from anyone else who had worked here previously,” the spokesman added.
Despite the hotel’s recent history, the new owner is keen to start a new chapter. Playing a key role is Mr Kaskasoli who has almost 30 years’ experience in the hospitality sector.
As well as being a partner he will also take care of day-to-day running in his joint position as hotel manager.