A boost to long-stay accommodation in our historic town
As part of a focus on regeneration, this article provides a look at Historic Linlithgow Buildings re-purposed for business and community use.
Court Residence, formerly the British Linen Bank and the former Police Station, as well as other long-term vacant public buildings, are having new life injected by individual entrepreneurs and community groups.
Avid readers of the Black Bitch community magazine may recall an article from March 2016, Issue 40, page 7. “CONTEMPORARY DESIGN, COMPETITIVE PRICES. COURT RESIDENCE”.
This was the headline of an article on the start of the Court Residence journey as high-end luxury apartments came on stream in the centre of Linlithgow. Against a background of troubling statistics, local and national, Jim and Hazel Hay had taken the plunge to launch Court Residence.
Jim Hay told us “We purchased the old Court House in February 2010, right in the depth of the Financial Crash when the banks were bust, and the hospitality sector was in deep recession. We knew it was going to be a long-term project, and that we had just purchased a Category B Listed Building within the Linlithgow Palace and High Street Conservation Area.”
Focus on Regeneration – Time and Tide wait for no man.
A lot has happened in the world and in Linlithgow since March 2016. Almost a decade after that start, it seemed the right time for One Linlithgow BID to reflect on the achievements of Jim Hay and his family, their investments and long-term belief in, and vision for, Linlithgow. The Linlithgow Sheriff Court served the county from 1863 until 2009 when the Court function was centralised in Livingston and the building itself came on to the market. The doors to the new Court Residence opened for guests with 7 Studios and Suites in January 2016, with plans in hand to increase capacity to 21 suites.
When Court Residence opened, Linlithgow was already well served with good independent operators running cafés, bars, restaurants, events, and leisure facilities, but was lacking in overnight accommodation. This fitted well with the “aparthotel” plan for Court Residence and Jim’s vision for Linlithgow that “We can only deliver successfully by growing our collaborations with other local businesses.” Jim added “It worked, and we then identified the need to expand to keep up with demand while serving our loyal and regular guests throughout the year”.
Focus on Regeneration – put your money where your mouth is.
When the old British Linen Bank (another B Listed Building), on the south side of The Cross, came back to the market for a third time, the Hays were successful in securing it while accepting the challenge of regenerating another of Linlithgow’s historic buildings.
As 2025 gets going, the Hay family are making a significant investment in its renovation, adding a further 18 studios and rooms to their portfolio. Looking a bit further ahead they have also recently acquired the old Linlithgow Police Station, located just behind the Court Residence, which will add further to their overall capacity in the coming months.
Meantime, son Calum is now active in the business having taken over the acquisition project as Principal Contractor while also running his own project at Weedingshall House & Lodges just along the road in Polmont. Taken all together the family should have much to look forward to in 2025 and beyond adding around 65 aparthotels units conveniently located in the centre of the Town with up to 200 guests per night contributing to the local economy.
A common phrase when people come up with grand ideas is, “why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?” That’s exactly what the Hay family have done and they should be applauded for putting Linlithgow firmly on the visitor map.
Looking for Commercial opportunities?
Any property developers or serious hospitality operators considering their next move, should look at Linlithgow and be part of a focus on regeneration of the town. There are opportunities up for grabs such as the vacant Star and Garter Hotel for instance, built as a home in the eighteenth century later converted to an hotel with Linlithgow Railway Station right on its doorstep.
Written by One Linlithgow for their monthly in the monthly Community magazine.
Published January 2025
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