THE economy of the Loch Lomond and Loch Long area has been dealt a major blow after the collapse of the company which owns two major hotels in the region.

Specialist Leisure Group (SLG), which owned the Claymore Hotel in Arrochar and the nearby Tarbet Hotel, went into administration last Friday, with the loss of around 2,400 jobs across the UK.

Richard Calvert, the group’s chief executive, said the coronavirus pandemic had a “devastating” effect on the company and the wider travel industry.

One former employee told the Reporter she was “still in a state of shock” after being informed of the group’s collapse.

SLG operated businesses under numerous brands, including Bay Hotels – under which both the Tarbet and Claymore Hotels operated – as well as Shearings, National Holidays, Caledonian Travel, Wallace Arnold Travel and others.

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All the brands’ websites, along with those of individual hotels, redirect to a statement from SLG’s administrators, S.J. Woodward and C.P. Dempster, which blames the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for the group’s collapse.

A statement says: “All hotels trading as Bay Hotels, Coast & Country Hotels and Country Living Hotels will not reopen.”

On the Claymore Hotel’s Facebook page, a statement on the collapse of the Shearings brand was shared on Friday, May 22, along with a comment saying: “Needless to say we are all devastated, but we thank each and every one of our guests for your support over the years.”

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Lomond North councillor Iain Shonny Paterson, who lives in the area, said: “Both of these hotels provided over 50 jobs locally, which in turn support local businesses, shops, pubs and cafes.

“In many ways we overlook the value of the elderly in our society, and nowhere is this better illustrated than with the closing down of these hotels.

“It is not just from a family and social perspective we should value our elderly but, as this crisis illustrates, it is how much they support our hospitality industry.”

Mr Calvert added: “It is heart-breaking that the required funding or investment could not be secured to get us through this.”