Business description

The Business

The present owners purchased this property in 2005 and are currently running their 5th season of trade. They have improved the interior and exterior decoration of the property and current indications are that the current 2009 season will see a growth in turnover and profit.

The current husband and wife owners run this business without the need to employ additional help.

The business has its own successful website www.harbourguesthouse-tobermory.com and the current owners are experienced at marketing and advertise through a number of free online listings as well as local web directories which all boost the advance bookings for this business. An added advantage of web-based advertising means an increase in the number of nights guests will book to stay. Currently, over 70% of guests stay for more than 1 night, and 60% of these for 3 or more nights.

Advertising in BIRDS magazine has also proven successful for the business.

Trading information

The business is VAT registered and trading figures can be made available to those noting interest with the vendors’ solicitors – details of whom can be obtained by contacting the owners’ directly.

This is an excellent opportunity for those who wish to combine a profitable business with a great quality of life on a beautiful Scottish Island.

Property information

Property:

Freehold

Living accommodation:

Owners Accommodation The owners accommodation is a private apartment, accessed on the second floor of the Guest House, having its own lockable door. It consists of a good sized living room / office with front aspect, a bathroom with shower, wc and wash hand basin (side aspect) and three bedrooms (also with side aspect).

Location:

Harbour Guest House is one of the many brightly coloured buildings that line the Main Street of Tobermory, the popular fishing village and the capital town on the Isle of Mull. Mull is one of the most visited of the Hebridean Islands and one of the most accessible, easily reached by ferry from the port of Oban.

Mull is a haven for wildlife-spotters, birdwatchers, hillwalkers and anglers and attracts visitors from all over the world. Tobermory is the ideal place for tourists to base themselves as it boasts a number of well regarded restaurants and shops. In addition, it has a golf course with stunning views and is the setting for the popular children’s television programme ‘Balamory’, a draw for many a family visiting with young children. Tobermory is also the starting point for many land-based wildlife tours as well as whale-watching and other boat day cruises which depart from the harbour. Those visiting the island for business will also typically choose Tobermory as their base.

Premises details:

Guest Accommodation

There are 10 letting rooms; a mix of single, twin, double and family accommodation, 6 rooms of which are ensuite, the remainder with private facilities. Most of the guest accommodation enjoys views across the harbour

Dining Room

The large dining room at present is set out for 22 covers (the max capacity of Guest House) but reconfiguration of the dining room would allow space for more covers than this if a restaurant were considered to be run from here.
It features a large picture window which looks onto the garden to the rear of the property. The dining room window has become a great asset to the Guest House as each morning, the bird feeders and bird table, which are clearly visible at close range, are full of a vast number of birds feeding which makes for quite an entertaining morning!
The dining room also has a three-seater and a two seater sofa and guests quite often make use of the dining room / lounge area in the evening to relax, read or play board games

Ancilliary areas

Kitchen (situated adjacent to dining room)
Commercial Laundry
Three Storage Rooms

Services
The property is connected to mains services – electricity and water. Bottled Gas is required for cooking

Other information

Expansion potential:

Currently run on a Bed and Breakfast basis, offering a wide variety of breakfast options, there is scope to grow the business and subsequent revenue by the introduction of evening meals for guests and non-residents. In the past the Guest House had a licensed restaurant doing just this

Competition / Market:

Harbour Guest House is one of a number of accommodation providers in the immediate area. Neighbouring businesses are very supportive of one another and if anything, at the height of the season, there are not enough rooms to accommodate the numbers that visit, and want to stay in Tobermory! Main Street businesses have the added advantage of being the first businesses to attract guests due to their harbourfront location and whilst most guests that stay at Harbour Guest House have booked in advance (80%) the location of this business is ideal to benefit from the vast amount of passing trade and foot traffic in Tobermory. The visitors come to Mull year-round and whilst the main season is typically from Easter through to the end of October, businesses in the capital town of Tobermory enjoy winter trade and can be open 12 months of the year (if they choose to!) There are many annual events that also draw the visitors to the island and specifically to Tobermory, many returning year on year – Gaelic Choir competitions, Fiddler and other Music festivals, West Highland Yacht Week and the Tour of Mull Rally.

Reasons for selling:

Wanting to undertake a new business opportunity

Website:

www.harbourguesthouse-tobermory.com