Auchrannie Resort & Spa welcomed more than 1,400 dogs last year which is amazing. Now Principal Edinburgh is getting in on the act. It has joined the ranks of the pet-friendly, by welcoming its first V.I.P – Very Important Pooch. The hotel rolled out the red carpet for the VisitScotland Ambassadog, Golden George, on his visit to the capital. George, who turns two next month and has been VisitScotland’s Ambassadog since 2016.
According to the hotel, he was ‘Paw’fectly behaved”. The hotel offers its K9 guests personally labelled dog beds, ceramic Principal pet bowls and doggy hampers containing doggy bags, chews and handmade gourmet treats. I’m hiding this story from my dogs!
It’s been a busy couple of months for chef David Littlewood. First of all in March he and business partner and brother-in-law, Nigel Hake took on the long-term lease for The Tor Na Coille Hotel in Banchory and last month he was appointed President of the Scottish Federation of Chefs Scotland. David, 34, is the federation’s youngest ever chief.
The pair, who will continue to run their original establishment Kildrummy Inn, will be busy.
This month David Cochrane, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, is joining more than 20 intrepid explorers who are taking on some of the most arduous parts of the Great Wall of China, which are literally off the beaten track, for the charity closest to their heart… HIT Scotland. The purpose of this 10-day expedition is to raise funds for the Year of Young People in 2018 when HIT hope to award up to 218 scholarships including one to China. All the participants have spent many months training … trekking to and from the bar (only joking), but seriously it’s for a great cause. Each individual on the expedition is paying their own costs so every penny raised will go towards the scholarships. They have set themselves a target of £30k which they aim to smash! So if you want to support him and his teammates – it is not too late. Donate at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/hitthewall/301810
It was lovely to catch up with Bill Costley at Lochgreen. Even more interesting for me was the lesson on modern-day Scottish artists that I got when I was there from Bill and his colleague Margaret Johnston. You never know I might even sign up for one of Lochgreen’s art demonstrations. Though personally, I like Bill’s own efforts, particularly his Poppies! Bill was looking quite relaxed and no wonder his business, Costley & Costley Hoteliers, has reported a 20 per cent lift in annual profits on a near two per cent increase in sales for the 2016 year to September. That’s good going.
It could be a great summer for the Scottish hospitality sector according to new research from Barclays Corporate Banking. It has revealed that two-fifths of Scots are planning a staycation over an overseas holiday due to the weak pound. The research also highlighted the fact that Scotland comes second after London as a destination for international tourists particularly Russians, Germans and Australians.
Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile, which has opened inside Edinburgh’s renowned Old Sailor’s Ark building on the Royal Mile, has launched a campaign to gather memories and photos to celebrate the impact the Old Sailor’s Ark had on the city. In 1911 an old sailor, Captain Charles Taylor of the Merchant Navy, died leaving a will in which he gave money to be devoted to the welfare of the poor. By 1936 enough had accumulated to build the Old Sailor’s Ark. It housed a restaurant and hospitality space with the specific purpose of feeding and sheltering those in need in the city. The Old Sailor’s Ark lived up to the dying wishes of Captain Charles Taylor, serving one million meals a year to hungry Edinburgh families before and after the war.
Commenting on the campaign, Jose Gomez, General Manager Adagio Edinburgh, comments, “We wanted to cherish and celebrate this legacy of hospitality, and are asking people of Edinburgh and Scotland to share their memories, stories and images of how the Old Sailor’s Ark impacted their lives and their city. The memories shared will be collated into a special exhibition. at the Adagio.”