The Seafield Arms Hotel in Cullen, owned by local entrepreneur Charlie Milne, has just re-opened after a £1.3m refurbishment.
The hotel, which has listed status, lay empty for five years before being bought in 2014 by Milne, who heads up Milne Property Developments.
Today the Seafield Arms is a contemporary boutique hotel with 14 rooms and three suites. Modern and traditional features have been blended together to create a welcome addition to the area’s hotel offering.
This is not all that the entrepreneur has planned. He is hoping to renovate the entire site at the hotel, which includes three holiday cottages which have just opened.
During the renovation the hotel was completely stripped back, although due to its listed status features such as windows and the staircase as well as the original fireplace still take pride of place.
Built in 1822, The Seafield Arms Hotel is a good example of an early 19th century civic building and a very unusual example of one designed with an integral coaching inn. The building along with the town hall was designed by the local architect, William Robertson. It was renovated by Earl of Seafield 1973, which is one of the reasons Charlie Milne is seeking to buy the hall next door.
The hotel also has a restaurant and a bar – called the Grant Dining Room and Bar 19. There are also facilities for private dining and business meetings. Its dining room has 40 covers, while the bar with its more informal gastro-pub offering has seating for 30. There is also the Findlater Lounge which offers a great whisky selection. It’s the perfect place for pre and post dinner drinks.
The hotel’s various suites have been named after local areas of interest such as Sunnyside – which is named after Sunnyside Beach. The décor reflects this with furnishings and fabrics in “sea” inspired colours of greys and teals. It has a lounge area, and also offers the usual large screen TV, Dolce Gusto coffee machine, and boasts an en-suite bathroom with roll-top bath and shower.
Its Crannach Room is named after the Crannoch Hill and woods to the East of Cullen and offers the perfect balance between traditional Scottish decor with “tartan” accents balanced with modern amenities. A voluptuous King Size “Hypnos” bed adorns the room and ensures the ultimate in comfort, plus there’s a 43” TV, coffee machine, en-suite and carefully curated accessories.