Business
Cedar Villa is a long-established guest house and has been run by the current owners for approximately 10 years. Over this time it has developed an excellent reputation for comfortable accommodation with a ‘home from home’ service. The business can be easily run by a couple, without the assistance of any additional staff, and is being placed on the market as the owners now wish to retire from the trade.
Located just 5 minutes from the main city centre of Inverness, it attracts a diverse clientele, including tourists, business contractors, salespeople, and guests visiting the university. This eliminates reliance on one specific sector and allows the guest house to trade year-round. The peak trading season is from April to late October, during which time the business can trade at near 100% occupancy.
The 6 letting rooms (4 en-suite and 2 with a shared shower room/WC) are in excellent order and have a combined total occupancy of 17 guests per night. Prices range from £35pppn, with all prices including a ‘hearty Scottish breakfast’ or continental option. Evening meals are served on request, an area that could be developed by new owners.
The business has a strong online presence, advertising both on their own website (with booking facilities) and many other sites, including Booking.com, LateRooms, and Expedia. On all of these sites, Cedar Villa has superb customer reviews and enjoys a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor.
The hospitality industry remains a high-value and sustainable sector in the area, with Inverness being the gateway to many of Scotland’s major tourism destinations. Demand for short, weekend, and city break accommodation is high, and Cedar Villa is ideally situated to take full advantage of this.
Property
From a conspicuous trading location on Kenneth Street, entry to the house is via a partially glazed door, which leads into the welcoming hallway with beautifully patterned tiles on the floor and a staircase to the upper levels. To the left is a spacious, front-facing dining room, generously arranged to accommodate all guests.
The attractive room boasts original Victorian features, including a high ceiling and cornicing. The large bay window set at the front and the welcoming living flame fire in the splendid fireplace round off the attraction of this as a popular breakfast setting for guests. Also accessible from this hallway is the bright owners’ lounge, decorated in soft neutral tones, and the kitchen. The kitchen is fitted with a range of white wall and base units with contrasting black worktops, a tall standing fridge freezer, and a six-ring gas range with double oven cooker.
A door from the kitchen leads to the more modern owners’ accommodation. With its own glazed external door, the substantial owners’ accommodation boasts two bedrooms, a large master bedroom, a double room, and a bathroom fitted with a corner bath, wash hand basin, and W.C. The door from the kitchen can be locked, keeping these rooms completely separate from the guest house.
With access from the stairs in the hallway, split over two floors are the six letting rooms, each of which is well furnished and individually decorated while maintaining original features, including high skirtings. Each of the rooms has the benefits of wardrobes/cupboards, hospitality trays with tea and coffee-making facilities, a 32-inch Freeview TV, and free Wi-Fi.
The first floor boasts Rooms One, Two and Three. Rooms One and Two are currently set up for family occupancy, each with a double/king-size bed and a single bed and en-suite facilities. Room Three is a single-occupancy room and has a separate bathroom across the hall. Located on the second floor are Rooms Four, Five and Six. Room Five is an en-suite family room with a double bed and a single bed. Room Four is a twin room, and Room Six is a double room; these two rooms share a W.C and shower room.
Trading Figures
The business trades profitably year-round. There is also a great opportunity to increase revenues by serving evening meals, obtaining an alcohol licence, and undertaking a specific marketing campaign. The business currently trades beneath the VAT threshold. Full trading figures will be available after formal viewing has taken place.
Summary
The sale of Cedar Villa is a wonderful opportunity to purchase a long-established bed and breakfast business a short walk from the centre of Inverness in the heart of the Highland tourist trail. It benefits from all-year-round trade, has a mixed clientele, and is offered in true walk-in fashion. It is an easily managed business that is ideal for a husband-and-wife team.
