It has been a busy week for Murray, who on Tuesday announced he would be making a sporting comebackAndy Murray and his wife Kim(Image: Getty Images)

Building work is under way at Sir Andy and Kim Murray’s Cromlix hotel in Dunblane as the couple prepare to open a new 80-cover restaurant at the five-star restaurant next year, it has been announced.

The development will sit beside the main lawn of the 24-acre estate and will feature a living sedum roof, weathered steel and a circular entrance designed to blend the building into its natural surroundings. Produce grown in the hotel’s kitchen garden will be at the heart of the menu.

Executive chef James Mearing, who joined Cromlix earlier this year after leading the award-winning Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Restaurant in Dorset, will head up the new dining space.

Cromlix remains open during the initial construction but will shut from January to April 2026 for further work inside the main hotel.

Kim Murray said the project marks an important next step for the business: “The Glasshouse, our current restaurant, has been doing really well and is fully booked most of the time, but the space lacks a bit of personality and doesn’t deliver aesthetically in the same way that the rest of the hotel does.

“It will be fantastic for James to put his stamp on this new food experience.”

Construction is being carried out by Doune-based Kings Group and is expected to create up to 65 local jobs.

The Murrays bought the hotel, near Andy’s hometown, for almost £2m in 2013 and took on a more hands-on role last year.

Cromlix currently has 16 bedrooms, a self-catering lodge and extensive grounds including a private chapel, tennis court and pickleball court.

With Kim as the “creative force” behind the venture, the award-winning hotel has undergone extensive refurbishment over the years to become one of the most sought-after luxury venues in Scotland, with rooms costing up to £950 per night.

Planning permission has also been granted for nine woodland cabins and a wellness cottage as the couple continue to invest in the estate.

Cromlix’s most recent accounts show losses narrowed to £369,045 in the year to March 2024, down from £919,572 the previous year.

A spokesperson described the past 12 months as “exceptional”, citing high occupancy levels and strong demand for its restaurant and events business.

The announcement comes during a busy period for Andy, who on Tuesday announced he will swap the tennis court for the golf course next month when he makes a sporting comeback and competes in one of the sport’s most prestigious pro-am events.

The three-time Grand Slam winner has been confirmed for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which takes place from October 2 to 5 across courses including the Old Course at St Andrews.

Murray will line up alongside a glittering field featuring Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre, as well as major winners Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson.

The DP World Tour event is renowned for pairing some of the world’s best golfers with big-name celebrities.

Welsh football icon Gareth Bale has taken part in the past two years, although it is not yet known whether he will return in 2025.

Murray, who retired from tennis last year, has dedicated more time to golf in recent months and is reported to have cut his handicap down to one.

The 38-year-old said: “I’m really looking forward to this. It’s very special to be able to play in a full-blown professional event, and for a Scot like me to do it in Scotland at such a unique location makes it even more exceptional.

“In many ways the Old Course at St Andrews is very like Centre Court at Wimbledon – they both have that historic feel and atmosphere that just doesn’t exist in many other sporting venues.”

The tournament boasts a prize fund of $5m (£3.73m), with both an individual competition for professionals and a team event that pairs them with their celebrity partners.