Second service!
Andy Murray’s afternoon teas prove such a hit he’s applied to extend his hotel
WITH his mother’s sweet tooth and his grandmother’s famous shortbread, it is little wonder he serves up delicious treats.
And it seems afternoon teas at Sir Andy Murray’s luxury hotel have become so popular that an extension is needed to cope with soaring demand.
Staff at Cromlix, near the tennis star’s home town of Dunblane, Perthshire, say they have been flooded with bookings for the traditional British tea with sandwiches, scones and cake.
Double Wimbledon champion Sir Andy, 30, bought Cromlix for £1.8million in 2013 and it has won a string of awards since it reopened the following year.
Plans were this week lodged with Stirling Council to create the new tearoom, and also to build a further 27 rooms at the hotel.
In a document submitted to planners, the hotel’s architects said: ‘Following the successful re-opening of Cromlix House Hotel in 2014, the business has gone from strength to strength.
‘The hotel wishes to expand to meet growing demand, in particular for afternoon tea.’
They added: ‘The hotel is currently running at the limit of its space and would like to build a modest extension in the garden setting to the rear of the hotel to complement the original building as well as the recently added dining room conservatory.
‘The proposals aim to sympathetically extend the hotel into the south-west facing garden setting to the rear to form a space which can be used for afternoon tea.’
Judy Murray often posts photo- graphs of the sweet treats she enjoys at her son’s hotel and has hosted afternoon teas there.
Shortbread baked by her own mother, Shirley Erskine, has been enjoyed by competitors at Wimbledon, and by contestants on Strictly Come Dancing when Mrs Murray was among them in 2014.
Afternoon tea at Cromlix costs £22.50 per person, with a champagne option available for an additional £10.
Planners are expected to rule on proposals for the hotel – which include an application for a new function suite – by June.
The hotel’s design team said new guest rooms would create more variety at Cromlix, which has twice been named Scottish Hotel of the Year and this year became one of only two Five Star Gold Country House Hotels in Scotland, according to VisitScotland.
A suite there costs £595 a night during peak season, while a standard double room is £385. The restaurant is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Albert Roux.
Last year Cromlix said it planned to build a spa and gym, as well as new staff accommodation, but these plans have been shelved.
Naturally, it already has a tennis court.
‘A champagne option’