New caravan site beside Hawick hotel would accommodate staycationers

An application has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council by Edward Barker, owner of the Mosspaul Inn at Teviothead, to site nine caravans on a field beside the hotel.

A planning application for additional accommodation on that land was granted in 2015 but the permission has now lapsed.

The venue, a former coaching inn dating back to 1750, has not traded since the first lockdown last year.

It had been rented out as a party venue to host events such as family get-together’ s and business meetings, as well as hen and stag parties.

When operating it can accommodate up to 19 people at a time, charging around £800 per night for attractions including table tennis, pool, darts, a bar, cinema and outdoor hot tub.

A report submitted with the application from Christine Ewart, of Langholm-based CE Architectural Services, says: “Due to the nature of the business and like so many others, Mosspaul has been unable to trade since early 2020.

"With the current uncertainty over the opening of such venues and the possibility of longer-term restrictions on group gatherings, it is again necessary and urgent for changes to be made to ensure the continuing success and survival of the site.

"It is still the intention to use the inn as a destination venue, however, we must now look away from larger groups and focus on smaller ones or families of up to four members.

"Outside we have plenty of space and we would like to utilise this space to increase our accommodation offering. The field to the south of the hotel had been used for some years as a registered caravan site.

"With nine static caravans, we can bring up to 36 people into the area with separate facilities for cooking, washing etc if restrictions remain in place.

"If there is a slight reduction of Covid rules where small groups of four may eat together as we had in the summer, we are able to set up to 40 people inside for meals.

"If we could accommodate this number on site, we could again open (rules allowing) as a viable business providing a bed, board and activities package hosted by ourselves.”