Landmark Dundee hotel eyes 2027 Open golf boost after major revamp

The Invercarse Hotel, which is located in the city’s west end with views over the River Tay, has benefited from a makeover in recent years under the ownership of local hoteliers Sean Burke and Paul Brownlie, with efforts focused on guest facilities and public spaces.

Upgrades have included the refurbishment of 25 guest bathrooms and improvements to public bathrooms, as well as refreshing the event spaces and bar lounge. The Redwood Restaurant has also been overhauled to attract more lunchtime diners.

As part of the investment, the hotel has expanded its team, adding new front-of-house roles to support day-to-day operations.

Invercarse has also strengthened its position in the city’s events market, regularly hosting up to three private functions a day, with capacity for up to 300 guests across four event spaces. University of Dundee balls, sports dinners, charity fundraisers, weddings and funeral teas have become regular fixtures on the calendar.

The Tayside hotel’s growth has been supported by a £3.2 million funding package from Bank of Scotland.

With The Open returning to Fife’s home of golf next year, the team is already planning for another bumper summer, following a surge in room demand when the championship was last staged in St Andrews in 2022.

Burke, co-owner of Invercarse Hotel, said: “I began my career here following university, and worked my way to general manager through various roles. Paul was running a local restaurant for ten years prior to joining the team as deputy manager. Between us, we bring almost 50 years industry experience to the hotel.

“When the chance came to buy the hotel, we went for it and haven’t looked back since.”

Andy McKie, relationship director at Bank of Scotland, added: “Sean and Paul know this hotel inside out, they’ve grown up in the industry and it shows in the way they run things. It’s been great to help them invest in the business and we’re excited to see what they do next, especially with The Open on the horizon.”