Food & Drink Awards 2018

Page 26 www.lux-review.com LUX 2018 Food & Drink Awards Nestled into the idyllic Perthshire countryside, the Achray House Hotel offers nine bedrooms and a 26-seater restaurant, which is extendable to 45 seats for weddings or other events. The stunning setting of the hotel on Loch Earn adds to the experience, with our conservatory restaurant looking out on the loch and allowing guests to take in the stunning water and mountain views while dining. In summer the Osprey can be seen flying about over the loch, one of the highlights of spending time at this rural getaway. The hotel’s position amongst stunning water and mountain views, and wildlife making an appearance, adds to the laid-back atmosphere at the hotel, making it a popular getaway, but with access to water sports, golfing, spectacular hikes, many ancient Highland towns, and much more. Only a little over a hour drive from either Edinburgh or Glasgow, through the scenic countryside takes you into the peace and quiet of country living. Since Bradley and his team took over the hotel has achieved incredible success, as he explains in his initial comments. “Since we took over the Achray House Hotel, room occupation has almost doubled, and we’re especially pleased with the high number of returning guests, many from abroad. We have carried out extensive renovations, adding another bedroom, reorganizing rooms’ presentations, changing the décor to reflect an upmarket Scottish look for all the rooms, and adding garden access for the ground-level bedrooms. The kitchen was modernised, and a separate breakfast room added, also serving as a venue for small events. “Despite the success we have achieved, we are keen not to rest on our laurels, and as such Achray House Hotel is a charming rural hotel in the heart of Scotland, overlooking Loch Earn in the quant village of St Fillans, Perthshire. Bradley Sol provides us with an overview of the hotel and explores how it works to offer delicious menu options to suit a wide variety of diners. Achray House Hotel Best Lochside Hotel 2018 - Scottish Highlands to remain competitive, we pay considerable attention to service standards. “As owners, we are personally involved in the management and daily functions of the hotel, and the relatively small staff team is well-trained and highly capable. The Achray House Hotel stands out amongst competitors because of professional but friendly service, classy and well-appointed rooms, high quality food, and atmospheric public areas.” Specifically, with regards to dining options, the hotel offers an a la carte menu with a wide range of options which has been recognised far and wide for its excellence, as Bradley is keen to highlight. “At the Achray House Hotel our a la carte menu changes along with the seasons and is designed to offer fine-dining with exciting Scottish tastes. Dishes such as our ‘Haggis bon-bons with Irn Bru chilli jam’ are popular, proving to be a great introduction for diners who’d never thought to try out typical Scottish delicacies. An extensive allergen list on the menu clearly identifies allergens as applicable to all elements of dishes on the menu. We also offer customized menus for events and festivities. “As a result of our dedication to producing delicious, Scottish food, the Achray House Hotel has achieved a ‘Taste of Scotland Award’ from VisitScotland for the past three years, and have been awarded a ‘Hall of Fame certificate from TripAdvisor, reserved for establishments that achieve exceptional ratings for at least four consecutive years. Our long-serving head chef functions the kitchen in a way that ensures locally sourced ingredients are utilized in innovative ways every day, with the menu