TENNIS STAR Andy Murray is reported to have snapped up a luxury property in his home town of Dunblane.
The 14-bedroom Cromlix House Hotel, which was on the market for offers over £1.8 million, holds many memories for Murray he was best man at his brother Jamie’s wedding which was held at the venue in 2010.
The five-star hotel closed its doors in February when the owners, the Alliedfreeze hotel chain, went into administration, leaving disappointed customers out of pocket.
It is a popular venue for people to celebrate weddings and anniversaries, and it was reported that Murray had emerged as the successful bidder for the hotel.
It is not known what his intentions are for the property but there was speculation that he could easily convert Cromlix House into a Scottish base for himself, close to his family and friends.
The building is also reasonably close to Gleneagles which will be the venue for one of the biggest sporting events of 2014 when it hosts the Ryder Cup.
Murray, who was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours list, lives in a Surrey mansion but his mother Judy has a house in nearby Bridge of Allan.
Built in 1874 as a family home, the house was converted into a hotel in 1981 and thrived before the economic downturn.
It has 14 bedrooms including eight suites, three dining rooms as well as conference rooms and a manager’s flat.
Cromlix House sits in 36 acres of landscaped grounds within the wider 2,000-acre Cromlix estate which boasts four fishing lochs.
It has its own consecrated chapel where Jamie Murray married Alejandra Gutierrez in October 2010.
The brothers wore kilts in the traditional blue and green tartan of Murray of Elibank for the service which was conducted by the Reverend Alex Mitchell of St Blane’s Church in Dunblane.
Jamie and Alejandra met in London where she was studying business after gaining her first degree in industrial design in Bogota.
She made several trips to Scotland and was said to have “fallen in love” with the Scottish countryside.
Around 14 members of Alejandra’s family, including her two brothers, flew from Colombia for the wedding.
rburdge@thecourier.co.uk