Capital’s tourism stars honoured at ‘Thistle Awards’ ceremony
A floating “boatel,” an Outlander tour guide, a new neighbourhood cafe and supper-club, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have been honoured at a leading tourism awards ceremony.
Anorkney-themedboutique hotel and a French restaurant were also recognised along with Edinburgh Dungeon and Rosslyn Chapel in Visitscotland’s Oscars-style ceremony.
The event, staged at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh, saw the Fringe named the best city’s cultural event ahead of the International Festival and Burns & Beyond, a festival inspired by the Ayrshire poet.
The Edinburgh Dungeon won the best visitor attraction award ahead of the National Museum of Scotland, while Rosslyn Chapel, in Midlothian, was named “best heritage tourism experience”.
The Four Sisters Boatel, a luxury self-catering houseboat offering its guests pamperpackages,whichismoored in Edinburgh’s canal district in Fountainbridge, saw director Natalie Mclachlan honoured as a regional rising star.
The Dunstane Houses, a fivestar boutique hotel created by Orcadians Derek and Shirley Mowat in two Victorian town houses in the west end, was honoured as the city’s “best hotel experience”.
27 Elliott’s, a cafe and supperclub opened by food writer Jess Elliott Dennison, a former member of Jamie Oliver’s marketing team, near Edinburgh’s Meadows, was named “best eating experience”.
Anne Daly, a founder of Mary’s Meanders, a tour company which takes Outlander fans to locations featured in the hit Scotland-set time-travel fantasy series, was named a tourism and hospitality hero.
She said: “Who wouldn’t want to go the extra mile to help realise people’s dreams? The past five years have been just the best, making new friends, showing off Scotland and indulging in the wonderful world of Outlander.”
Brigid Kennedy, marketing manager at the Fringe, said: “This award is a welcome recognition of all the hard work of thousands of talented people that goes into putting this brilliant festival together.”
Fred Berkmiller, chef and owner of L’escargot Blanc, in Edinburgh’s West End, saw it named “best restaurant experience” 25 years after he first moved to the city from the Loire Valley.
He said: “Everything we do is centred around the customer experience from start to finish. The pride we take in sourcing the very best food with great provenance is equal to the pride we take in looking after our guests.”
Jess Elliot Dennison, owner of 27 Elliott’s, said: “Small Scottish producers are at the heart of everything we do, so it’s an absolute joy to celebrate their efforts and dedication to farming, growing and crafting the beautiful produce we get to cook and serve every day.”