HMRC petition pushes Strathmore Hotels into administration

Strathmore Hotels Limited, the owner and operator of eight hotels across Scotland and northern England, entered administration on 11 August 2026 after months of creditor pressure culminated in a winding-up petition brought by HM Revenue & Customs. Alistair McAlinden and James Dewar of Interpath were appointed joint administrators. The company’s eight hotels remain open and all approximately 410 employees have been retained while the administrators assess options for the business and its properties.

The East Kilbride-headquartered company operates the Alexandra Hotel and Ben Nevis Hotel & Country Club in Fort William, the Ben Wyvis Hotel in Strathpeffer, the Nethybridge Hotel near Aviemore, the Royal Hotel in Oban and the Salutation Hotel in Perth, as well as the Cairn Hotel in Harrogate and Cumbria Grand Hotel in Grange-over-Sands.

The administration followed an HMRC petition seeking to wind up the company and appoint a liquidator. The petition was published on 4 August. Interpath said Strathmore had been subject to sustained creditor pressure for several months before the administration.

Strathmore’s most recent publicly filed accounts, for the year ended 31 December 2023, show turnover rising 8.9% to approximately £19.2 million, but profit before tax falling 51% to approximately £368,000 from £751,000. Net profit declined to approximately £163,000 from £770,000, while the company reported just £19,649 of cash. Average employment increased to 415 from 376.

The accounts reported net assets of approximately £19.9 million, but Strathmore’s financial filings had fallen behind by the time of the administration. Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024, which were due by 31 December 2025, had not been filed. Its confirmation statement was also overdue.

Handelsbanken appears to be the company’s principal secured lender with 11 outstanding charges, including a bond and floating charge over the company’s undertaking and assets and security over several properties in the hotel portfolio. The registered security includes the Alexandra Hotel, Ben Nevis Hotel, Cairn Hotel, Royal Hotel, Nethybridge Hotel, Salutation Hotel, Cumbria Grand Hotel and Ben Wyvis Hotel.

Interpath attributed the company’s difficulties to pressures affecting the wider hospitality sector, including higher operating costs, inflation, staffing shortages and changes in consumer spending. The administrators said their immediate focus is maintaining continuity while exploring the best outcome for the business.