Brewery giant JD Wetherspoon is making a renewed bid to take over and reopen a once-popular Broughty Ferry hotel.
Wetherspoon’s would only confirm moves were in place to take over the running of the 26-bedroom Jolly’s Hotel, which also boasts three bars. However, it is understood the takeover is imminent.
A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon told The Courier: ”With regards to Jolly’s Hotel in Broughty Ferry, we can confirm Wetherspoon is trying to progress with a deal for the site. There is no further information at the moment.”
The proposed purchase will bring to an end a year of uncertainty over the previously popular hotel and pub, which closed with the loss of more than 30 jobs last October after trading company Tay Hotels Ltd went into receivership.
At the time JD Wetherspoon had been favourites to buy the premises but pulled out of negotiations in December, saying they could not agree terms with the sellers.
A spokesman said at the time: ”Wetherspoons are still very keen on Broughty Ferry as a place and, hopefully, we will find a suitable site in the near future.”
Since then the pub chain has constantly been rumoured to have renewed its interest and that interest has now been confirmed.
Last month Ken Sims, director of selling agent Christies, said: ”We have had a number of parties interested and a few offers but we haven’t accepted any just yet.
”At the end of this month we will hopefully be able to put in a recommendation and the administrator should be in a position to accept an offer.”