Cullen stunned by hotel closure

A CULLEN hotel which has drawn visitors to the Moray Firth coast for the past two centuries has been closed down.

The 23-bed Seafield Arms ceased trading this week, hitting the Banffshire village with a second jobs loss blow following the recent closure of its butcher’s shop.

The Seafield had been put up for sale, but a notice pinned to a window on Monday said it was now shut until further notice.

It will mean the loss of both full and part-time jobs at the three-star hotel, which also houses a restaurant and a popular Kris-Cros bar on Seafield Street.

Keith and Cullen councillor Ron Shepherd, who lives in the village, said: "The news that a major hotel has now been lost is very bad for the local economy and sincerely hope that it will resume trading in the very near future.

"The only bakers’ closed last year – which is a loss to Cullen – and now we have the sad news that the only butchers’ is closed.

"My thoughts are with those who have been made redundant and now face the search for new employment."

Councillor Shepherd said the hotel was built by the Earl of Seafield in 1822 and had several owners until 1971, when it was repurchased by the Seafield Eastates and restored to a very high standard.

Last week’s closure of William Jappy’s butchers’ store is believed to have ended a 46-year association between the business and Cullen.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.