Elite Ayrshire Business Circle Marks Handover of Blairquhan Castle to New Chinese owners

AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND, December 04, 2012 (Press-News.org) Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes presided at a ceremony this week to mark the official handover of historic Blairquhan Castle in Straiton to its new Chinese owners.

The castle has been sold to a Chinese company which bottles mineral water for distribution around the world.

The new owners of the 190-year-old castle in the heart of the Ayrshire countryside are Ganten Scotland, an offshoot of an international business based in the south China province of Guangdong.

The Regency House property will continue to provide upmarket accommodation, but with a renewed focus on guests from the Far East.

Blairquhan, the 14-bedroom ancestral home of Sir Patrick and Lady Hunter Blair, was put on the market for GBP4.85 million two years ago.

Now a deal has been done that secures the future of the house itself along with the successful weddings and conference business and the jobs of local staff.

Sir Patrick, the 9th Baronet of Dunskey, has confirmed that the family estate will be repositioned around Milton of Blairquhan, the dower house.

Sir Patrick said: "Marguerite and I look forward to supporting our new neighbours in this exciting venture.

"This is great news for the local economy."

Sir Patrick Hunter Blair, formerly of Carsphairn, moved back to Scotland from County Down, Northern Ireland, when he inherited the property in 2004.

Blairquhan's interiors were used to represent Balmoral in the hit film The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, one of many times that the castle has featured in movies and on television.

The new owners have pledged to be sympathetic custodians of the fine house and surrounding lands, having already spent much time at the estate.

Mr Zhou Jing Liang, owner and managing director of Ganten China, said: "Every care shall be taken in the future preservation and maintenance of these valued and traditional assets.

"Ganten wish to expand and diversify in Scotland with the aim of becoming a provider of top level accommodation and hospitality for elite Chinese and foreign tourists who desire only the best."

Their aim is to stimulate business between China and Scotland and believe that they are the trailblazers, bringing valuable investment to Scotland.

The company are very sensitive to the cultural and historical aspects of Scotland and wish their move to be seen as promoting business here and culture in China.

Mr Zhou added: "It is the wish of Ganten to bring together the cultures of China and Scotland, by encouraging even greater tourist opportunities to the ever-growing affluent Chinese market.

"Ganten wish to become a pioneering, China-based organisation who shall bring to Scotland a sound and innovative platform for mutually beneficial tourist, cultural and commercial ventures."

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and China

Since the beginning of the current challenging economic climate, the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle has been constantly advising and encouraging its members to seek out new business opportunities in regions of the world that are still managing to achieve continuing economic growth - notably China.

In October 2011, the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle in conjunction with South Ayrshire Council held a special meeting entitled "Encouraging Trade and Business between Ayrshire and China".

The meeting was attended by Chinese Consul-General in Edinburgh Li Ruiyou, Consul Mr Wan Degang, and Deputy Consul Miss Zhu Hongying.

Building upon these initial contacts, to further promote business and trade between Ayrshire and China, the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle arranged a meeting between the Chinese Consul-General in Scotland Mr Li Ruiyou, Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond and John Scott MSP for Ayr at the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival at Ayr Racecourse in April this year.

Most recently, in September South Ayrshire Council Leader Bill McIntosh and Provost Helen Moodie welcomed ten senior business executives from China to the County Buildings in Ayr, when they attended an Elite Ayrshire Business Circle meeting.

Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle had asked Councillor McIntosh to facilitate a presentation by South Ayrshire Council to tell the visitors about South Ayrshire. It was an ideal opportunity to highlight some important potential areas of investment opportunity - tourism, renewable energies, engineering, property and infrastructure.

Councillor McIntosh said: "South Ayrshire offers some fantastic opportunities, and we were delighted to welcome the high-level trade and investment delegation.

"In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that as a Council we do all that we can to facilitate new investment and long-term jobs to the area.

"We are delighted to work with members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle to promote the businesses and people of South Ayrshire around the globe."

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes concluded: "The members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle span many areas of knowledge and capability, and we are delighted to be able to use our connections around the globe for the benefit of Ayrshire as a whole.

"Our members Jim and Meiqin McColm have played and continue to play an integral part in our efforts to further business between Ayrshire and China, for which we offer them our thanks and appreciation.

"And finally we warmly welcome Mr and Mrs Zhou to Blairquhan, and hope that their association with Ayrshire will be a long and happy one."

THE ELITE AYRSHIRE BUSINESS CIRCLE

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is an association founded in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire.

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial talent and business excellence that abounds here within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel, Turnberry Golf Resort and South Ayrshire Council. Member company activities include broadcasting, building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes is executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, and managing director is public relations consultancy Fame Publicity Services proprietor Murdoch MacDonald.

http://www.frazercoogans.co.uk

For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail eliteayrshire@gmail.com

Website: http://www.eliteayrshire.com

Issued by:

Murdoch MacDonald
Fame Publicity Services
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