Launching on 17th June, Gleneagles Townhouse, the private members club in Edinburgh, will open an area usually reserved for members, The Telling Rooms, to the public as The Townhouse Martini Lounge. Working with artisan gin brand, Seven Crofts Gin from The Highland Liquor Company, for seven nights only, The Telling Rooms will be transformed into a pop-up bar, serving a short menu of martinis, complete with a garnish station for personalising a perfect serve.
The expert bar team at Gleneagles Townhouse, led by drinks guru Stef Anderson, have created a short but sweet martini menu including the Gimlet, using housemade lime cordial and cucumber bitters, the Gibson Martini with Noilly Prat Vermouth, Seven Crofts Gin and your choice of pickle, The Classic with either Ketel One Vodka, Reyka Vodka or Seven Crofts Gin with a choice of dry, wet, clean or dirty and finally the Hazelnut Espresso Martini, combining X Muse Vodka, hazelnut and coffee.
For guests who like their drink with a snack, The Townhouse Martini Lounge will have a fully stocked garnish station, perfect for personalising each martini. With on-trend chive oil, blue cheese stuffed olives or balsamic onions on offer, alongside the purists choice of lemon twist or a cucumber twirl, there’s something for everyone. For something slightly more substantial, snacks will be available in the form of salt and pepper crackers, almonds and olives, as well as freshly baked bread, served with a seasonal cheese selection. The Townhouse Martini Lounge is the perfect choice for a pre-dinner aperitif, before heading next door for dinner in The Spence, the beautiful dining room at The Townhouse, led by Head Chef Jonny Wright.
The Telling Rooms is one of a number of coworking and socialising spaces for Gleneagles Townhouse members, with comfortable seating, a bright and airy courtyard and help yourself snack pantry. During the Martini Lounge pop-up evenings, running from 6-8pm, Townhouse members will also have access to a number of martini masterclasses from the Gleneagles bar team and Seven Crofts Gin, as part of the varied monthly calendar of events, available exclusively to members. A Gleneagles Townhouse membership also comes with access to Lamplighters, the beautiful rooftop bar and the Noteburning Room, a stunning member’s lounge, as well as the state of the art wellness facilities in The Strong Rooms.
Reservations won’t be taken for the Townhouse Martini Lounge, access will be on a first-come-first-served basis, however dinner reservations at The Spence are available as usual.
Perfect for a post-walk pie and pint along the towpath from Edinburgh
Nestled alongside the serene Union Canal, just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh, The Bridge Inn is set to welcome guests back for the spring and summer seasons after a recent makeover.
Its beer garden offers peaceful canal views, shaded by mature trees, making it the perfect spot for a well-deserved pint and pub lunch along the towpath from Edinburgh and watching life go by on the canal.
The drinks menu features local beers and refreshing cocktails infused with Edinburgh Gin. On Thursday – Sunday from 12 pm a pop-up converted container in the garden serves pizzas to hungry drinkers. Guests can also dine on the outdoor terrace from the la carte menu where favourites include the famous homemade pie or ham and Ratho eggs.
Café Cùil is a modern, Hebridean brunch spot located in Carbost on the Isle of Skye and founded by Skye local, Clare Coghill. The Café is nestled at the foot of the Black Cuillin Mountains, with views over the glimmering Loch Harport, a sea loch that sits on the west coast of the island.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, guests can watch as the wild and whimsical weather of Skye casts rainbows over the nearby village of Drynoch, and downpours across the loch. Or, when the sun is out, you’ll be lucky to snag one of Cafe Cuil’s six outdoor tables, with breathtaking views over the loch and to the Cuillin hills. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee by the on-site roastery, Caora Dhubh, and a modern breakfast of locally sourced, fresh, Isle of Skye produce.
Outdoor seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
For people watching on Edinburgh’s grand George Street
It’s the closest you’ll get to the Piazza San Marco in Scotland
The lemons in the G&T come weekly from Amalfi
Family run Contini George Street, is the only restaurant in Scotland to be officially recognised as an ‘Authentic Italian Restaurant’ by Accademia della Cucina and has retained its reputation as one of the best places to dine in the city due to its commitment to authentic ingredients sourced weekly from Italy for two decades.
