Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges Celebrates 50 Years of Family Ownership
and Announces Succession Plans
Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh — The Watson family is proud to announce that Killyhevlin Hotel will celebrate 50 years of family ownership in April 2026, marking a significant milestone in the hotel’s history.
Since acquiring the hotel in 1976, the Watson family has overseen its transformation from a 3-star, 27-bedroom hotel with 13 chalets into the award-winning 4-star Killyhevlin Hotel of today, featuring 71 bedrooms and suites, 32 lake‑view lodges and studios, extensive function and conference facilities, and a fully equipped Health Club and Spa.
To coincide with this landmark anniversary, a number of exciting developments are planned. These include the addition of a new lakeside lounge, adjacent to the wedding and function suite, scheduled for completion next winter, along with a major refurbishment of the hotel’s foyer, bar, and lounges throughout the year.
As the hotel enters this new chapter, the Watson family has also announced succession plans, ensuring continuity of ownership into the third generation of the family.
As part of this transition, Leigh Watson has stepped down as a director. Leigh will, however, remain actively involved in the hotel, continuing to contribute her extensive hospitality industry experience as a member of the Executive Management Team, which will continue to be led by David Morrison, General Manager.
At Board level, Jacqueline Wright (née Watson) will be joined by her daughters Nicola Varvari and Gillian Gray. Nicola has worked within the hotel for many years across a range of roles, while Gillian brings considerable professional accounting expertise to the Board.
Commenting on the milestone, the Watson family said they are deeply grateful to their customers, team members and suppliers for their loyalty and support over the past five decades and look forward to continuing to develop Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel as one of Northern Ireland’s leading family-owned hotels in the years ahead.
