ABERDOUR’S iconic Woodside Hotel is to downsize following the economic downturn and slump in demand.

Two of the four B-listed buildings which make up the High Street hotel will be turned into four- and two-bedroom houses respectively, in a move “to maintain a viable business”.

The application, from Robert and Frances McCombie of Arbroath, will see the conversion of Doune House and Middle House and the hotel’s rooms cut from 20 to 13.

The Woodside Hotel was built in 1873 and originally comprised No.82 High Street, while No.78 (Middle House) and No.80 (Doune House) were incorporated around 50 years ago to form an 18-bedroom hotel.

A further extension in 1996 added another two bedrooms.

In a design statement, architect Joanna Lockhart explained demand had slumped in the last decade, as larger companies moved away from nearby Dalgety Bay’s industrial estates.

She continued, “The new companies that occupy the industrial estate are small and do not require hotel accommodation or require hotel business services as once was the case.

“The hotel is staffed to service a 20-bedroom hotel, catering mainly for the business fraternity, and is run by a hotel manager. Room occupancy on an annual basis is 50 per cent.

“Although the hotel has always catered for the tourist and leisure trade, in recent years there has been a greater emphasis on the leisure business away from the reliance of the local business community.

“Profitability has declined as a result of high staffing levels, the banking recession, changing local business practices and demographics and the hotel now trades at a loss, which clearly is not sustainable. “A trading loss was evident before the banking crash came along as companies moved away from Dalgety Bay but was further deepened by the recent banking crisis.” She said that to remain competitive, the Woodside needed to cater “primarily for tourists and change its business model accordingly”.

She added, “Aberdour is overprovided for in terms of hotel provision, restaurants and the sale of alcohol.

“There are three other hotels with 15, 10 and 10 bedrooms respectively, each with a restaurant, as well as numerous other restaurants, cafes, pubs and the golf club which provides restaurant, bar and function facilities. Aberdour is also well catered for in terms of B&Bs.

“The hotel is slightly outwith the main village hub, and therefore loses trade to more central premises.” The design statement concluded, “Downsizing the hotel, and changing the business model would hopefully bring the hotel back into a commercially viable business.” Aberdour Community Council chair Arthur Lloyd said, “It’s a business decision and if it works for them, then fine. If it doesn’t, they still have the option to sell up.”