ANDERS Holch Povlsen has bought a popular Scottish inn on the shores of Loch Ness in a move branching out from his usual land conservation pursuits.
Povlsen – the majority shareholder in online fashion giant Asos – has spent millions buying some 220,000 acres in Scotland, spread across 12 estates.
He is currently Scotland's largest private landowner and has now added Dores Inn near Loch Ness to his growing portfolio.
His estate management company WildLand, which was set up in 2007 as part of a drive to conserve and protect some of Scotland’s most scenic landscapes, said it will undertake a “much-needed” renovation of the inn and pledged to share "detailed plans with the village".
The inn is expected to reopen in 2026/27.
Tim Kirkwood, chief executive of WildLand said: “When we heard that long-term sustainability of business at the site could be enhanced through investment in the premises, it became clear that we should look at solutions that will align well with the interests of our business and the local community alike.
“We are now committing a substantial programme of investment in the fabric of the premises with a view to getting the business back up and running there as a pub and restaurant in a very special location.
“We look forward to engaging and sharing detailed plans with the village once a full review has been undertaken.”
John Martin, chairman of the Dores and Essich Community Council said it was hoped that "any issues would be conducted in good faith and in consultation with the community".
He told the Inverness Courier that consultation was the model with other properties acquired by WildLife and added: "Probably the most tricky problem will be parking as we are already swamped with car-based visiting and irresponsible parking, but in their defence, they have been receptive to a new car park adjacent to the village on their land.
"Let’s hope that access by cycle and on foot to the beach will be retained."
Povlsen's first purchase was the 42,000-acre Glenfeshie estate in the Cairngorms, which he bought for £8 million in 2006. The lodge there serves as his private Highland home, according to the BBC.
In 2019, it was reported that Povlsen’s Wildland Ventures Limitedhad taken control of the North Coast 500 Ltd.
The billionaire’s project says on its website that it is a “200-year vision of landscape-scale conservation in the Scottish Highlands”.
According to Wildland's accounts, the ultimate parent company is Povlsen's Denmark-based investment firm Heartland A/S.
According to Forbes, Povlsen is the 307th richest person in the world, with a personal fortune of around $7.4 billion (£5.9bn).
Polvsen's also owns retailer Bestseller outright, which is worth some $4bn and sells clothing under brandnames including Jack&Jones, Only and Vero Moda.
