Residents of Crieff are being offered the opportunity to invest in an ambitious project to turn a dilapidated former church into an upmarket hotel.
The owners of the Monzie Hotel, which is the new name for the Old South Church in Crieff, plan to transform the building with the help of crowd-funding website www.crowdcube.com.
John Burke, managing director and founder of the Monzie, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the interest from the local community regarding the transformation of Old South Church into a hotel and we wanted to offer everyone a chance to invest in the project via crowdcube.com.
“We are aiming to raise £1 million investment for a 20% equity stake in the Monzie Hotel Ltd (owners of the hotel), with investment opportunities starting at £100.”
He explained that all investors will receive rewards, which vary from an invitation to the grand opening party and discounts on bookings to an exclusive use five-star weekend for 24 guests, depending on the level of investment.
Old South Church was originally constructed in 1882 and was designed by architect JJ Stevenson in a Scots Gothic style with a three-stage tower and a spire based on Dunblane Cathedral.
During the course of the next 50 years, the building was added to but the church closed its doors in the 1990s.
Latterly, the building was used as an antiques gallery which closed in 2006. Since then, the building has been allowed to deteriorate and it has been classified as “at risk” by Historic Scotland.
Mr Burke bought the Old South Church in 2012.
Determined to save the building, he commissioned a feasibility study on the prospect of renovating the A-listed church into a boutique hotel.
The architectural and build team worked closely on plans to preserve and restore the church facade and interior.
Planning consent was granted last year for a 12-bedroom hotel with a banqueting/function space for 100 guests.
Once renovations are complete, it is hoped the hotel will open in spring 2016 for “exclusive” use and wedding parties.