The Station Hotel
51 New Street, Rothes
What is it: Plans for a 13-bedroom hotel designed by George Sutherland were approved in 1899 plans were approved for a 13-bedroom hotel. During the hotel's glory days in the 1950s and 1960s, it was not unusual to see Rolls Royces parked at the front as the renowned fishing on the nearby River Spey attracted wealthy guests from across the country. In more recent decades the hotel suffered like other local venues and slowly but surely started to decay until February last year, when new owners decided it was time to bring the Station Hotel back to its former glory. The hotel is a celebration of all things whisky with even the rooms named after famous Speyside distilleries. I spent my time in the Spirit Safe bar – named after a piece of distillery equipment which is a large, padlocked, glass-walled, usually brass-bound container which allows the distiller to analyse and manage the spirit coming out of the pot still.
Interesting fact: The hotel was bought and refurbished by well-known whisky family the Forsyths. They are famous for creating the beautiful copper pot stills used to create our national spirit. Alexander Forsyth started the company in 1933, and it has thrived on Speyside ever since.
Verdict: This place makes me happy. I travel to this area a lot when working with the multitude of whisky-makers in the area and for years I was disappointed with the level of quality offering and service considering this is a major tourist attraction in Scotland. Over the last few years things have definitely started to change for the better, with the likes of The Craigellachie Hotel, Speyside, offering Scottish hospitality as it should be. I didn't get the chance to stay on my visit but by all accounts the rooms are stunning. The Spirit Safe bar had a great atmosphere and the staff where very friendly and knowledgeable when it came to the drinks and food. This is a must-visit if you find yourself in this part of Scotland.
Drink: As well as an extensive and interesting whisky collection, the owners have tried to bring cocktails to the area, and, according to the staff the've gone down very well with tourists and locals alike.
Food: The food here is not just your usual Highland hotel grub. It's high-quality, using the best ingredients Scotland has to offer. I very much enjoyed the honey-roast carrot and glazed wild mushroom tart with roast hazelnut, rocket and truffle, priced £17.95.
Prices - Compared to some of the other places around the area it may seem steep but trust me, you get what you pay for here.
Children: This is a great place to bring the kids for a bite to eat while visiting the area.
Alfresco: Lovely courtyard for sitting out on the rare sunny days.
Perfect for: Relaxing in a lovely hotel with great food and drink while spending time exploring Scotland’s whisky country.
Avoid if: You prefer to stay closer to big cities rather than explore one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland.
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