Not wishing to put a dampener on your trip, but I read an article in The Scotsman yesterday about this hotel.
It may be worthwhile you getting a copy, or you may be able to do a search.
Briefly I understand that there are problems between the foreign owner and the current custodians of the property. There seems to be unpaid rentals, disagreements to terms and conditions etc.
Maybe worth checking this out for your financial comfort and pleasure of your guests.
Kind regards
Here's some info.
20th April
Hoteliers to the stars face eviction threat over £40,000 rent arrears
JOHN INNES
A COUPLE who run a hotel catering to the rich and famous face being thrown out of the Perthshire mansion by the ruling family of Qatar in a row over unpaid rent.
Elaine McFarlane and her husband James - who have hosted stars including Jude Law, Kate Moss and Liam Neeson - are embroiled in a legal battle to stay in the Newmiln House Hotel.
Prince Abdul Aziz al-Thani has gone to a Scottish court to try and remove the McFarlane family from the £2 million hotel and estate.
It is claimed the McFarlanes have failed to pay the annual rent of £40,000 to live in the exclusive property.
The couple, who have three children, are reported to have run into some financial problems since selling Newmiln to Prince Abdul in 1999 for £2.3 million.
They also owe several thousand pounds to the private Strathallan School in unpaid fees, and the school has gone to court to have them sequestrated. The case is due to be heard at Perth Sheriff Court today. The official owners of Newmiln - a holding company based in the British Virgin Islands - have also now raised an action at the same court to remove the McFarlanes.
Prince Abdul reputedly bought the house, which was built by an 18th century jute baron, without viewing it or the 700-acre sporting estate which surrounds it.
He allowed the McFarlanes to stay on for £40,000 per year and run the nine-bedroom country house as an upmarket hotel.
In addition to Moss, Neeson, and Law, recent guests have included Ian Botham, Paul Gascoigne, Rhys Ifans and John Hurt, while Prince Abdul spends around a month each year on holiday in Scotland.
When he bought the property, Prince Abdul said: "I love Scotland and the Scottish people. I am delighted to have been able to buy Newmiln."
But relations have soured and Tawne Overseas Holdings have started formal procedures to remove the McFarlanes from Newmiln.
The company has raised an action claiming rent has gone unpaid since 28 May last year and is asking a Scots sheriff to throw the family and their belongings out.
It has also confirmed that Prince Abdul never entered any agreement to let the family stay in the house rent-free.
"Even if such an agreement was reached, which it wasn't, the McFarlanes have continued to run a business from the premises. A formal agreement allowing the premises to be occupied rent-free had neither been entered into nor sanctioned by the pursuer," the court papers state.
Tawne Overseas Holdings also states Prince Abdul is not a director or employee of the company and cannot make any agreement with the family.
In response, the McFarlanes claim Prince Abdul ordered them to carry out work to the gun room which has never been paid for. They also claimed they were offered free rent if they ceased operating as a hotel, and argue the penalty for late payment of rent is "excessive".
Newmiln Estate borders the Earl of Mansfield's Scone Palace estate. Guests, who pay £2,550 for a three-day break, are welcomed by a piper and can enjoy fishing and shooting.
Strathallan School has lodged claims against the McFarlanes, having already been granted an interim decree against them for £3,439.
20th april
A COUPLE who run a hotel catering to the rich and famous face being thrown out of the Perthshire mansion by the ruling family of Qatar in a row over unpaid rent.
Elaine McFarlane and her husband James - who have hosted stars including Jude Law, Kate Moss and Liam Neeson - are embroiled in a legal battle to stay in the Newmiln House Hotel.
Prince Abdul Aziz al-Thani has gone to a Scottish court to try and remove the McFarlane family from the £2 million hotel and estate.
It is claimed the McFarlanes have failed to pay the annual rent of £40,000 to live in the exclusive property.
The couple, who have three children, are reported to have run into some financial problems since selling Newmiln to Prince Abdul in 1999 for £2.3 million.
They also owe several thousand pounds to the private Strathallan School in unpaid fees, and the school has gone to court to have them sequestrated. The case is due to be heard at Perth Sheriff Court today. The official owners of Newmiln - a holding company based in the British Virgin Islands - have also now raised an action at the same court to remove the McFarlanes.
Prince Abdul reputedly bought the house, which was built by an 18th century jute baron, without viewing it or the 700-acre sporting estate which surrounds it.
He allowed the McFarlanes to stay on for £40,000 per year and run the nine-bedroom country house as an upmarket hotel.
In addition to Moss, Neeson, and Law, recent guests have included Ian Botham, Paul Gascoigne, Rhys Ifans and John Hurt, while Prince Abdul spends around a month each year on holiday in Scotland.
When he bought the property, Prince Abdul said: "I love Scotland and the Scottish people. I am delighted to have been able to buy Newmiln."
But relations have soured and Tawne Overseas Holdings have started formal procedures to remove the McFarlanes from Newmiln.
The company has raised an action claiming rent has gone unpaid since 28 May last year and is asking a Scots sheriff to throw the family and their belongings out.
It has also confirmed that Prince Abdul never entered any agreement to let the family stay in the house rent-free.
"Even if such an agreement was reached, which it wasn't, the McFarlanes have continued to run a business from the premises. A formal agreement allowing the premises to be occupied rent-free had neither been entered into nor sanctioned by the pursuer," the court papers state.
Tawne Overseas Holdings also states Prince Abdul is not a director or employee of the company and cannot make any agreement with the family.
In response, the McFarlanes claim Prince Abdul ordered them to carry out work to the gun room which has never been paid for. They also claimed they were offered free rent if they ceased operating as a hotel, and argue the penalty for late payment of rent is "excessive".
Newmiln Estate borders the Earl of Mansfield's Scone Palace estate. Guests, who pay £2,550 for a three-day break, are welcomed by a piper and can enjoy fishing and shooting.
Strathallan School has lodged claims against the McFarlanes, having already been granted an interim decree against them for £3,439.
21st April
A HOTELIER, who caters to the rich and famous, and her husband have avoided being sequestrated after agreeing a deal over school fees with the private Strathallan School.
Elaine and James McFarlane were facing the action at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, but it was dismissed after an out-of-court settlement was reached.
But the McFarlanes are still involved in a legal battle with Prince Abdul Aziz al-Thani, of Qatar's ruling Royal Family.
He bought Newmiln House from them for £2.3 million in 1999 and let them live in it for an annual rent of £40,000, but claims they have not paid the rent and has launched an action to have them evicted.
Mrs McFarlane insists this is not true and that she has tried to pay the rent, but the prince has refused to cash cheques and they have now been lodged with her solicitor.
The case is due to be heard in Perth later this year.
