A couple who invested their life savings into renovating a hotel in the Highlands have been left heartbroken after a burst pipe flooded the entire property. Des Thomson, 50 and Sinead Finnegan, 40, returned from a holiday in Sri Lanka on December 19 to find their beloved Osprey Hotel, in Kingussie, completely destroyed.
A nightmare come true
The couple, who bought the hotel in 2019 and spent four years refurbishing it, had left for a well-earned break in October. They had entrusted a friend to look after the place, but they were unaware that a pipe had become dislodged in the loft and water had been flowing for several weeks.
They walked into a nightmare when they arrived at the hotel, seeing the condensation on the windows and hearing the dripping sound. They discovered that every wall, ceiling, floor, door, and furniture had been damaged by the water. All their electronics, kitchen equipment, mattresses, carpets, and décor were ruined.
No insurance cover
To make matters worse, the couple’s business insurance had a clause that stated the premises must not be left unattended for more than 30 days, leaving them unable to claim a payout after more than a month away. They estimate the cost of the damage to be around £250,000, which they cannot afford to pay.
They are now facing the prospect of losing their hotel, which they had opened in April and had been doing well for six months. They had hoped to make the Osprey a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, offering a cosy and welcoming atmosphere, a restaurant, and a bar.
A plea for help
The couple, who are originally from Glasgow and Dublin, have launched a crowdfunding campaign to try and raise some funds to repair the hotel. They have set a target of £50,000, which they say would help them to get the hotel back to a habitable state.
They are appealing to the public for any donations, no matter how small, to help them save their dream. They say they are grateful for any support and hope to reopen the hotel as soon as possible. They also thank their staff, friends, family, and the local community for their kindness and assistance.
The crowdfunding page can be found here.
