DUNBLANE based hotelier Andrew Seal has been unveiled as the new owner of Old Churches House Hotel & Chimes House which he will be running with his partner Adele MacLaren.

Seal (50) has enjoyed a successful career in hospitality, having most recently been the General Manager at Ballathie House Hotel in Perthshire.

Prior to that, he worked at Hart Hotels and completed an 11 year stint with Macdonald Hotels. He takes ownership of Old Churches House Hotel business from The Fusion Group, headed up by hospitality

entrepreneur Alex McKie.

After taking on the property in 2013, McKie has since invested heavily in a comprehensive property development programme, creating a welcoming and delightful 11 bedroomed

hotel, as well as a popular restaurant, meeting spaces and a ‘secret chapel’.

This was followed by the acquisition and refit of the nearby four bedroomed Chimes House Bed and Breakfast in 2016, which is now also part of the Old Churches House Hotel portfolio.

Commenting on the acquisition of Old Churches House & Chimes House businesses, Andrew said: “Adele and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to work in the heart of a community we have lived in for so many years.

"Old Churches House Hotel is already popular and well established and we look forward to working with the talented team here to develop it on the next stage of its journey.

"Steeped in history, it has been thoughtfully modernised whilst retaining its charm and we can see huge potential to drive the business forward.”

Alex McKie, the property owner and founder of The Fusion Group of Companies said; “ I’ve known Andrew for over 12 years and he has always been the seasoned professional.

"I’m thrilled for Andrew and Adele as they take on this still very young business and take it on to new heights. Dunblane, as I’ve discovered, is a vibrant and popular destination for tourists and locals alike and with their combined expertise, vision and experience, I have no doubts at all that Andrew and Adele will make a true success of it.”