TWO Beith businesses have been put up for sale as the family which owns them looks to retire.

Both the Saracen's Head Hotel and Nonna's fish and chip shop are now on the market, with owner Murray Thomson revealing that he and his family want to start taking life a little easier after 40 years at the helm.

The neighbouring Eglinton Street businesses have been a mainstay in the town centre  for a number of years, with the Saracen's Head dating back as far as the early 1700s.

The historic hotel is even said to have been visited by Robert Burns.

The hotel was refurbished in 2013 to add new toilets and a pool room area and is described as having capacity for 150 people, with a refrigerated cellar and stock room in the basement.

The second floor has double ensuite bedrooms and two single bedrooms with a shared toilet, as well as a kitchen and laundry area.

Also included in the sale of the hotel is the self-contained owner's accommodation, with two bedrooms, which is located on the third floor.

The online listing for the property says there is potential to expand the business with additional rooms and the introduction of a food offering.

The hotel is being marketed on Zoopla at offers in the region of £240,000.

Meanwhile, the chip shop has been placed on the market for offers in the region of £170,000.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Nonna's chip shop.

Nonna's is fully kitted with a three-pan frying range with built-in filtration and large stainless steel servery with a built-in bain marie, a pizza preparation area with refrigerated storage and a Moretti oven and mixer.

It has full potato preparation machines and a wash kitchen with dishwasher, two stainless steel fridges, a stainless blizzard fish fridge and bottle fridges, which will be included in the sale.

All equipment is serviced and ready to go.

The business was previously trading at £5,000 per week, and is described as having "great potential for an owner-operator or as an investment property as both premises can be rented separately as they were previously".

There is also a flat included in this sale - in this case a three bedroom property set over two floors, which has its own entrance leading to a private staircase.

The flat is fully refurbished with new double-glazed windows, tiled and refurbished bathrooms, and a new fitted kitchen and appliances.

Mr Thomson said: "I am selling two of our family businesses in Beith, under the same family for 40 years.

"The Saracen's Head Hotel dates back to 1708, and supposedly Rabbie Burns stayed there while buying a horse from Kilbirnie.

"The hotel has four letting rooms and two-bedroom owner's flat, the fish and chip shop and three-bedroom flat.

"All have had separate tenants and there is a rental from a cash machine."