Saturday, February 8, 2025
Saturday, February 8, 2025
HomeNewsNewly refurbished Ballater Arms achieves AA five-star rating

Newly refurbished Ballater Arms achieves AA five-star rating

Following an investment of £2.2million and a complete refurbishment, which was unveiled in June, Crerar Hotels’ Balmoral Arms in Royal Deeside (formerly The Deeside Inn) has become Ballater’s only official five-star AA-rated business.

Inspectors were impressed with the results of the significant investment which has seen the hotel preserve the unique character of the building whilst completely upgrading the 46 bedrooms and suites, all public spaces including the restaurant and soon-to-launch spa.

Crerar Hotels seven-strong portfolio is one of Scotland’s most improved Scottish hotel companies thanks to its upgraded AA ratings. In the past two years, Glencoe Inn has achieved a five-star AA rating plus an AA Breakfast Award, dining rosettes across the portfolio and Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa and Oban Bay Hotel both received four-stars.

The investment has seen Joanna Whysall, former GM at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, take the reins with many jobs created in the area since the rebrand.

Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels, said: “Following the relaunch of Balmoral Arms just last month, we are ecstatic that we’ve achieved the prestigious AA five-star rating.

“As part of our ongoing investment in our properties and people, we are now the most improved Scottish hotel company thanks to our many upgraded AA ratings, especially within the past two years where we’ve seen Glencoe receive a five-star AA rating plus a AA Breakfast Award, dining rosettes across our portfolio and  Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa and Oban Bay Hotel receiving their four-stars.

“Balmoral Arms, led by Joanna Whysall and her ever-growing team, really encapsulates authentic Scottish hospitality and its spectacular location which has really inspired the design concept and approach when completing the refurbishment.

“The investment has allowed us to create a truly breath-taking offering which will drive more tourists to the area and create more footfall for Royal Deeside. Relaunching as Balmoral Arms has also allowed us to further offer an experience which is more fitting with the area’s strong royal heritage.”

The upgrades continue at Balmoral Arms with the newly launched classic Scottish brasserie and grill, 1852, named after the year in which the Balmoral Castle was purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria, is where simple cooking and rich flavours come together to give a real taste of the Cairngorms.

The Balmoral Arms refurbishment is part of a wider Crerar Hotel Group programme of investment across 2022 which sees a total of £4.5million spent across the Ballater hotel as well as Golf View Hotel & Spa and Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa.

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