In the warmer months, Contini opens up its outdoor ‘Venus terrace’ for guests to sit outside and take in the sun whilst people watching on busy George Street. Diners can enjoy small plates lovingly made with produce sourced directly from the Italian markets and Contini’s own vegetable garden; whether it’s the sweet Amalfi lemons, their own family single estate olive oils (made on the family farm in Tuscany) or the Mozzarella di Bufala sourced exclusively for them from Caseificio di Luca Ponticorvo in Alvignano all are guaranteed to bring a taste of the Italian sunshine. From May, Contini will extend the seating area with the dog-friendly ‘Rocco terrace’.
Balgove Larder, close to St Andrew’s iconic West Sands beach is famous for its range of meats – reared on the Strathtyrum farm, hung and cut in-house by a team of award-winning butchers. The Steak Barn menu includes a range of steak cuts, which are hung for at least 28 days and cooked to order on the massive wood-fired BBQ. Burgers, sausages, vegetable and chickpea burgers, all made at Balgove Larder, are also available alongside classic sides like twice-fried chips and crispy beer-battered onion rings.
The Steak Barn, which is housed in a repurposed sawmill with distinctive potato crate walls, is open weekly from Wednesday to Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm and Friday to Sunday 12 pm-9 pm.
For stunning views of the Cathedral and Necropolis
Bib gourmand al fresco food
The herb-scented garden
Celentano’s outdoor dining space offers the perfect afternoon suntrap. Located in Glasgow’s east end at Cathedral Square, the terraced garden allows guests to enjoy delicious Italian-inspired small dishes, seasonal cocktails, and a glass of biodynamic wine al-fresco while overlooking the city’s breath-taking Necropolis.
Celentano’s also uses this space to grow seasonal fruits and herbs, meaning that guests taking advantage of the space are seated amongst a selection of the ingredients that they’re enjoying in their dishes and cocktails.
The space offers six bench tables, nestled between greenery and blooming flowers, with awnings and heaters to keep guests cosy as the evenings draw in. Additional seating around the herb beds can be used for those just visiting for drinks only.
Celentano’s, by chef Dean Parker (ex-The Dairy) and his Glasgow-born wife Anna, is built on a passion for sharing good food and drinks with family and friends. Awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand just six months after opening, Celentano’s offers clever, wholesome dishes and innovative serves made using the best seasonal ingredients.
The outdoor terrace is open every Saturday from 12:30-10 pm and Sunday from 12:30 – 4 pm and dining reservations can be made up to four weeks in advance.
Local suppliers on the menu, including fish landed on the pier
Beautiful beach for walking
Dog friendly
The Crusoe is perched on the edge of Lower Largo pier, in Fife, overlooking the beach and was recently named one of Scotland’s most romantic hotels.
It is also, probably the only bar in Scotland to feature a footprint supposedly belonging to Alexander Selkirk, the real-life pirate and desert island adventurer who inspired Daniel Defoe to pen Robinson Crusoe in 1719. Take an amble along the beach to admire his statue, before tucking into fish and chips and a freshly poured pint in the sunshine, brewed in the neighbouring village. Chef Ritchie D’aeth collects the lobster, crab and mackerel that feature in the menu, direct from the pier and uses locally reared meat for the popular Sunday roast.
The new Levenmouth train line, launching this spring, makes The Crusoe easily accessible by train from the station at Leven for a day trip or book one of the sea view bedrooms for a relaxing overnight stay.
Nestled on the banks of the River Dee, Maryculter House is one of Scotland’s oldest hotels, steeped in history and full of character. The outdoor terrace is flooded with sunlight all day long, meaning that guests can enjoy a full Scottish breakfast, light lunch or afternoon tea al-fresco in the picturesque Royal Deeside.
Please call when booking to enquire about al-fresco dining availability.
