A north-east father and son have laid claim to the majority share of an Aberdeen hotel following the retirement of a partner after almost 30 years.
Richard Nicoll has decided to join his dad Gordon in the ownership of the Atholl Hotel in Kingsgate after Bill Hogg stepped down earlier this year.
The pair own a 45% share each – with managing partner Gordon Sinclair, who has been a fixture at the venue for 20 years, owning the other 10%.
The Nicolls are no stranger to hospitality management as current owners of the Dutch Mill, Aberdeen.
Gordon Nicoll initially invested in the hotel in 2006 but when the opportunity arose to buy out Mr Hogg, Richard decided to come on board.
Last night Richard Nicoll said: “The hospitality industry has been in our family for years. I initially started at the Butchers Arms on George Street when our family owned it at the time.
“The last few years have been a bit of a struggle with the downturn in oil and gas but recently we have seen it picking up again so I felt it was the right time to invest in the Atholl.
“It has its own brand and regular customers and Gordon Sinclair runs it so well there are no immediate plans to make any major changes.”
Mr Nicollemploys around 150 members of staff between the two hotels.