Fears over future of Lybster's Portland Arms Hotel
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FEARS over the future of one of the county’s longest established hotels have been expressed after its doors closed less than a year after it was re-opened following a lengthy shutdown.
The Portland Arms in Lybster failed to re-open after the new year amid speculation in the village that its operators have gone out of business.
Kevin and Julia Ellis re-opened the hotel in the spring after signing a deal with Oxford Inns after the premises had lain empty for three years.
The couple carried out a £30,000 refurbishment and made plans to re-establish it as a popular venue for weddings and community events.
The Caithness Courier attempted to contact the hotel by telephone on several occasions and by email but received no response at the time of going to press.
The hotel’s website and Facebook site have been taken offline.
A sign at the hotel yesterday indicated it was due to re-open on January 9, but the premises was closed.
One local, who did not wish to be named, said he hoped the closure of the hotel was only temporary.
He said: “It is a shame for everyone it is shut.
“It is disappointing and we all live in hope it will re-open one day.”
Before the hotel closed down in 2013, the Portland Arms went through four different owners in a period of 24 months.
Previous owners blamed business rates for making attempting to run the hotel unprofitable.
