History

We are proud to be a family run hotel for three generations.
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Recognised as one of the friendliest Hotels in Dumfries, offering welcoming and comfortable accommodation.
Stay at Cairndale

1948

The late James Wallace (Snr) establishes his butcher’s business in 1948 and has several businesses in and around Dumfries.
Stay at Cairndale

1983

Work commences on the hotel to provide all rooms with ensuite facilities bring the total number of rooms in the hotel to 48.
The empty property next to the hotel (Burnock House) is developed to provide an additional 12 bedrooms bringing the total number of rooms to 60.
A link bridge connects Burnock to the main hotel building.
Stay at Cairndale

1990

Working closely with the Scottish Tourist Board the company applies for a grant and is awarded £250,000 towards the cost of providing
‘wet weather’ facilities and the Barracuda Club is opened by Mr Ian Grant Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board.
As well as the leisure facilities a new café bar (FORUM) and SAWNEY BEANS (named after the legendary cannibal family) were opened at the same
The hotel also adds 16 new bedrooms on the flat roof above the leisure facilities bringing the total number of bedrooms to 76.
Over £1m is invested into the hotel.
Stay at Cairndale

2019

Matthew Wallace Snr seizes the opportunity to buy his 3 brothers out of the business in March 2020 and within 2 weeks the covid pandemic is well and truly with us and for the next 2 years the hotel faces two closures, cancellations and uncertainty and has to adjust to unprecedented
trading conditions some of which are still with us today.
Stay at Cairndale

2020

Having bought the neighbouring property at Park House( that was previously being used to house the Council’s Architect’s department) the company was now in ownership of the whole island site that the hotel now sits on.
Park House and our new ballroom were opened, additional bedrooms were developed bringing the total bedroom stock to 91. This project sees a further £1.5m invested in the hotel. A period of consolidation takes place as the company looks to build the business and pay back borrowings.