A Grand opening: St Andrews flats overlooking the Old Course for sale with access to golf concierge and eligibility for Links Ticket

A late 19th century former hotel in St Andrews – that lay unused for years – has been reborn as a luxury residence with some of the most expensive apartments in the country.
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James Mowbray8 February 2019

It’s arguably St Andrews’ most famous building – an imposing red sandstone structure overlooking the 18th hole of one of the world’s most famous golf courses, the Old Course.

Now this former hotel and hall of residence has been turned into a luxury apartment building, with flats starting at £1m and going up to a whopping £7m.

Built by Thomas Hamilton in 1895, The Grand Hotel was the first building in Scotland with a pneumatic lift and hot and cold running water.

The hotel was popular with royals and celebrities, including Rudyard Kipling, Bing Crosby, Mary Astor and Douglas Fairbanks, during its heyday but when World War Two broke out the hotel was requisitioned by the Air Ministry. It was turned into training headquarters for the Royal Air Force.

After the war the University of St Andrews bought the building and renamed it Hamilton Grand Hall after the Duke of Hamilton.

The university turned it into a hall of residence and it served as a home to the city’s students for the next 56 years.

In 2010 the building was purchased by American company Kohler Co., already owners of the nearby Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa.

Kohler made their money in plumbing supplies, but they have golfing form – they also own Whistling Straits, the venue chosen to host the next Ryder Cup.

Following its conversion, the building now features 26 high-end apartments, featuring two, three or four bedrooms.

A huge communal roof terrace provides views over the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and the Old Course and across the West Sands out to sea.

The apartments range in size from 1,000sq ft to 2,500sq ft and residents will have full access to the facilities of the nearby Old Course Hotel.

These include a golf concierge, a thermal spa and rooftop hot tub and butler service.

Apartment owners who are permanently resident will also be able to apply for a Links Ticket, giving locals rights to play on all seven of St Andrews's golf courses run by the Links Trust for an annual fee.

The apartments are finished to white box stage, which means that the bathrooms and kitchens are fitted but the buyer can choose their own floor and window coverings.

Edinburgh is 55 minutes away by car, while Dundee airport is just 15 miles north of the town with direct flights to London Stansted.

More than half of the 26 apartments are already sold. More information from Savills.