Ardersier hotel on the look for new 'passionate' owner

An Ardersier hotel owner is looking for a new ‘passionate’ person to take over the helm after running it for more than a decade.

Former chef Sheena Fleming (60), who has been at the helm of the Gun Lodge Hotel for 15 years, decided it was the right time to retire after getting married last year.

Originally from Glasgow, Sheena said she was looking for a business venture when the opportunity to buy the lodge came about.

“I adored it,” she said. “It’s such a lovely building, so full of character.

“I never wanted to make it too modern, I wanted to highlight its historical value.

“I kept an antique-y type of décor and called all the rooms after clans that took part in the Battle of Culloden.”

Also known as the Cromal Lodge, the historic building – now selling for £455,000 – dates back to 1769 and was converted to a hotel in the ‘60s.

Over the years, the venue has been popular with visitors from all around the world and has faced many challenges.

“The recession hit when I had just arrived and it was a struggle,” Sheena said. “But we came through that. Then Covid hit and I started taking in essential workers whilst living on site.”

However things have picked up again and now Sheena and her staff have been busy running the hotel.

She said: “This year it has been spectacularly busy, we had people from all around the world and all walks of life.”

Despite her hard-working nature, Sheena said it’s now time for her to enjoy married life and to take care of her health.

“My mum passed away around four years ago and she hated how hard I was working,” she said. “So, I promised her that I would sell the hotel. I have been trying to sell it before but now it’s the right time to keep the promise.

“I suffer from degenerative osteoarthritis so it’s not been easy to run the hotel.”

Sheena hopes to travel and enjoy her retirement, adding: “My son lives in Canada and has been there for six years, and my husband is Australian – although he has been living here for years, he has family there and I would love to have the time to travel there.

“I’d love to find a new owner as passionate as I was, someone happy to run the hotel with new energy.”

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