by Viv Devlin

Located in the heart of Perthshire a few miles north of Pitlochry, The House of Bruar has gained an exceptional reputation over the past fifteen years as the Harrods of the North or the Harvey Nichols of the Highlands.

This whitewashed contemporary Castle is a popular tourist attraction welcoming around one million visitors each year on their travels north and south along the A9 on a tour of Scotland.  This is the Home of Country Clothing for the smartest tweed jackets, sportswear, soft lambswool and cashmere sweaters, shoes, boots and handbags as well as homeware, garden centre, gifts, books, toys and art gallery.

And just like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, a highlight of this Emporium is the Food Hall.  The good news is that even if you are not planning to travel to Perthshire soon, you can browse the website, send away for a catalogue and arrange mail order delivery for everything from finest fashions to gourmet food. The selection of the best of British food on display emphasises fresh, seasonal, organic Scottish produce.  Visiting in late September, the outdoor fruit and vegetable market has overflowing baskets of juicy raspberries from the Carse of Gowrie, blackberries from Aberfeldy, tiny, sweet Marjorie plums, Scottish tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli and wild chanterelles mushrooms, Autumn pears and English Windsor, Cox and Bramley apples.

All fruit is local with zero carbon imprint, so you won’t find bananas, oranges and lemons for sale. Step inside the Food Hall and your senses of sight, smell and taste will be mesmerised by the range of produce from cakes and chocolates, champagne and cheese, freshly baked bread to the brand new Butchery.  This is the story of the Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick maker! 

The House of Bruar - Beef & Poultry

Harry Coates is the Master Butcher in charge, arriving here with over thirty years experience in the business.  The House of Bruar Butchery has been accepted into the prestigious Q Guild, which represents the Rolls Royce of British butchers. The 140 Q Guild members maintain the highest standards of professional training and meat quality.  

Quality is the priority and lamb is sourced from Aberdeenshire to ensure the very best.  As we slowly approach the Festive season, free range Kelly Bronze turkeys will be for sale – it might be wise to put your order in now !

This is an old fashioned butcher’s shop where you’ll find 14 – 16 different varieties of home- made speciality sausages (containing up to 80% meat,) as well as Venison burgers and very popular steak and kidney pies topped with shortcrust pastry. The Butchery is a welcome addition to the Food Hall, especially valuable for visitors who are staying in and around the area in a self catering cottage or Shooting Lodge.  A selection of meat can be ordered as well as everyday groceries, wine and drinks; advance orders are preferred, but even if you have forgotten to do so before setting off, you can phone the House of Bruar while en route to Perthshire and as long as you give staff a couple of hours, your box of butcher meat and groceries will be ready waiting for you. 

Food for Foodies Browsing around the House of Bruar Food Hall is extremely appetising.  Shelves of fruit cakes, oatcakes and preserves and the choice of cheese – such as Feta, Lanark Blue, Arran Whisky Cheddar and Crannog – is superb.  You can be assured of only finding famous brands from Walkers shortbread and Brodies coffee to Inverawe Smoked Salmon and Hendrick’s Gin.  The most prominent name around the Food Hall is House of Bruar’s own beautifully packaged and branded good food and drink - salmon, damson jam, wine, champagne and Scottish bramble liqueur.

The House of Bruar Sloe Gin, (produced and bottled in Perthshire), is a traditional tipple before or after a day on the grouse moor, countryside walk or horse-riding. The Off Licence sells Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger beer – (only for grown-ups!), Scottish beers including Cairngorm brewery, Moulin ales, Black Isle red kite ale, Blackwood gin and vodka from Orkney and the very special House of Bruar Whisky.

As well as Butcher meat, other delicacies in the chill counter and Deli include wild boar, smoked beef, game terrine and acorn-fed Blackfoot Iberico pig ham. Check out Ready Made homely meals for a quick and easy supper:  Venison Casserole, Beef Bourguignon and to follow, Apple Pie.  There’s no fishmonger on site but still a feast of fish and delicious seafood on offer – Orkney crab, mussels, salmon, trout, lobster and langoustines.

From cashmere to cooking, the House of Bruar emphasises the traditions of Scottish Highland life, culture and country sports, with its corresponding fine hospitality, food and drink. You will never see “See You Jimmy” tartan tammies for sale – but only the finest clothing and shortbread, malt whisky, beef and salmon for which Scotland is famed worldwide. 

“We do have some tartan on display but we avoid anything too twee.
It’s on fresh, back-to-basics products that Scotland can do really well”
Oliver Platts, The House of Bruar

Christmas Hampers It’s not too soon to think about Christmas presents especially if you want to order a Food Hamper to send to friends and family at home or overseas. The House of Bruar Mail Order team pack and send out over 2,500 Christmas hampers each year with an enticing choice of festive food and drink.  The hampers are traditional wicker baskets which of course can be used as the perfect picnic basket for years to come.   New for 2010 is the Sporting Hamper, perfect for friends who may be planning a shooting party or Scottish Highland holiday. It includes House of Bruar Sloe gin, smoked venison, cake, biscuits and not forgetting meat treats for the dogs.

For that extra special occasion, The Bruar Banquet Hamper offers the most luxurious selection of Festive food and drink – the list is extraordinary, featuring bottles of Whisky, Port, champagne, wine, foie gras, smoked duck, Iberico ham, stollen, stilton etc. – you would not need to buy very much else for your Christmas-time feast.  

There are also Classic, Luxury, Highland, Celebration and Prestige hampers (£ 50 to  £250), stuffed full with the finest produce - a side of Smoked Salmon, mince pies, chocolates, cheese, Christmas pudding, Pinot Noir and Champagne. (Note that certain fresh foods and meat cannot be posted overseas).  The Hamper service is organised with professionalism and customer care while a tracking system ensures your hamper will be delivered with care and on time.

Corporate Gift Boxes An innovative new idea to expand the mail order hamper service (which is mainly at Christmas) is to offer a year round House of Bruar Gift Box. These can be filled with either House of Bruar Champagne and chocolate truffles, or Sloe gin, preserves and biscuits, or your tailor-made choice of food and drink, with prices from £ 29.95 to £ 49.95.  Primarily aimed at the Corporate market to present to clients and customers, these attractive cardboard boxes would make a delightful present for anyone. Businesses can also arrange to have House of Bruar gift boxes branded with their own corporate logo.

The Restaurant After wandering around the Food Hall you are sure to be ravenously hungry whether it’s time for Breakfast (9.30am till 11am), Morning coffee, Lunch (12 to 4.30pm) or Afternoon tea.  The same standard of local, homely Scottish produce is served in the welcoming Country Kitchen restaurant.  Here you’ll find comfortable seating with pine tables, the walls decorated with art work on a fishing theme, or sit outside, weather permitting, in the courtyard patio.  The Restaurant is self-service with an impressive menu to suit all tastes and appetites.  There are tureens of delicious thick soup, a selection of sandwiches and cakes, as well as all your favourite hot dishes from steak and ale pie and fried fish and chips, to  Roast pork and lamb, freshly sliced at the Carvery.

On Sunday indulge in traditional Roast beef served with Yorkshire pudding.  It’s good to know that this succulent lamb and beef has been prepared in house by Master Butcher Harry and his team, and sourced from local Estates.   The Salad counter has a seafood feast of smoked salmon, oysters, crab and other shellfish depending on the market.  To drink, teas, coffee, soft drinks, and, of course, House of Bruar red and white wine.  Bon Appetit!

 “During the summer months, House of Bruar serves between
two to three thousand people every day yet the food remains at a consistently
high standard. The food hall is an Aladdin’s cave of gourmet treats.”

Lady Claire Macdonald