Idyllic flower-filled garden setting surrounded by meadows
Julia Nairn’s on-site interior and kitchen shop
Have a sneak peek at Nick’s iconic cook-school
Chef Nick Nairn has created a unique dining setting amongst the fruit trees, herbs and vegetables of the kitchen garden that serves his cook school and restaurant. Situated in the stunning Stirlingshire countryside on what was once the Nairn family farm near the shores of Lake of Menteith in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the restaurant’s garden offers the perfect sunshine spot for countryside al fresco dining amongst the vine trailed pergolas or under fairy lights on the terrace. Or if things get a bit too chilly, guests can enjoy a view of the picturesque garden from the restaurant’s glass-fronted dining room.
A dining terrace in Edinburgh’s famous Princes Street Gardens
Views up to Edinburgh Castle
Take in Scotland’s finest art collection
The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant at the National Gallery offers picturesque views of Edinburgh’s East Princes Street Gardens with a menu that offers classic dishes like fish and chips and cullen skink alongside seasonal favourites – dishes that reflect the best seasonal Scottish larder with the menu changing monthly.
In one of the city’s most iconic settings overlooking East Princes Street Gardens, The Scotsman Building, Waverley Bridge and the Balmoral Hotel, the outdoor terrace is the ideal location to take in Edinburgh’s picturesque scenery. The terrace is open all year round and is best enjoyed from April to September.
To escape the hustle and bustle of Glasgow city centre
The Prancing Stag is Glasgow’s best-kept dining secret. Behind a wall of ivy in the heart of the West End lies a family-run bijou dining room and outdoor terrace that focuses on delivering exceptional food and service to locals in the know. Chef Neil Keevill’s menu offers simple, yet refined Scottish cooking using the best local suppliers. During the warmer months, The Prancing Stag opens its outdoor covered terrace or ‘Sitootery” – for guests to enjoy a drink and bite to eat. The perfect setting to sip on a glass of wine from The Prancing Stag’s vast wine list and enjoy an I.J Mellis Cheese Board.
Edinburgh’s city centre based, Holyrood Distillery, has unveiled a fresh new look with a bespoke bottle for its multi-award winning Height of Arrows Gin.
Height of Arrows Gin uses minimal ingredients to produce layers of texture, for a smooth yet full-bodied favour; inspired by whisky-thinking in its creation.With juniper as its singular botanical and enhanced with two modifiers – Isle of Skye Sea Salt and beeswax from Edinburgh Honey Co – the new bottle looks to reflect the adventure and ambition of the experimental distillery.
The new bottle takes inspiration from the city’s famous extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat which overlooks the distillery. ‘Height Of Arrows’ is the literal translation of ‘Àrd-Na-Said’, the Gaelic name for the iconic landmark. Standing at 251m, the Height of Arthur’s Seat was said to be the furthest distance an archer could fire an arrow – literally, aiming higher and breaking boundaries.
Distillery Manager, Calum Rae, said:
“Height of Arrows elevates gin to new levels, and we wanted to make sure that a bespoke bottle was also a reflection of that.
“The sloping shoulders of the bottle are reminiscent of the peak of Arthur’s Seat, while its green hue is a nod to the resilient lichen that adorns its rocks. The bottle uses a tactile sea-glass effect to represent the texture of the spirit, and serves as a reminder of the unstoppable forces of both time and nature which are both synonymous with Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park.”
Nestled at the foot of Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Distillery was founded in 2019 and is dedicated to producing spirits that are truly worthy of Scotland’s capital city and its proud past as a centre of brewing and distilling.
Following its release in 2022, Height of Arrows went on to be recognised with multiple awards including Gin of the Year by Whisky Exchange, New Product of the Year by Scottish Gin Awards, medals at the IWSC and ISC and Gold at the World Gin Awards.
In October 2023, the urban distillery launched its inaugural single malt, Arrival, one of the first single malt whiskies produced in Edinburgh in a century.
On Wednesday the 15th of May,The Prancing Stag, kicks off its series of seasonal tasting menus with a Spring inspired menu in partnership with Wine Importers Scotland.
