Another step along the road for Kinloch Hotel

Robbie says his family loved enhancing the business, and quickly added more bedrooms, a dining room and the first licensed bar on the island’s west coast. When the swimming pool was added in 1970, only one other hotel in Scotland had a pool. Robbie said: “They were quite forward thinking”.

“The journey has at times been very rocky. We have been at the cliff edge a couple of times but somehow managed to navigate our way back,” explained Robbie. The hotel now has 40 bedrooms and seven suites, including staff accommodation - representing an almost 600 per cent increase in size.

Growing up in the Kinloch, Robbie knew that running a hotel and a family side-by-side had it’s challenges, but he and Barbara were clear on the secret of their success: “We never asked our staff to do something that we were not happy to do ourselves.”

“We will really miss everyone at the hotel especially the staff as they were more than employees, they were our friends,” said Barbara.

Over the next few weeks the couple plan to spend time with their children, family and friends, and take time to rest and reset.

In a statement posted on the Kinloch Hotel’s social media page, Robbie and Barbara said: “It has been a privilege to be part of so many special memories, celebrations and friendships along the way. While this is the end of an important chapter for us, we are incredibly proud of everything Kinloch has represented over the years.”

When addressing guests at their farewell gathering at Kinloch Hotel, Robbie elaborated: “The hotel is here now due to the work of thousands of great people who have worked here over the last 70 years - our staff.

“The most important thing we all have is family. Barbara and myself, my Mum and Dad, Robin and Fiona have all tried to make all of our people welcome and part of our family.

“Without them the hotel would not be where it is today. From the bottom of our hearts we thank each and every one of you for helping us on our journey.”