CHAS reveals plan to turn Gartocharn estate into wedding and events venue

Piper Iain MacPhie and his Welsh bride Caroline tie the knot at St Patrick’s, Dumbarton.

By Bill Heaney

The directors of the CHAS children’s hospice have plans to turn a large  estate in Gartocharn up the road from their premises in Balloch into a major wedding and events venue.

The Childrens Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), which runs Robin House in Balloch, was delighted after being handed 133-acre Ardoch Estate by philanthropist Peter Armitage, along with a further cash donation of £1m from his Ardoch Foundation.  CHAS assumed full responsibility for the estate in July last year.

However, the children’s charity states that while the estate is “a significant opportunity” for them, it is mindful of the responsibilities associated with operating it and that it is a “major undertaking, requiring significant annual operating costs”.

CHAS has now submitted an application to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners to diversify and intensify a training centre on the estate to include a wedding venue with a temporary marquee.

While still intending to cater for the estate’s traditional business base, the charity wants to add private gatherings and to continue to host weddings – but increase capacity for those from 60 to 150 guests with the use of marquees.

Their lawyers said: “The key target market for Ardoch will remain as a charity/corporate sector meeting destination. However, the revenue potential from hosting weddings within the estate means that this use must be considered as a potential market for significant income and which could overcome issues relating to occupancy and seasonality.

“The proposed development at Ardoch, will attract additional economic benefits not only to CHAS and the estate but to the wider area and local economy, ranging from providing additional employment opportunities to attracting more visitors to the area and support for local suppliers of goods and services (supply chain).

“For example, it is likely that economic benefits will accrue to the area whereby local B&Bs and hotels could benefit from a demand for accommodation for additional guests attending events at Ardoch due to its limited residential capacity.”

The agents said that as a “unique facility” within the Scottish hospitality industry, customers would be able to reserve Ardoch Estate with two key factors in mind for couples waiting to tied the knot – choosing a high calibre, quality venue and also supporting CHAS to achieve a sustainable means of securing revenue, therefore making a difference to the lives of children and their families who require the charity’s support.

They added that it was vital the estate was operated as a separate commercial enterprise or there would be a “significant risk” it could become a drain on CHAS’s resources and sources of charitable income. 

The aim is for the business at Ardoch to be self-funding and eventually become a sustainable income generator for CHAS and the charitable works which form the focus of the organisation.

National Park planners based in Balloch are expected to make a recommendation in due course.