The menu will feature six courses showcasing the best of modern Scottish cuisine, with a focus on celebrating the abundance of fresh produce sourced from local producers like John Vallance Seafood, Greenheart Growers, Ochil Foods and Campbell’s Prime meats. Each dish will be expertly paired with exquisite wines from renowned regions such as Italy, France, and Chile, as well as intriguing selections from Tasmania, Hungary, and Portugal.
Rory Cox, Owner of The Prancing Stag said,
“We’re thrilled to team up with our incredible wine suppliers, Wine Importers Scotland, for a toast to Spring at our first seasonal tasting menu event. At The Prancing Stag, we particularly love curating our menu for Spring because of the abundance of fresh produce we get here in Scotland at this time of year. Our Head Chef Neil Keevil has curated a tasting menu that perfectly complements this season’s offering that will be paired with some amazing wine sourced from some of the best wine regions around the world.”
Menu
Canapés
Cucumber Cappuccino
Mackerel Tartare
Rabbit Rillette
Paired with Jansz Premium Cuvee, Tasmania
Charred Denhead Farm asparagus & crispy egg yolk
Paired with Pinot Blanc, Dunavar, Hungary
Chilled fillet of sole with vichyssoise
Paired with Bardolino Chiaretto Classico, Ca’Preella, Italy
Orkney crab cannelloni with heritage tomato consommé
Paired with Frascati Org, Italy
Rump of rose veal, wild garlic & snail risotto
Paired with Clairet de Bordeaux, Chateau Grand Tuillac, France
Paired with Late Harvest Viognier Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
The event will start at 7PM and is priced at £75 per person.
To secure your place; call 0141 959 9666 or book online here.
About The Prancing Stag
The Prancing Stag is a 36 cover neighbourhood restaurant that focuses on delivering exceptional food and service in the heart of Jordanhill in the West end of Glasgow. Led by Head Chef Neil Keevill, The Prancing Stag celebrates the best of modern Scottish fare by collaborating with local producers to offer a premium dining experience. As a family-owned establishment, The Prancing Stag prides itself on offering a relaxed and welcoming setting for guests.
Balgove Larder has announced the vendor lineup for its milestone 10th annual Night Markets. The lineup for the monthly markets includes some of the best local traders from Fife and beyond and kicks off on the 7th of May.
The Night Markets, held within the distinctive Steak Barn with its walls crafted from wooden potato crates and a central wood-fired barbecue, offers a unique atmosphere for attendees to shop local, learn about food production, enjoy hands-on crafts and more. Alongside browsing vendor offerings, guests can enjoy a variety of street food from a changing lineup of food trucks, including The Wee Churros Corner, Stag Bites the Hogg, The Rolling Stove, and Wild Fire Pizza. Visitors can also enjoy street style food from the Steak Barn and the Eat Out hut. Additionally, they can treat themselves to a sweet experience with marshmallow toasting.
The Night Markets are free to attend and take place on the first Tuesday of the month from 5pm- 9pm between May and September.
The dates are:
– 7th of May
– 4th of June
– 2nd July
– 6th August
– 3rd September
Live music will accompany shoppers as they explore the finest local offerings. From Scottish sweets, award-winning honey and wine, artisanal preserves, baked treats, and handmade crafts, this is a showcase of the very best local produce. This year will see the return of the popular butchery and cookery demonstrations, as well as floral workshops at the Garden Shed and engaging talks and demonstrations led by local producers. Furthermore, The farm shop at Balgove Larder will remain open giving guests the chance to try out various samples.
“This year marks a decade of our Night Markets and we’ve put together a programme of truly outstanding vendors. Balgove Larder is all about celebrating the very best of local produce and these events provide a special opportunity to meet and chat to the people behind these outstanding food and drink businesses. This year we’re enabling visitors to explore even more of what we do with new demonstrations and workshops.”
Founded in 2010, Balgove Larder has become a destination for locals and visitors alike, who are able to shop for artisanal Scottish food and drink from Fife and beyond, including seasonal produce direct from their own farms and award-winning meat prepared by their team of traditionally skilled butchers. By converting former farm buildings, Balgove Larder has developed The Farm Shop, The Steak Barn, The Butchery, The Garden Shed, The Homestore, The Café and Eat Out on the Strathtyrum Estate.
