Mixed fortunes for Donald Trump's Scottish hotels and golf resorts

A Scottish hotel and golf course owned by Donald Trump has made a profit for the first time since it was bought by his family nearly 10 years ago.

Trump Turnberry (pictured), an 800-acre resort in Ayrshire, was acquired by the former US president in 2014 and relaunched in 2016 following a £200m refurbishment.

Documents on Companies House show SLC Turnberry Limited, which operates the resort, posted a pre-tax profit of £571,416 in 2022, up from a £3.7m loss in 2021.

Turnover rose 66% during the year to £21.8m as the lifting of Covid rules saw guests return to the property and it hosted weddings and events.

The company did not pay tax on the profit as it carried forward losses from previous years, according to the Financial Times.

Trump Turnberry features two 18-hole golf courses and one nine-hole course as well as a 500-capacity Donald J Trump Ballroom and a hireable Trump Boardroom inspired by its businessman owner.

No dividend was paid, and the company did not make any disclosable political donations during the year.

Director Eric Trump, the former president's second son, wrote in its accounts: “Despite macroeconomic headwinds, the business continues to report improved fiscal results year-on-year."

The improved financial performance came as separate accounts showed the Trump family’s Aberdeenshire country house hotel and golf course plunged further into the red.

Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited saw pre-tax losses widen from £696,845 in 2021 to £738,344 in 2022.

This was despite a rise in visitor numbers that helped boost turnover by 74% in 2022, which was noted in its accounts as the best-performing year for the resort to date.

Eric Trump wrote in the accounts: “Ownership remains committed to the long-term vision for the resort and confidently foresees the positive fiscal improvement trend continuing in the medium and longer term with the golf course now fully established as a world-class destination.”

Accounts for Golf Recreation Scotland, the parent company of Trump Turnberry, are overdue. The company reported a £14.73m loss in 2021.