Travel news
Scotland’s best hotels and restaurants have been named at the AA Hospitality Awards.
Hosted by TV presenter Gabby Logan, the prestigious ceremony honoured the best hospitality venues across 26 categories at a glittering ceremony in London.
Among the winners were The Cellar in Anstruther, crowned Scottish restaurant of the year, while The Balmoral in Edinburgh was named Scottish hotel of the year.
Judges praised The Cellar’s rustic ambience, fitting for chef Billy Boyter’s inventive modern Scottish cooking.
Boyter, also co-owner, said winning the award was “an incredibly humbling and special moment”.
Meanwhile Richard Cooke, general manager at The Balmoral, praised his dedicated staff for helping them through a challenging few years which saw the tourism industry halted by the pandmic. He said: “To have recognition for our passion and enthusiasm of providing our guests with memorable five-star experiences is an extremely rewarding feeling for the team. I am honoured to work with such a dedicated team of ladies and gentlemen.
“With them, The Balmoral will go from strength to strength, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire team for their hard work in what has been a challenging few years for all of us.”
Four Scottish restaurants received prestigious AA rosettes, while the recently reopened Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond was awarded five red stars.
The Bonnie Badger in Gullane took the Scottish restaurant with rooms award and UNALOME by Graeme Cheevers in Glasgow won the Scottish wine award.
Celebrity chef Tom Kitchin, chef at The Bonnie Badger, said: “Having been up and running for three years now, we have worked hard to lead the way in hospitality, offering an exceptional experience to our guests whether they are staying, dining, or visiting us at The Bonnie Badger.
“We are constantly evolving our menus and we believe our passion and commitment to working with the Scottish seasons really shines through in our menus and experiences on offer to our guests.”
Simon Numphud, AA Media managing director, said: “The past few years have been incredibly tough but these awards have highlighted how our industry has worked tirelessly to overcome adversity and create unforgettable experiences for the public.”