Scottish coastal hotel looking to fill 30 jobs as new ‘start-of-the-art’ spa opens

The Waterside Hotel at West Kilbride, which is owned and operated by SimpsInns, has invested £3 million in its latest development, including the addition of 17 luxury guest suites and bedrooms with sea views, as well as its new “start-of-the-art” spa - currently in the final stages of construction.

It has kicked off a regional recruitment drive in preparation for the opening. A variety of senior therapist, spa therapist, spa attendant, front-of-house and housekeeping roles are up for grabs.

Jack Simpson from SimpsInns said: “We’re now in the final stages of our new £3m spa development at The Waterside, which will see one of the most exciting leisure and tourism developments in Scotland for 2026.

“As we gear up for our official launch early next year, we want to make sure we have the best team of leisure and hospitality professionals we can get, so we’re creating around 30 new roles, including spa therapists, front-of-house and housekeeping staff.”

He added: “The passion and dedication of our team is vital to the continued success of SimpsInns and is why our guests keep coming back.”

The Irvine-based Simpson family is the driving force behind SimpsInns, which owns and operates a collection of hotels, restaurants, bars, spa, golf and leisure activities along the Ayrshire coast, including The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride, The Gailes Hotel & Spa in Irvine, and The Loans Inn at Troon.

Once complete in early 2026, the spa facility will include six treatment rooms, a four-person Rasul experience and a thermal area with sauna and steam room, as well as three “experience showers”. The spa will also overlook the beach and will have a “strong focus on the outdoors” with a large hydro pool, outdoor shower, cold bucket, a sheltered firepit and seating area.

The new extension complements the existing 23 bedrooms already available at The Waterside, bringing the total number of guests rooms to 40.