Owners look to reopen Forfar’s Royal Hotel

The owners of the Royal Hotel in Forfar have begun moves to bring the premises back into use.

The 21-bedroom former coaching inn closed its doors on Monday following a shock announcement by its leaseholder in the middle of last week.

Around 20 full and part-time staff are understood to have lost their jobs as a result of the closure and the future of the Castle Street premises had been shrouded in doubt after owners Oxford Hotels and Inns remained tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding the decision.

The local reaction to the closure has been one of dismay, with many lamenting the loss of Forfar’s largest hotel.

However, commenters on this site have also pointed to scathing online reviews as evidence that standards at the hotel have to improve if it is to have a future.

A spokeswoman for Oxford Hotels and Inns said the Royal was being put back into the marketplace.

“Oxford Hotels and Inns Management Ltd can confirm that it has appointed an agent to facilitate the lease of the Royal Hotel,” she said.

“We are therefore currently endeavouring to lease the property again.”