The Railway Hotel in Auchinleck has closed its doors for good.

The news began to filter through last week and the speed of the closure has shocked the local community.

It emerged last week that employees had been told in a meeting on Tuesday morning (August 25) that the hotel would be closing forever on the following Monday (August 31).

Members of staff have since confirmed the closure to the Chronicle, but the owners of the hotel have yet to speak out, despite multiple attempts at reaching them.

The link to the website of the hotel is no longer functioning, but the Facebook page is still active.

The Railway Hotel bar had been trading right up until the day of closure, with the venue only opening its doors again after the coronavirus lockdown on July, 17.

Other local businesses in the area have expressed their despair at seeing another venue close its doors.

Upon hearing the news Lauren Bone, manager of The Coach House Inn in Muirkirk said: “Very sad to hear today that The Railway Hotel in Auchinleck will be closing their doors for good.

“It just shows how important it really is to support your local business.

“Everyone here at The Coach House Inn wishes everyone at The Railway Hotel the best of luck in the future.

“We all have fond memories of spending time in their function suite in the past. Sad day for everyone.”

The venue played host to a variety of functions down the years and many locals will have spent some of the most memorable times of their lives, such as wedding receptions and big nights out in the old red stone building.

Despite its age, said to be around 200 years old, the building is not listed and there has been some concern that the building could be demolished, though there is nothing yet to say that this will be the case.

Until the owners come forward and speak of their plans, what will happen to the venue, will remain unknown.

The concern amongst locals is that this could be the first of many closures in the area as the coronavirus lockdown and subsequent economic downturn makes it harder for these businesses, which were already struggling pre-lockdown.

Lauren Bone echoes this sentiment, saying: “Locals were shutting at an alarming rate before COVID-19, and now it has and will continue to increase that number which is truly sad. This is families, homes, business and communities which are affected.”

The owners of the Railway are also in possession of The Dumfries Arms Hotel.