Goodie bagpipes for Oscar celebs
Exclusive Scots stay among gifts for big-name nominees
The owner of a Scottish castle says she’ll roll out the red carpet for stars who’ ll be offered a £35,000 stay in their Academy Award goodie bag.
Will Smith, Penelope Cruz and Denzel Washington are among the Oscar nominees who will get the invite to enjoy Turin Castle, near Forfar.
Former air steward Yvonne Corbett specialises in providing luxury holidays to rich and successful VIP clients from across the world.
All of tonight’s nominees in the acting and directing categories have been offered a three-night stay in the 17th-century castle as part of a £106,000 celebrity goodie bag that also includes Botox and trips to Bali and Kenya. The stars will have their
own butler and be greeted by a piper at the castle. Guests will be offered the chance to learn how to play the bagpipes and there will be hiking trips.
Yvonne and her husband, who worked in the oil industry, bought the 10-bedroom castle eight years ago after returning to live in Scotland from abroad.
They were inv ited by Los Angles marketing firm Distinctive Assets to donate a holiday at their castle to Oscar nominees.
Yvonne is looking forward to welcoming the likes of Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessica Chastain, Kirsten Dunst and JK Simmons.
She added: “Our guests will get a full butler service and the services of an amazing Scottish chef. There will also be gin tasting involving a local firm and traditional entertainment.
“It is all about making sure the client is wowed.” The VIP guests will also be given the
chance to go foraging in the castle garden for food to be used in their meals.
Yvonne said they don’t take online bookings and promote the business by word of mouth and through luxury travel shows and agents who represent wealthy private families.
Michelin star chefs are flown in to cook for wealthy guests.
Yvonne added: “It’s a tough sell but we have had quite a few celebrities come to stay.
“We never say who they are and always sign non-disclosure agreements.”
The Oscar goodie bag had come in for criticism after it emerged a plot at Glencoe Wood, near Appin, Argyll, had been offered as a gift, including the right to be called Lord or Lady.
But critics say the f irm offering the gift has no authority to bestow such a title.
The 94th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.