An Aberdeen hotel is shutting its doors after 137 years.

The city’s Royal Hotel on Bath Street opened in 1879 and has stood through two world wars.

But a wedding today was to be the final event for the hotel and its owner Stuart Garvie, who has been in charge of the Victorian premises for the last 18 years.

It was founded as the Bath Hotel in 1879 on the site of a former Turkish bath house on Bridge Place.

And despite standing through both world wars, Stuart said the oil downturn has seen bookings drop by up to 40% in the past six months and the historic hotel is now up for sale.

Its closure will lead to the loss of 20 jobs.

The hotel is best known for its Cafe Royal restaurant and bar.

Stuart said: “We are closing because we can’t secure investment funding for the hotel because it’s very hard just now to do these sort of things.

“Due to the current market and hotel scenario in Aberdeen it’s just not possible for us to continue.

“The hotel has been open since 1879 so it’s sad for this to happen.

“For the last six months we have seen a change.

“We have a wedding booked and that will be the last event we have at the hotel.

“In general, there has been 25% to 40% in the reduction of bookings but it varies on the types of hotels in Aberdeen.”

The closure comes the same week as reports showed a slight improvement in the hotel industry.

Having recorded months of consecutive double-digit decreases, hotels achieved an occupancy rate of 62.6% in April, which was down by only 2.5% compared to last year.

The hotel is one of the oldest in the city and will now be sold following the closure.

A buyer has yet to be found for the building and it’s not yet known what its future holds.

Stuart added both himself and regulars who often use the hotel will miss it.

“I will definitely miss it,” he said.

“I have been here for 18 years.

“We have had a lot of regulars who come in every day and every week and they have said they are sad to see it go in the last week.

“For some people, it’s an institution in Aberdeen.

“We have had a lot of happy memories and a lot of sad ones after losing members of staff.

“It’s a listed building and will be one of the oldest hotels in Aberdeen.

“The building will be sold at some point but I don’t know what the future holds for its use.”