Owner of Inverness hotel says 'stalwarts of The Heathmount' make it what it is
The owner of The Heathmount has said 'it's the people who make it the incredible place it is'.
Proprietor, Fiona Newton has owned and run the popular Inverness pub and hotel for the past 37 years, and earlier this week it was announced she will be retiring with the venue on the market for £1.4m.
Speaking about why she loves The Heathmount, she said: "I just really enjoy hospitality, and I love all the customers who just have great craic and banter! There have been some really good, fun times."
Fiona hasn't always been in hospitality, as her first career was as a paediatric and general nurse, before she had the opportunity to take over her brother's hotel in Muir of Ord. She then spent some time running a hotel in Somerset before moving to Portugal for a year. However, Fiona then returned home and spent some time working in her brother's hotel in Tain before taking on The Heathmount.
She's made a variety of changes to the place since she took it on just under four decades ago.
"There has been lots of changes, from the basement right up to the top floor," Fiona explained.
"We knocked down walls, and what was a corridor is now a bar! There was also a restaurant called The Great Vine that had plastic grapes tied to the ceiling!
"We had built a non-smoking restaurant too, as at that time people were still able to smoke in the bar!
"Pre covid we built a new kitchen, which was furnished last year. I've also always been doing up the bedrooms, improving one a year."
Fiona has decided now is the time to pass on The Heathmount to the next generation, as she plans to retire to spend more time with her three grandchildren.
However, she said she isn't in a hurry to sell, and it will go when the time is right.
She added: "The support of my locals is incredible. I've got a core local trade, the stalwarts of The Heathmount - they all know who they are."
