Cromlix, the five star country house hotel owned by Kim and Andy Murray, has appointed James Mearing as Executive Head Chef. He replaces outgoing Darin Campbell who had worked at the hotel for eleven years and has left to pursue new projects.
He will be in charge of all fine dining at the hotel, and will also be a fundamental part of planning for a new restaurant and kitchen which has planning approval and is due to open in Spring 2026.
Mearing started his training on the job at Fawsley Hall and is passionate about exploring different cuisines and flavours, and using local, in-season produce. He was formerly Executive Chef at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Restaurant in Evershot, Dorset where he held three AA Rosettes, and prior to that, as well as working at Fawsley Hall Hotel in Northampton he was also at Lainston House Hotel in Hampshire, The Gainsborough Bath Spa (where he was an instrumental part in the restaurant achieving three Rosettes) and the Michelin starred Wild Rabbit in the Cotswolds. In 2022 he won Three Counties Chef of the Year.
He will be moving with his family to Stirlingshire and is working with Darin Campbell and the rest of the team to ensure a seamless handover at The Glasshouse, the multiple award-winning Cromlix restaurant.
General Manager Barry Makin said, “We put James through a challenging recruitment process but he came through with flying colours. His food is absolutely exceptional and he has some impressive ideas for our fine dining menu.
“The Glasshouse has been a real success story since the refurbishment of the hotel, full most nights of the week and at lunchtimes, and we have a large number of repeat diners who eat here regularly. We are confident that this next chapter will continue that success and look forward to integrating James properly into the Cromlix team”.
James Mearing said, “It’s a really exciting time to be joining Cromlix. The hotel has developed a fantastic reputation for excellent food under Darin’s stewardship, and I’m looking forward to developing that and taking it forward. The new restaurant concept presents a great opportunity to create a real food destination here at Cromlix for the Stirlingshire community and beyond.”
