North east’s only 5 star hotel to close

THE only five star hotel in the north east of Scotland is to close it doors next November, it was revealed today.

The north east's only 5 star hotel is to close

The luxury Marcliffe Hotel at Pitfodels on the outskirts of Aberdeen is set to be demolished and replaced by a £90 million office development.

Stewart Spence, 66, the hotel’s owner, has confirmed he will retire next year after more than half a century in the hospitality industry.

A deal has been struck with development company Gibson McArtney Ltd. They plan to redevelop the 11 acre site into a “world-class” office complex. The proposals also include the retention of a restaurant and spa at the southern end of the site which could keep alive the Marcliffe name.

The 41-bedroom hotel was opened in 1993. VIP guests have include former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, Sharon Stone, Kevin Spacey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Meat Loaf , Charlton Heston, and Jack Nicklaus

Mr Spence said: “By next year, I will have worked for 52 years. It is the right time for me to retire. The last year has been the best we have had, and I would like to go out at the top.”

He reassured customers, planning weddings and functions at the hotel, that all bookings would go ahead as planned up to November next year.