Multiple Inverness businesses in contention for hospitality awards
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A MILITARY museum, the north’s biggest shopping centre and popular city bars could all be bringing national awards back to the Inverness area after being shortlisted in the Scottish Hospitality Awards.
The Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George is shortlisted as family venue of the year, while the city’s Eastgate Shopping Centre has a chance of being named Scotland’s shopping complex of the year.
The long-established Inverness Music Festival will also challenge much younger rivals, including Portsoy Traditional Boat Festival in the festival category, while city bars Hootananny and Platform 8 are in contention for the best live venue and sports bar awards respectively.
Wester Ross’s Torridon Resort has the chance to be a triple winner in the Scottish Hospitality Awards after being shortlisted in three national categories. As well as nominations for the romantic hotel and hotel team of the year awards, director of operations Ross Aitchison has an individual nomination as general manager of the year.
The resort is not Torridon’s only representative in the awards – Gille Brighde Restaurant has a chance of being named north restaurant of the year.
Dolphins and birds of prey could help bring a national title back to the north east in this year’s Scottish Hospitality Awards.
Both the Huntly Falconry Centre and the WDC Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay are shortlisted for the best day out trophy, with the Falconry Centre also in the running for the best entertaining team title. Portsoy’s Traditional Boat Festival has also been nominated for the Scottish festival of the year award.
This year’s winners will be revealed at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow tomorrow.
A spokesman for the awards said: “Working for the hospitality industry can be challenging at times and these awards aim to recognise those who have succeeded in this sector, despite the difficulties. There are people who have dedicated their whole career in making the country a special destination for visitors. It is time to give those professionals the recognition they deserve.
“The awards will provide a platform to thank and honour those who have contributed to making Scotland a friendly and welcoming place, enhancing the country’s reputation nationally and internationally.”
Finalists include:
- Family venue of the year: The Highlanders’ Museum, Fort George.
- Best day out: Huntly Falconry Centre; WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre, Spey Bay.
- Outdoor venue of the year: Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Kincraig.
- Best entertaining team: Huntly Falconry Centre.
- Shopping complex of the year: Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness.
- Live entertainment venue/nightclub: Hootananny, Inverness.
- Best Scottish festival: Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy; Inverness Music Festival.
- Best sports bar: Platform 8, Inverness.
- North pub/inn of the year: The Castle Tavern, Inverness; Eagle Barge Inn, Laggan Locks; The Clachan, Dornie; Glenelg Inn; The Craigdarroch Inn, Foyers.
- Resort hotel of the year: Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
- Romantic hotel of the year: Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Fort William; The Torridon Resort, Wester Ross.
- North hotel of the year: Bunchrew House Hotel, Inverness; Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel, Dulnain Bridge; Forss House Hotel, Thurso; The New Knowes Hotel, Macduff; Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness; Duisdale House Hotel, Isle Ornsay, Skye.
- Hotel team of the year: Forss House Hote, Thurso; The Torridon Resort.
- Best hotel general manager: Ross Aitchison at The Torridon Resort.
- North bed & breakfast of the year: Old Drynie House Bed and Breakfast, Inverness; Balsporran Bed and Breakfast, Dalwhinnie; Firhall Highland B&B, Grantown.
- North casual dining restaurant of the year: Fortrose Café; Ralia Café, Newtonmore; The Dairy at Daviot, Inverness; Glen Rowan Café, Invermoriston; Café Eighty2, Drumnadrochit.
- Best family dining restaurant: Lorimers Family Restaurant, Inverness.
- North restaurant of the year: Cornerstone Restaurant, Mallaig; Peet’s Restaurant, Lochinver; Andersons Restaurant, Boat of Garten; Gille Brighde Restaurant, Torridon; Rocpool Restaurant, Inverness; Carrbridge Kitchen Restaurant.
