Famous Brig o' Doon wedding venue and hotel sold by Ayrshire tycoon as part of radical business restructuring strategy

dailyrecord.co.uk:

One of Ayrshire’s most iconic hotels has been sold as part of a restructuring strategy by business supremo Bill Costley. Ayrshire Live can exclusively reveal that the Brig o’ Doon House Hotel, in Alloway, has been sold to the Cumnock-based RAD Group.

It’s not been disclosed how much the hotel, wedding venue and restaurant has fetched, but it's expected the deal will be “significant.”Mr Costley, the former Kilmarnock FC chairman, said: “We have had the Brig for 25 years and it’s been a terrific business for us; 25 years of exceptional business in it.“It’s big step for me to do this, [sell] but there comes a time when you have to take stock of everything.” The Brig is widely regarded as Ayrshire’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’ wedding venue.

It will change ownership on Monday, October 3 and continue to operate as normal.News of the sale has raised eyebrows in the business community, as the Costley & Costley owned Ellisland, in Ayr, also changed hands earlier in the summer to a private buyer.And although the Cochrane Inn, in Kilmarnock, is also on the market, the family is "considering" the possibility of reopening it.In another move, the 19th Century Doonbrae, also owned by Mr Costley, has been sold, again to a private buyer.Ayrshire Live understands that the scaling down of the firm's property portfolio is designed to steam line the business model going forward.

Lochgreen House Hotel and Highgrove House Hotel, both in Troon, will remain firm fixtures of the Costley empire.Ayrshire Live can also exclusively reveal that Mr Costley plans to refurbish Lochgreen in the new year — with expansion plans on the way. “As a family we’re keen to reduce the portfolio to maybe two or three businesses,” admitted Mr Costley.“And the hope is that