Edinburgh’s Balmoral Hotel has scored a double at the Catering Scotland (CIS) Awards when it was voted best group hotel and best restaurant.
Judges said the iconic hotel at No. 1 Princes Street, part of the Rocco Forte group, had “continued its delivery of world-class Scottish hospitality”.
They went on: “Several major new brand level projects were introduced during the year, including those focused on improving the family experience, greater use of local organic and nutritious food, and enhancement of its line of spa products.”
Opened in 1902, and since 1980 passing through the ownership of British Transport Hotels, Guinness, Balmoral Hotels and Bank of Scotland, the Balmoral has 168 rooms and 20 suites. Its Number One restaurant has retained a Michelin star for 14 consecutive years. Ross Sneddon added a third triumph for the hotel when he was named Patisserie Chef of the Year.
Runners-up for the group hotel title were Macdonald Forest Hills Hotel at Aberfoyle and Blythswood Square in Glasgow, and for restaurant of the year the other finalists were Cafe St Honore in Edinburgh and The Restaurant at Isle of Eriska Hotel near Oban.
The awards were presented last night at a gala dinner attended by more than 500 guests at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel.
The Torridon took the independent hotel of the year title ahead of other finalists Isle of Eriska and the Killiecrankie in Perthshire.
Ian McAndrew, chef-proprietor of Blackaddie Hotel at Sanquhar, near Dumfries, was voted chef of the year after four near-misses in these awards and Scottish Restaurant of the Year.
New restaurant of the year was IX at the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen, and the pub excellence award went to the Lewis family’s seven-room budget hotel Mhor 84 in Balquhidder glen near Strathyre.
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