Martin Clarkson

I have over 30 years’ experience in commercial property, often working in niche sectors, latterly becoming renowned for my significant experience in the hospitality and leisure sector.

Having worked both as an external advisor, and in-house at senior level I have a strong breadth of experience in property and corporate acquisitions and disposals in Scotland and Northern England.

I have a successful track record in acquiring existing businesses and development opportunities for hotel, bar/restaurant, cinema and other leisure uses; my experience extends from single asset purchases to complicated portfolio transactions including Trust structures.

With a client base covering diverse property holdings I have assisted with and co-ordinated asset management of surplus assets including achieving alternative use lettings for retail and commercial uses to maximise income retention or to facilitate disposal of investment class assets. I also advise clients on the outright disposal of properties including trading entities as going concerns and increasingly as development sites for alternative use.

Whilst client-side, I oversaw the sale of the Grade A listed former Post Office HQ, latterly the prime G1 office development, on Glasgow’s George Square development.

In recent times I was key advisor to Rank on the development options and disposal of the former Palais site at Fountainbridge, Edinburgh including a complex planning process and public consultation to deliver full value from a student village development.

As retained rating advisor to trade bodies such as UK Hospitality (Scotland), Scottish Licensed Trade Association and Scottish Beer and Pub Association I contribute to strategic policy formation and advise on technical valuation matters across the 2010, 2017 and forthcoming 2023 Rating Revaluations in Scotland.

My client base on rating appeals across successive Revaluations includes Whitbread, Greene King, Gleneagles, Marriott, G1 Group, Malmaison & Du Vin, Odeon, Rank, Merlin Entertainments and a number of independent Scottish based bar, hotel and leisure operators, landlords and developers.