For more information on Balgove Larder call 01334 898145, email info@balgove.com or visit www.balgove.com.
Balgove Larder is open daily 9am to 5pm. The Steak Barn is open seasonally and does not take bookings.
Skua, tucked beneath St Stephen’s Street in Stockbridge, is celebrating its first birthday this month with some notable staff promotions. In just one year, Skua has garnered remarkable recognition, including listings in the Good Food Guide and the Michelin Guide and built an impressive team of talent.
An unassuming hangout, only the glowing neon sign hints at the hidden away basement bar which serves up small plates and cocktails using locally sourced and foraged ingredients. The stylish interior is stark, with colourful art, dark furnishings, soft candle light and a few more hints of neon.
As it enters its second year, James Aikman will assume the role of head chef, continuing to bring his expertise and creativity to the kitchen. Following his time at Michelin starred Timberyard, Aikman has spent the last year at Skua collaborating on the menu with owner Tomás Gormley.
Sinead Power will be stepping in to the general manager role as Katie Messer shifts focus to operations manager, overseeing Skua, Cardinal & Messer – ‘Messer’ being the team’s latest addition to St Stephen Street – Scotland’s first artisanal knife and kitchen supply store due to open this May. Having previously managed a handful of Edinburgh restaurants, Katie is determined to help create and nurture a new generation of hospitality talent.
Together, Katie and James have travelled widely and take inspiration from the ruin bars of Paris and New York blending welcoming service, daily menu changes and a relaxed atmosphere and hope to bring that to the city.
Taking full rein of the drinks menu, head bartender, Jacob Thunder will introduce a selection of inventive cocktails perfectly suited to complement Skua’s personality. Skua’s cocktail menu is taking a fully sustainable approach, like the food, preserving the best of Scotland’s natural larder for house-made liquors, syrups and fermentations. Jacob’s latest addition, a comically named ‘Paulie Walnuts’ highlights just that with house concocted Vermouth, Toasted Walnut infused Brandy and Maraschino Liqueur.
Wine available by the glass will be listed on a blackboard in chalk, with diners being encouraged to ask for recommendations from the team, who have curated an expansive collection of low intervention and natural wines from across the world.
To accommodate its growing popularity, Skua will extend its service to six days a week, opening its doors from Monday to Saturday from 5:00pm to 10:00 pm, with drinks served until late into the evening. Bookings encouraged, walk-ins welcome. There’s also a trade discount for people working in food and drink of 10%.
Working closely with suppliers such as Free Co, Phantassie, Coure Sauvage and David Lowrie, this month, the menu will include:
Housemade Brioche Boule brushed with an Infused Lemon Thyme Brown Butter
Gougere with Fermented Ramson and Alp Blossom
Cured Trout with Taramasalata and Aji Amarillo
Hen of the Woods Agnolotti with a Nettle Sauce and new season Spruce
Sustainably caught fish and regeneratively farmed pasture for life meat cooked over coals
To stay updated on more exciting announcements and developments in Skua’s second year, follow them on Instagram @skua.scot and visit the website, skua.scot.
Skua, 49 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5AH
Maison by Glaschu is set to open later this month in Princes Square. It is the sister venue to renowned restaurant, Glaschu in Glasgow’s Royal Exchange Square.
Situated on the second floor of the Princes Square shopping mall on Buchanan Street, MAISON by Glaschu will be a restaurant and champagne bar, offering an affordable yet luxurious dining experience to the people of Glasgow. The new venue will fall under the Superlative Dining Collection group, which includes Glasgow favourites: Glaschu, Gost andThe Duke’s Umbrella..
MAISON by Glaschu will offer a 120 cover bar area, where guests can enjoy drinks and snacks, seven days a week. A refined yet relaxed 85-cover restaurant area towards the back of the space has views out east of the city, with its own 45 cover terrace, and serves lunch and dinner all week long. A private dining space of up to 25 is available to book for private dinners and events, and is an ideal city centre location for any daytime boardroom brunches or meetings, with a projector and screen available.
Open from 10am daily, with freshly baked pastries and premium Italian coffee, MAISON by Glaschu’s city centre location offers an ideal retreat for remote workers, inviting them to “Work from MAISON”, with ultra fast Wi-Fi and complimentary still/sparkling water until 12pm.. MAISON will be serving up a Sunday Lunch – Le Repas du Dimanche – offering a fresh lunch concept that’s new to Glasgow’s city centre, serving up French Pousin and Short rib a la Bourguignon with a unique French twist on a traditional Sunday Roast..
The kitchen will be headed up by Director of Food, John Molloy, who has been with the group for five years. MAISON by Glaschu’s menus are heavily inspired by classical French and Mediterranean inspired cuisine, with local Scottish produce at its core, that will evolve with the seasons. Some standout dishes include: fresh Scottish lobster, French onion soup, beef bourguignon, and confit duck leg lasagne. Celebrating, or just want to indulge? Any of the dishes on the menu can be spruced up with black or white truffles, hand-shaved at the table.
A strong, hand-picked front of house team will ensure outstanding levels of service across all aspects of the venue. At its helm is General Manager, Clare Johnstone, who spent the last seven years as General Manager at Glasgow’s much-loved Côte Brasserie. The bar will be headed up by Group Executive Mixologist, Ewan Angus, who will curate a menu of cocktail classics with an exciting Glasgow twist.
Director of Food, John Molloy, says:
“MAISON will be a game changer in the city centre – a brasserie perfectly tailored to the all day dining needs of Glasgow. The food has a classic French brasserie feel to it, while taking inspiration from our sister restaurant, Glaschu, and really utilising the outstanding Scottish produce we have available on our doorstep. I can’t wait to open our doors and for people to see what we’ve been working on.”
General Manager, Clare Johnstone, added:
“I cannot wait to share MAISON by Glaschu with the people of Glasgow.. We promise a culinary experience that is both timeless and innovative. Maison believes in delivering more than just great service – we aim to create memorable experiences for all.”.”
MAISON by Glaschu is scheduled to open at the beginning of May, collaborating with their Champagne partner, LVMH, to offer the first 100 diners a complimentary glass of Moet & Chandon. Bookings can be made now at www.maisonglasgow.co.uk/reservations.
Café Cùil on the Isle of Skye, and Fhior in Edinburgh – are teaming up on Saturday the 4th of May to bring a fine-dining supperclub to the Isle of Skye for one night only.
Chef-owners Clare Coghill (Café Cùil) and Scott Smith (Fhior) will collaborate on a six-course menu that will infuse Clare’s island produce-inspired dishes with Fhior’s clean, precise, and seasonal cooking, to bring something new and exciting to the island for one night only. The chefs will alternate courses, using local Skye produce and ingredients foraged by the chefs themselves, creating a unique menu served at Café Cùil. Clare and Scott will be on hand to chat guests through the creation and innovation process, ingredients and inspirations, as well as to add the finishing touches to dishes at the communal table.
Priced at £90 per person for 6 courses with a welcome drink provided by Isle of Raasay Distillery.
The menu –
Welcome drink – Isle of Raasay gin dirty gooseberry martini
Venison – smoked egg- wild herb
Beremeal sourdough – aged butter – brunost
Dunvegan crab ravioli – whisky bisque – dill
Asparagus – sunflower seed – wild garlic
Scallop – douglas fir – kohlrabi
Hebridean Hogget – jerusalem artichoke – anchovy
Rhubarb – white chocolate – gorse – blood orange
Finishing dram – Rowan shoot schnapps
On the event, Clare Coghill from Café Cùil says:
“I am really excited to have Scott up from Fhior to demonstrate the best of Scottish cooking. I admire his work and look forward to sharing my Cùil kitchen with him for the evening! Skye’s seasonal produce is in abundance at this time of year, so it’s going to be a really special dinner”
Scott Smith, Fhior, added:
“The Isle of Skye is one of my favourite parts of the world, and I’m looking forward to joining the talented Clare at Café Cùil to give the island a taste of what we get up to at our restaurant in Edinburgh. Skye’s produce is some of the best in the world, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it and work with Clare to create a showstopping menu and put on an unforgettable evening!”
