A Perthshire guest house has been voted as the best in the UK and one of the best in Europe.
Ivybank Lodge has been ranked the number one destination for small stays in the UK by TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best Awards.
Owners Gary Hack and Nigel Robinson took over Ivybank Lodge in 2016.
They set about refurbishing the Victorian property to its current five-star boutique status, with financial assistance of over £300,000 from the Cumberland Building Society.
The once-neglected guest house also ranks in third place in Europe, and 11th place globally, in the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best Small Stays category.
Ivybank Lodge has almost 400 reviews on the travel rating site, with over 98% of those rating them excellent (five stars).
‘It’s beyond our wildest dreams’, say owners
Gary said they were “overwhelmed” to have been recognised.
He added: “This is our first business venture, so to have achieved this recognition is just beyond our wildest dreams.”
A stay at the lodge will set you back between £110 and £135 a night, depending on your choice of room.
The journey to success wasn’t easy, however.
It took two rejected finance applications from high street lenders before the pair were able to purchase the business.
Gary said: “We first saw the property in 2015 and knew quickly that it was the one for us.
“We tried to book an appointment with various high street banks to discuss the business plans and hopefully secure a mortgage. None of them were able to offer us a face-to-face appointment.
“All of our appointments were over the phone, and they didn’t want to hear about our business plan.
“They only looked at how the business was performing at the time under its current management. The whole experience wasn’t very personable at all and was really disheartening.”
Transforming Perthshire guesthouse
At the end of 2015, the pair booked an appointment with the Cumberland Building Society.
From there, they were given financing by the Cumberland to purchase the guest house in June 2016.
Straight away, they got to work with their renovation plans.
Since taking over the business in 2016, Ivybank Lodge has earned numerous awards.
Steven Ret, commercial relationship manager at Cumberland Building Society, said: “What Gary and Nigel have achieved at Ivybank Lodge is testament to their resilience and true Scottish hospitality.
“Gary and Nigel have continued to grow this business throughout a global pandemic which halted the tourism industry. They are now weathering the current financial crisis.
“In fact, they’ve managed to grow the business some 800% since taking it on just seven years ago.
“The key to their success is a love for the property and a keen eye for detail. That keeps guests coming back to stay with them time and time again.”
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