A HISTORIC 18th century Scottish hotel where Robert Burns is believed to have stayed has been put on the market.
The Selkirk Arms, in Kirkcudbright, is being sold as the current owners look to retire after 17 years running the business.
The 17-bedroom hotel, which dates back to 1777, is believed to have been frequented by the Scottish Bard several times around 1794.
The hotel has been linked to the Selkirk Grace, a short poem popularised by Burns and recited at Burns Night suppers each year.
The grace, which is often claimed to have been written by Burns, goes:
Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
Although versions of the poem were around before Burns, he is credited with having recited it at a dinner held by the Earl of Selkirk in 1794, leading to a surge in its popularity.
The Selkirk Arms is the hotel where the bard is said to have stayed before that dinner, and it is still a working business in Kirkcudbright.
According to listing agents Graham and Sibbald, the town has “a long association with the Glasgow art movement, including the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists, [Samuel] Peploe and [Francis] Caldwell, who based themselves in the area over a 30-year period from 1880 to 1910”.
The hotel has been owned and run by Chris and Sue Walker, who are looking to retire after 17 years.
As well as offering 17 en-suite letting bedrooms, the hotel includes bars, restaurants, lounges and meeting rooms, as well as an enclosed garden area with seating terrace and a private car park.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond hits back at Andrew Neil over claims about Scottish independence
Alistair Letham, a hotel and leisure consultant with Graham and Sibbald, said: “The Selkirk Arms Hotel has been a well-established hospitality venue for many years.
“In their tenure, Chris and Sue Walker have spent many years upgrading and developing the property creating the now profitable business.
“New owners can capitalise upon the secure income which is showing further growth in 2024.”
The hotel is said to have an annual net turnover of around £1.25 million and is being marketed for offers around £1.35m.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel