Gleneagles owner Diageo pockets £42m divi

Gleneagles, the five-star hotel and resort synonymous with the game of golf, paid its owner, spirits giant Diageo, almost £42 million last year.

Gleneagles Hotel. Picture: Neil Hanna

The bumper dividend revelation is contained in annual accounts, which have been newly filed with Companies House. They come after Diageo – maker of Johnnie Walker whisky – said in January it had received “numerous ­expressions of interest” in the Perthshire hotel since last year’s Ryder Cup golf tournament. Reports have suggested a possible price tag in excess of £200m.Diageo attempted to sell the 850-acre site in 1998 but offers failed to meet expectations, thought to be around £100m. It is believed there were further sale talk six years ago.

The £41.8m dividend comes after no payout was made the year before. The accounts also show that profits before tax jumped to just under £4.3m in the 12 months to 30 June, from just £262,000 a year earlier. Turnover rose to about £43.6m from £38.8m.

The overall headcount, both full- and part-time, lifted to 896 from 869.