Mhor Estate in Scotland receives £1.7m investment

A collection of Scottish retreats in Perthshire is set to expand after a £1.7m investment from Carlisle-based hospitality lenders the Cumberland Building Society.

The Mhor Estate, which includes Monachyle Mhor, Mhor 84 and Calair Cottage, has been owned and operated by chef and hotelier Tom Lewis since 2005.

The main hotel, Monachyle Mhor, was first purchased in 1983 by his mother. It has grown from being a small farm guesthouse B&B to a business that now employs over 85 staff.

Apitherapy (bee therapy), wild swimming and wood-fired baths are on offer for guests staying at the estate.

The recent investment has been broken down into £980,000 for major infrastructure works at the hotel, including the development of a hydro-dam, and £475,000 to support the growth of motel, restaurant and bar Mhor 84.

Remaining funds will be split between Mhor Bread and Calair Cottage, with Mhor Bread set to expand its artisan bread business into takeaway service.

Stuart McNaughton, commercial relationship manager at the Cumberland, said: "We first started working on the re-finance for Tom around a year ago, and we really took the time to get under the skin of the business and understand the vision and direction in which Tom wanted to take it. Based on the business performance to date and Tom's passion and success in hospitality, we were really pleased to be able to help re-finance the Mhor Estate."

Lewis added: "I am grateful to the Cumberland for recognising the value of preserving this legacy and supporting our ongoing growth and development to ensure Mhor is top of the list when visiting Scotland, future-proofing its popularity for those who love stylish, rural places to stay, eat and make memories. Together, we will continue to provide exceptional experiences for our guests and showcase the beauty of Scottish hospitality."