A frustrated business owner has laid bare his years of struggle to keep a Deeside hotel alive as he battles for permission to turn it into a home. The scenic , owned by Derek and Jean McCulloch, is on the outskirts of Aboyne. In 2011, it went from being a golf clubhouse to a guesthouse operating with 15 bedrooms, a restaurant and a spa, as well as a two-bedroom property for the owners.
However, the couple have been increasingly desperate to sell the property, having listed it for sale three times since 2016. They having struggled to maintain guest numbers. And in papers sent to the council, they revealed just how tough things had become.
.. Why has Lodge on the Loch struggled? Supporting documents said the location was a challenge as Aboyne is “not a significantly popular tourist destination”.
Mackinnons Solicitors also highlighted the lodge’s precarious position—too big to be family-run and not economically viable to employ a manager. Having listed the property several times, Mr McCulloch said the business would close in spring 2025, sale or no sale. He applied to to change the building’s designation to a house.
Last chance saloon for Lodge on the Loch as business dries up This was Mr McCulloch’s last-ditch attempt to offload the hotel, and he detailed the challenges in a message to councillors. He explains that he and his wife took on 80% of the duties while not taking home a salary. Mr McCulloch went unpaid while working hard, while his wife was given a paltry �.