Café Cùil began its story in the heart of Hackney, East London in 2019, where Clare’s passion for Hebridean produce created a unique café space in London that allowed her to showcase the fantastic ingredients that reminded her of home. Now based back on the Isle of Skye, the café has been reborn in the idyllic setting of Carbost. Nestled at the foot of the Black Cuillin Mountains, floor to ceiling windows give stunning views over the glimmering Loch Harport and hills.
Fhior, which opened in June 2018, is a fine dining Scottish restaurant, co-owned by husband-and-wife team, Scott and Laura Smith, with Scott heading up the kitchen. Since opening, the restaurant has won numerous awards and is listed in the Good Food Guide and Michelin Guide. Fhior’s ethos lies in showcasing Scottish produce and elevating the flavours that the country has to offer. Guests visiting the restaurant can choose between a seven or ten-course tasting menu – a dining experience that delivers a constantly evolving series of dishes.
The collaboration supper club will be taking place on Saturday the 4th of May at Café Cùil in Carbost on the Isle of Skye. Welcome drinks commence at 7pm, for a 7:30pm start. The communal dining experience is limited to just 30 guests, and advanced booking is necessary.
Six-course dinner – £90
Unfortunately, due to the nature of this event, dietary requirements or allergies cannot be catered for.
To secured a booking, contact Café Cùil on info@cafecuil.com or call 01478 640575
Mingary Castle – a unique restaurant with rooms in a 13th century Scottish Castle, on the remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula was awarded 3 AA Rosettes last night at the AA Awards at RAK Ceramics Design Hub, London. Run by chef owner Colin Nicholson, and co-owner Jessica Thompson, Mingary Castle was one of just two restaurants awarded 3 AA Rosettes last night.
Mingary Castle receiving the Rosettes coincides with the publication of the AA Restaurant Guide 2024. Three Rosettes is given by the AA to restaurants that have “achieved culinary standards that demand national recognition well beyond their local area. The cooking will be underpinned by the selection and sympathetic treatment of the highest quality ingredients. Timing, seasoning and the judgement of flavour combinations will be consistently excellent. These virtues will tend to be supported by other elements such as intuitive service and a well-chosen wine list.”
Receiving the award is a huge achievement for a restaurant, with Mingary Castle being one of only two Scottish restaurants to gain such accolade this year. Taken together, restaurants with 3, 4 or 5 Rosettes make up the top 10% of venues with an AA award.
The 13th century Mingary Castle was restored to its former glory in 2016 and in 2021 its drawbridge dropped and reopened as a stunning restaurant with rooms, with seasoned hospitality professionals, Colin and Jessica, at its helm. It was awarded 5 gold stars by AA in 2022 and recognised in The Times Top 100 Places to Stay in Britain’s list. This year it won Best Restaurant Newcomer at the Scottish Excellence Awards and winners of the Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Choice Awards for Restaurants with Rooms. Jessica has recently been awarded CODE Hospitality’s Pioneer Award, and a prestigious Acorn Award.
Upon achieving Three Rosettes, Colin Nicholson says, “We are both delighted to have received such a prestigious accolade. It means so much to be able to bring this award home to Ardnamurchan, helping to place this remote part of the country firmly on Scotland’s culinary map. To be listed amongst some of the UK’s most renowned restaurants is such an honour. I want to extend my thanks to the hardworking team here at Mingary Castle, whose ambition and passion for hospitality has helped us reach this goal, as well as our loyal customers – both local and from afar – who have supported us ever since we opened”.
