Inside Andy Murray’s £7.6m hotel appearing on new TV show where Kim banned his trophies
Tennis fans who are excitedly awaiting a glimpse into Andy Murray’s £7.6million hotel venture will sadly not be able to view his glittering achievements. This is thanks to a trophy ban put in place by wife Kim, who insists the new business is not a “homage to Andy.” The Cromlix House Hotel was originally bought by the Scot in 2013 and sits near to his hometown of Dunblane. Since his retirement from tennis in 2024, Andy and Kim have been striving hard to upgrade the venue and will now see the fruits of their labour play out on TV.
The Cromlix itself is a five-star luxury boutique hotel set within 34 acres of secluded woodland and landscaped grounds. Housed in a grand 19th-century Victorian country mansion complete with original stone turrets, a private chapel and its own loch, the estate merges historic baronial architecture with high-end, destination retreat amenities.
The hotel will feature in a new documentary series on Channel 4, titled ‘Our Scottish Hotel.’ The show will give viewers a year-long insight into the transformation of the Cromlix, including the addition of a new wing with two restaurants.
The docuseries came about after one of these eateries, Cradle at Cromlix, was recognised in the Michelin Guide. The site also features an additional restaurant, called The Garden Room, one dedicated afternoon tea venue, The Glasshouse and a bar. Described as “the biggest financial gamble” of their relationship, the Murrays have given fans an all-access pass into their renovations, which will air in December.
The hotel was originally bought for £1.8m in 2013, but millions more have been spent since that purchase on renovating the space. Company accounts shared in 2015 show that £2.46m was spent the year prior, in addition to the £3.44m spent on the venue in 2013 – totalling a £6m outlay.
This means that, according to public records, the Murrays have spent at least £7.6m in total on Cromlix House. The £2.4m spent in 2014 was described as “directly attributable expenditure incurred in the refurbishment of Cromlix House Hotel and the purchase of land and properties The Square, which is adjacent to the hotel.”
But if fans are tuning in expecting to see hallways and cabinets dedicated to Murray’s tennis achievements, they will be left disappointed. In an interview with Meander Scotland last year, Kim confirmed that there is little evidence of her husband’s previous career path in the hotel so as not to distract from the venue’s own success.
When asked about tennis facilities at Cromlix House, she said: “We do have a tennis court at the hotel which is painted in the Wimbledon colours, and it features an umpire chair from a match Andy played against Roger Federer in Glasgow. We also have a pickleball court at the hotel.
We actually didn’t want the hotel to be a homage to Andy and tennis though, we want it to be a great hotel that just happens to be owned by Andy – so there aren’t too many references to him inside!”
One thing Andy is allowed to show off at the hotel, however, is his art collection. Speaking to Homes and Interiors Scotland, Kim revealed: “Andy is constantly buying large-scale artwork and we are running out of space at home. So we end up bringing a lot of it to Cromlix on a sort of rotational basis so that our guests can enjoy our personal collection as much as we do. Freeing up space at home is, of course, an added bonus for me.”
Aesthetically, the hotel embraces a modern, playful twist on traditional Scottish country-house style. Rather than leaning into stiff tartan heritage, the interiors – extensively curated by Kim – are characterised by bold botanical wallcoverings, bespoke upholstery, eclectic contemporary artwork and rich colour palettes inspired by the surrounding gardens and natural landscape. Opulent heritage details like freestanding roll-top baths, open fireplaces and antique furnishings sit comfortably alongside light-filled dining spaces and airy, relaxed lounges.
Although Andy chooses the artwork for the venue, his choices have not always left Kim happy. Speaking to Scottish Woman Magazine, she said: “Well, I don’t love all of Andy’s art choices! But in general, I appreciate the fact that he buys art that talks to him in some way, whether that’s because it’s thought-provoking or interesting, or just fun. We’ve got a really eclectic mix at Cromlix of traditional landscapes to much more modern pieces like the David Shrigleys. We have loaned quite a bit from the Royal Scottish Academy, and we’ll keep adding to it as the hotel evolves.
The Cromlix House Hotel has been close to the Murrays’ hearts for years with the couple holding their wedding reception in April 2015. Andy’s brother Jamie also got married at the same venue in 2010, with the Murray siblings’ grandparents, Shirley and Roy Erskine, celebrating their gold and silver wedding anniversaries there as well.
Discussing the hotel’s sentimental value in 2024, Kim told POB Hotels: “Cromlix had been part of Andy’s family history for a number of years – his grandparents had their silver wedding anniversary here, and there’d been lots of other family events over the years. When the hotel was facing closure, Andy felt like he’d like to try to keep it open, partly because of his family ties, but also because it’s a great source of jobs to people in the local area.
“We now have over 70 employees working at the hotel. I’m not sure Andy or I either set out to be part of the hospitality industry but it’s something we really enjoy now we’re part of it.”
The three-part documentary series will broadcast on Channel 4 in December, with a release date yet to be confirmed.
