Scotsman Obituaries: Sandy Orr, lawyer and entrepreneur who built a hotel empire

He enjoyed exceptional success in business, particularly in the hotel industry, with his entrepreneurial talent, relentless energy, shrewdness and legal acumen the pillars on which it was founded.

At the same time Sandy was a passionate lifelong supporter of the arts throughout Britain, holding several prestigious posts including Chair of Scottish Opera and London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, among others.

Throughout his career he was involved in some of the biggest hotel transactions in the UK. Along with son David and colleague Donald MacDonald he established the City Inn hotel chain in the 1990s. After developing it over several years they rebranded the business Mint Hotels before selling to equity investment company Blackstone for more than £628 million in 2011. Another major success story was the development of Macdonald Hotels, growing it from two hotels to multiple hotels before floating the company and then handling the transition back to private ownership in a multi-million pound deal.

Other posts held in the arts world included membership of the Scottish Arts Council as Chair of its music panel, and Chair of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, one of the UK’s leading drama schools.

Sandy was also instrumental in the evolution of Edinburgh’s Empire Theatre to the Festival Theatre and, through Scottish Opera, the preservation and refurbishment of Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. Underpinning his high level involvement was his genuine love for the arts, both traditional and modern.

Former director of the Lyric Theatre David Farr was quoted as saying: “Sandy was a hotelier with an artist’s soul, for him culture was the very stuff of life.” Sandy's rejoinder would be to self deprecatingly describe himself as “just a country lawyer”. He saw great meaning in the principles behind being “just a country lawyer” – he used it as a benign vector shrouding a very keen intellect for those who did not “understand” what he meant.

James Alexander MacConnell Orr was born in Oban to James Orr OBE, and Jessie (Bunty), following sister Irene. His father, who had a distinguished war record as an RAF wing commander, was a solicitor in the family firm of McArthur, Stewart and Orr. Sandy attended the local Rockfield Primary School before moving to Loretto School, Musselburgh. There he played a full part in school life, captaining the cricket XI while representing it at hockey and rugby, one report complimenting his “very effective hooking”. He was also a member of the school orchestra, CSM in the cadet force and a prefect.

Sandy went on to study law and arts at Edinburgh University, where he captained the cricket team to what the “Story of Edinburgh University Athletic Club” described as “probably its most outstanding season”. The team won the East of Scotland League with a 100 per cent record and the Scottish Universities title, the book saying “the Captain must take the greatest credit”.

After graduating he spent time in Paris in legal work before returning to Oban to join the family firm, rising to senior partner. After 13 years Sandy moved to Edinburgh, shortly afterwards setting up a new legal firm, Orr MacQueen WS, a niche commercial practice.

Then he and lifelong friend Donald MacDonald CBE established the firm MacDonald Orr, a boutique advisory investment service whose early projects included the funding of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow and Edinburgh’s Sheraton Hotel.

Together with Donald Macdonald they embarked on the expansion of Macdonald Hotels until it was one of the UK’s biggest chains, and were involved in many of Scotland’s highest profile hotel deals, including the development of the 280-room Premier Inn at Haymarket, later sold to Leonardo Hotels in a multi-million pound deal.

Numerous joint ventures were undertaken with banks and Life Companies, such as the funding of the first Novotel and Ibis hotels in the UK. They supported the management buy-out of Caledonian Brewery and its subsequent sale, and acquired Harviestoun Brewery and Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Sandy was awarded an OBE for services to the hospitality industry in the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Although his business achievements were extremely satisfying and impactful, he probably derived more pleasure from his support of the arts and creative sector. He was an enthusiastic opera lover who steered Scottish Opera through frequent challenges in the 1990s, enabling the company to stage a full and adventurous programme. He recognised the importance of inspiring artistic vision and having the means to deliver it.

Sandy’s role in raising capital to transform the Theatre Royal was invaluable, as was his involvement in the creation of the Festival Theatre, where its opening opera was his Wagner favourite, Tristan und Isolde. His management of board business was outstanding and his support of the executive much appreciated

At the Lyric Theatre he oversaw one of the most visionary and transformative periods in its history, culminating in a landmark £18 million extension, leaving a legacy of lasting cultural value. It was acknowledged he had helped steer Lyric through a crucial period in its history, thanks to “his passionate love of the arts and piercing business mind”.

Another interest was horse racing, with one of his horses, Triolo d’Alene, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2013.

Sandy married three times, the first two unions ending in divorce. His first wife was Claire, with whom he had four children, David, Kerry, Peter and Mint. He later wed Pauline, then Caroline, whose son Jack he welcomed to the family. He and Caroline lived in a beautiful setting in West Berkshire where he enjoyed books, music, sculptures and writing poetry.

His drive and ambition was set off harmoniously with an excellent sense of humour, making him an engaging companion. Sandy Orr is survived by Caroline and her son, his children and eight grandchildren, and second wife Pauline.

Obituaries

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