A LEADING Borders hotel is shutting until Christmas because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cringletie Hotel, north of Peebles, has announced it will furlough staff from Sunday, November 8.

General manager Will Haegeland says there is "not much point" remaining open, with lockdown restrictions heavily impacting on the business.

Mr Haegeland said: “Compliance with COVID regulatory and advisory requirements now means that not only are we knowingly not able to take new bookings from the central belt covering Glasgow and Edinburgh, other areas above Scotland’s Tier 2 and all of England, but also we are asked to cancel bookings we already have.

"Absent overseas visitors, virtually all of our guests come from England and the more populous parts of Scotland, so there is not much point in staying open if we can’t welcome any guests.”

On Monday (November 2), the Borders was placed into Level 2 of the Scottish Government's restrictions.

But people in the central belt are facing more severe rules, having been placed in Level 3.

Holiday accommodation in the Borders (hotels, B&Bs and self catered sites) is allowed to stay open under Level 2 rules, but guests from England and Level 3 areas of Scotland are banned.

Cringletie is still accepting bookings for its Christmas and Hogmanay events, but these events are dependent on restrictions at the time.

Mr Haegeland added: "We hope to be able to confirm reopening for the festive season but that will depend on what rules government announce in due course."

Cringletie is a four-star hotel with two AA Rosette awards.