There have been lots of rumours flying around about the Blacksmiths at Hartoft. The situation is that Paul and Scott McNicoll-Cheong have taken out a lease on the property and have started the refurbishment process,  concentrating of sorting out the rooms and recruiting staff, with the intention of starting trading again in mid to late July this year. They intend to run it as a country inn with high quality, locally sourced food and comfortable high grade rooms.

Paul has 20 years experience over a broad spectrum of the hospitality industry and Scott currently runs a hair salon in Glasgow. Initially, Paul will remain on site overseeing the sorting-out of the inn while Scott stays in Glasgow with their two children, aged three and seven, until the end of the school term. Then he will move to Hartoft and the two youngsters will be enrolled in the Rosedale Community School. More detail will be published here as it comes in.

It is good to see the Blacksmiths back on the road to recovery and we wish Paul and Scott the very best in their endeavours.