Inn owners still waiting for fire settlement

Businessman calum@cmlventures.co.uk" data-hovercard-owner-id="88">Calum MacLachlainn said he had called in the brokers to sit in on the meeting with loss adjustors when a date is finally fixed.

"We are still waiting for Aviva to settle the claim. These things are not straight forward," he said.

Groundwork has started on the site of the demolished hotel, getting ready for building work to begin once Argyll and Bute Council issues the relevant warrant.

"We’re hoping to start putting scaffolding up in April so our joiners can start working on the timber frame," said Mr MacLachlainn, adding the villagers will definitely get their hotel back.

Argyll and Bute planners gave permission in July last year for the hotel to be brought back to life. It was so badly damaged in the 2021 blaze, that large parts of it had to be demolished because of safety concerns.

Once built, the new Taynuilt Inn will be food-focused Mr MacLachlainn previously told The Oban Times, adding villagers will be just as welcome as hotel stay-over guests.

The plans also include two self-catering units being built. A condition is that all of those units are occupied in association with the main hotel therefore restricting them from being occupied on a permanent residential basis.

Proposals involve the reconstruction of the main hotel building with the main front elevation reinstated to its former appearance before being devastated by fire.

Two-and-a-half storey pitched roof extensions are proposed, projecting from the rear elevation of the main hotel building which will effectively result in a courtyard-styled formation.

A new glazed conservatory with elements of timber cladding is proposed at ground floor level to the rear elevation of the hotel between the two proposed rear extensions which will provide seating for the hotel restaurant.

And the planned conservatory will open out onto a terraced area which will provide outdoor seating.