News, awards and what’s on: Award winners and secret dinners
Christmas has come early for several Luxury Scotland member properties this December.
As the year draws to a close, the highlands and lowlands both took home first prizes, Fingal onboarded fresh faces, and The Royal Scotsman Train by Belmond has taken over Channel 4.
Add in the launch of Douneside House’s very appetising gastronomic club and there’s plenty to talk about – so let’s dive right in.
Luxury Scotland members make the grade
Huge congratulations to Murrayshall Country Estate and Inverlochy Castle, winners of the Best Value Experience and Best Immersive Experience awards, respectively, at the 2024 Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence.
This ranks both Scottish properties among the world’s finest luxury hotels, specifically recognising outstanding service, experiences and facilities. If you’re planning a country escape this winter, start here – if you can get a space!
New captains sail from Galicia to Fingal
A warm welcome to Fingal’s latest dynamic gastronomic duo – Head Chef Pedro Barreira and Restaurant Chef Andrea Sendon Alonso, with two CVs that read like a Who’s Who of elite Scottish restaurants.
We’re delighted to see Fingal’s stellar 2 AA Rosette dining offering continuing to go from strength to strength. In charge of the afternoon tea and dinner services, we can’t wait to see Pedro and Andrea weave some Galician flair into the Fingal fare.
Channel 4’s whistlestop tour of The Royal Scotsman Train by Belmond
Join the legendary Alan Cumming on an opulent odyssey through the heart of Scotland, with Channel 4’s new feature on the utterly luxurious Royal Scotsman Train by Belmond – All Aboard! Scotland’s Poshest Train.
Offering insight into life as both guest and staff, All Aboard! is a fun and light-hearted four-part adventure that will have anyone aching for a ticket. Check it out on the Channel 4 website.
The club to join this December
This December 19th, the team at Douneside House are pulling out all the stops to host a magical night of eating, drinking and merrymaking in the highlands. ‘A Very Festive Dining Club’ starts with drinks in the garden and evolves into a four-course festive menu beneath a canopy of twinkling lights and live music. It promises to be a night to remember – contact info@dounesidehouse.co.uk to learn more about this evening and future Douneside Dining Club events.