£11.4bn
visitor spend in Scotland
Hospitality, tourism and leisure
Finance for Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Businesses in Scotland
Commercial mortgages, bridging finance and equipment finance for hotels, guest houses, holiday parks, visitor attractions and licensed premises.
- Broker since 1997
- 575+ lenders
- Led from Dundee
Scotland’s visitor economy in numbers
92 million
tourism visits to Scotland in 2024
239,000
tourism jobs, around one in every eleven jobs in Scotland
16,325
tourism businesses, 97% of them small employers
How lenders value hospitality property
A hotel, guest house or licensed premises is usually valued on what it earns as well as its bricks and mortar. Lenders use specialist trade valuers, who look at turnover, profit, occupancy and the trading record. Seasonality matters, particularly in the Highlands, the Islands and the main tourist corridors, so lenders want to see a full year or more of accounts.
Scotland’s visitor economy also includes major events. VisitScotland reports an economic return of £1.36 billion from The Open between 2005 and 2024, which gives a sense of how significant golf and events are to local property and trading.
- Trading accounts: usually two to three years, with monthly takings or bookings where possible
- Occupancy and seasonality: how the business trades through the quiet months
- Licences: premises licences, and for short-term lets the licence issued by the local council, which lenders will usually want to see
- Management experience: your track record in running similar businesses
What we can help finance
Hotels and guest houses
Commercial mortgages to buy or refinance trading hotels, guest houses and B&Bs.
Holiday parks and self-catering
Property finance for holiday parks, lodges and self-catering portfolios, subject to licensing and trading evidence.
Pubs, restaurants and licensed premises
Finance for trading licensed premises, valued on profit as well as property.
Visitor attractions and golf
Property and equipment finance for attractions, golf facilities and leisure operators.
Fit-out and equipment
Commercial kitchens, hotel bedrooms and leisure equipment through asset finance.
Bridging for acquisitions
Short-term funding for time-critical purchases, with a clear exit.
Tell us about your business
Tell us what you want to buy or finance and a little about how the business trades. We’ll come back to you with options. There is no obligation, and we don’t carry out a credit search at this initial stage.
Hospitality finance FAQs
Often, yes. Lenders usually require a deposit, and loan-to-value depends on the property, its trading record and the lender.
Some do. Scotland has a licensing scheme for short-term lets run by councils, and lenders will usually want to see a licence or an application.
Often, as asset finance, subject to what is being installed and the lender.
Yes, for time-critical purchases with a clear exit, such as a refinance or sale.
Related
Sources
This page is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures come from the published sources listed on this page and were correct when last reviewed. Lender availability, terms and criteria vary and are subject to status and underwriting.
Paul Thompson, trading as Acorn.finance, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 660207). Not all of the finance we arrange is regulated by the FCA.
Last reviewed: 11 November 2026