Chef patron, Colin Nicholson’s, restaurant serves a five or eight course tasting menu in the intimate 20 cover dining room. The daily changing menu showcases the best produce that the west coast of Scotland has to offer. Fruit, vegetables and herbs are sourced from the local community garden that Colin and Jessica are involved in, fish is sourced from Tobermory Fish Co and Iain Stewart’s in Fort William and a local fishing boat for langoustines, crab and lobster, and Highland based Great Glen Charcuterie is used for cured meats. They work with a local farmer who provides the pork for their homemade sausages for breakfast. Colin’s tasting menu is designed to use the ingredients to their full potential, simple dishes bursting with flavour are at the heart of the cooking. A complimentary wine pairing, featuring old and new world wines, is available.
Jessica has skilfully curated the drinks menu and wine list. All of the gin is sourced in Scotland, including three gins from her home, the Isle of North Uist; there are plenty of whiskies on the menu sourced from across the country, from the Highlands to Lowlands and the Ardnamurchan estate’s own distillery.
Mingary Castle’s restaurant is open Tuesday-Sunday between 6.30pm-8.30pm for residents and non-residents. Guests can select either a five-course (£60 per person) or an eight-course tasting menu (£90 per person, or £140 including paired wines). A lunch menu is served on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and a table d’hote lunch is served every Sunday from 12pm-2pm (two courses for £36 or three for £46).
You can read more about Mingary Castle’s listing in the AA Guide here.
The Isle of Skye’s favourite brunch spot, Café Cùil, will re-open its doors for the 2024 season this weekend and, to celebrate, they’ve partnered up with their island neighbours, Isle of Raasay Distillery. Working together to host a series of collaborative supper clubs throughout the year, a new menu of distillery-inspired drinks and dishes will also feature on the spring menu at the cafe.
The first supper-club, The Spirit of Spring dinner, will take place at the Café on Saturday 23rd March with a four course dinner prepared by Clare with paired serves and drams by the Raasay Distillery team.
Two of the most exciting businesses on the West Coast of Scotland, the distillery is based on the neighbouring island of Raasay, which is just a short ferry journey from Sconser on Skye. Clare has been working with the makers of award-winning whisky and gin since she opened her business, and they share the same ethos of using the best local ingredients, with Clare foraging for her menu and the Distillery inspired by location, distilled, matured, bottled and shipped from the island, with all products using water drawn from their own well on site, Tobar na Ba Bàine (The Well of the Pale Cow).
Founded by Skye native and Gaelic speaker, Clare Coghill, Café Cùil draws inspiration from the wild and natural larder that the Hebridean island has to offer, using locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients. The Café’s unique brunch and lunch offer revolves around a menu that combines Scottish heritage with global influences from Clare’s travels.
The Spring Menu for Café Cùil will include:
‘Beans on toast’ with veggie haggis, spinach & foraged wild garlic pesto,
Crispy chicken sandwich, Strathdon blue mayo, fermented hot sauce, house pickles & Cuil slaw,
Whipped smoked mackerel on sourdough with blood orange, cucumber & fresh mint
The Café began its story in the heart of Hackney, East London in 2019, where Clare’s passion for Hebridean produce created a unique café space in London that allowed her to showcase the fantastic ingredients that reminded her of home. Now based back on the Isle of Skye, the café has been reborn in the idyllic setting of Carbost. Nestled at the foot of the Black Cuillin Mountains, floor to ceiling windows give stunning views over the glimmering Loch Harport and hills. A modern building with slate grey exterior and distinctive red tin roof, inside is a welcoming and comfortable dining space with Gaelic signage, natural wooden benches, fluffy white sheepskin rugs from local maker Skyeskyns and posies of wildflowers and plants. Last year saw the addition of a concept store within the building, with Clare curating local and Scottish artisan makers of food, drink, homeware and gifts, with coffee, candles, drinks, books, art, skincare and ceramics for sale.
Café Cùil is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-4pm, from Friday 1st of March. The Café operates a walk-in only policy. For large and private bookings, contact info@cafecuil.com
Menu and tickets for The Spirit of Spring Dinner will be available soon, for booking information keep an eye on the social media channels of both businesses.
You can read more about Café Cùil, including sample menus, on their website – https://www.cafecuil.com/
