Showcases / Well-established Lerwick guesthouse for sale
AFTER more than 25 years of successfully running one of Shetland’s best-known guesthouses, Lerwick couple Dieter and Christine Glaser are putting their business on the market.
Overlooking the spectacular sooth mooth of Lerwick Harbour, Breiview Guesthouse is close to many local amenities and boasts 14 well-appointed bedrooms, all en-suite, in two houses at 41 and 43 Kantersted Road.
The couple, who are both heading towards retirement age, said the time was right to take a step back and let the business community know that their well-established guesthouse is for sale.
The guesthouse consists of the two premises, both in “walk-in” condition with freshly decorated bedrooms and new carpets throughout, plus a substantial amount of bookings for this summer season.
The couple, who worked together on one of the cross channel ferries in the 1980s started their guesthouse business in 1991 with just three bedrooms.
“It was small by today’s standards,” Dieter said, “but we were the first guesthouse in Shetland to have all our rooms with en-suite facilities”.
As demand for high quality accommodations grew, the Glasers first added an extension to the original building, then bought a house in the centre of town, renovated it and opened a second guest house, Fort Charlotte Guesthouse, before selling it again to buy and completely renovate the house next door.
Dieter said tourism in Shetland has changed dramatically since he started working in the sector.
While in the 1990s the season lasted from June to the end of August, the constant flow of tourists coming to the isles now starts with the Shetland Folk Festival at the end of April and lasts until the Shetland Wool Week and the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival in October.
He said the guesthouse was already fully booked at peak times such as wool week and next year’s Lerwick Up Helly Aa, while during the winter months the guesthouse looks after a constant stream of contractors and visitors.
“We both feel the time is right to slow down, as we are both close to retiring age,” Dieter said.
“The business is ready to be taken over as it is; somebody can move in and start running it tomorrow.
“If it doesn’t sell straight away then we are both happy to carry on for a time, but we would like to give notice that Breiview Guesthouse is for sale.”
Ideally the Glasers would like to sell both houses and the business as a unit, but would consider separate offers for 41 Kantersted, which could be converted to a family home.
More photos of the properties can be found in our Property section.
Breiview Guesthouse is sold through the Lerwick office of estate agents Harper MacLeod.
Viewings highly recommended; please contact Harper MacLeod’s property manager Robert Bell on 01595 695583, or Dieter and Christine Glaser on 01595 695956.
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