About the Chestnuts Hotel

The original plot of land which the building stands was feued by Jessie Cambell, widow of John Robb of Blackburn, to James Campbell of Craigie, Richard Campbell of Auchinleck, Primose Kennedy of Drumellan, John Boswell (Writer in Ayr) and William Pollock (Writer in Ayr) on 8th January, 1845.

The burden on the Disposition stipulated that a house should be built on these grounds for a sum of not less than £600 which must include the erection of the enclosing boundary walls.

William Pollock never actually built a house here but in 1863 he sold the rights of the feu for £90 to Alexander Fullarton, a merchant in Ayr and after whom Fullarton Street is named, with the additional burdens that he should enclose the grounds with a wall not less than five feet high on the North and West sides and a parapet wall on the East and South sides not exceeding nine feet in height. In addition he was required to culvert over the Black Burn and provide a carrigeway not less than five feet wide from the Turnpike Road to the shore. The Turnpike Road was of course what is now Racecourse Road and the carrigeway which Alexander Fullarton provided is now Seafield Road which runs down the south side of the grounds.

The house then passed in 1868 to Dr and Mrs King of Newton Place in Glasgow who sold it to Francis McAndrew, a stockbroker in Glasgow who lived in Knock Castle at Largs. Six years later, in 1899, the property was bought by Captain Reginald Hunter-Blair of the Gordon Highlanders. It was he who added the newer west part of the house, extended the stabling accommodation and built the billiard room which is now the bar. We also believe that the child ghost in the kitchen was one of his offspring. In 1919 Captain (then Major) HunterBlair retired to Cadogan Gardens in London and sold the property to Miss Janie Brown, Miss Margaret Brown and Alexander Smith who lived here until they in turn sold it to Mrs Minnie Warrens in 1937.

It was Mrs Warrens who started operating the premises as a hotel and throughout the war provided hospitality and facilities for Jewish servicemen stationed in the area.

On 14th March 1955 Mrs Warrens sold to the Hebrew Society of Ayr and what is now our restaurant became a synagogue, the last service being held there in April, 1975.

Ensuring friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere, The Chestnuts offers hospitality to a regular Ayrshire clientele and also welcomes many from around the globe. Here's hoping to continue our venture - and so the 'history' of The Chestnuts Hotel goes on.....