Hospitality expansion plans unveiled at Carlowrie Castle following £3.4m investment
A Scottish castle located on the outskirts of Edinburgh is undertaking a series of improvements to its services and facilities following a £3.4 million investment from The Cumberland Building Society.
Built in 1852 in the Scottish Baronial style, Carlowrie Castle currently boasts 21 bedrooms and is renowned for hosting exclusive weddings and events.
Work funded by the investment, which will see the venue welcome more guests and offer a greater choice of state-of-the-art accommodation, is already underway and will complete in 2023.
A formerly derelict stables block located inside a walled garden in the castle grounds has been restored to house seven ensuite bedrooms, while five modern cabins and a sauna will be erected in the new year, offering accommodation for a further 10 people.
When the works are complete, the unique castle and its 32-acre grounds, which have a rich heritage including being the only home of Scotland’s greatest female explorer, Isobel Wylie Hutchison, will be able to accommodate 50 guests.
The expansion of Carlowrie Castle comes as the business reported its most successful year to date, having hosted 265 weddings and events in 2022.
Commenting on his collaboration with The Cumberland, Carlowrie Group founder and CEO Andrew Marshall, said: “We’re delighted to have worked with The Cumberland to create new accommodation options for our guests at Carlowrie Castle in order to meet growing demand.
“It was crucial for me to find the right lending partner and when I came across The Cumberland I was pleased that our founding values were aligned. They ticked all the right boxes and the team didn’t disappoint when it came to working together to make our goals a reality.
“I look forward to further opportunities to collaborate as we continue to grow and evolve the Carlowrie Group in the years to come.”
Alasdair Swan, senior commercial manager at The Cumberland, said: “We have really enjoyed the opportunity to support Andrew with his latest ventures, and particularly to have played a role in the expansion of Carlowrie Castle, which is such a renowned venue and an excellent Scottish success story.”
Derek Smith, commercial business development manager at The Cumberland, who also played an integral role in the transaction, added: “At The Cumberland, our purpose is built on commitments we have made to people, planet and community.
“It is the alignment of these values that meant we were so keen to support Andrew and the Carlowrie Group with the next phase of their business journey, which promises to benefit both its guests, and the community of Edinburgh and beyond.”