Popular village hotel gains national recognition

SCALLOWAY Hotel has been nominated for Scotland’s independent hotelier of the year award – in addition to winning a trio of regional prizes for its food and hospitality.

The village hotel, run by Peter and Caroline Mckenzie, has been recognised in regional categories before but this is the first time it has been in contention for the nationwide hotelier award.

It has picked up regional recognition for the quality of its breakfast, fine dining and front-of-house team in the 2016 Scottish Hotel Awards. 

Caroline said she was delighted that the hard work of all of her staff had been recognised.

Scalloway Hotel will find out whether it has won at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh on 24 April.

“We’re really chuffed,” Caroline said. “Everybody works so hard and it’s great when they’re given some recognition.

“We’re really delighted – it’s good to be flying the flag for Shetland and getting Shetland’s name up there.”

She said it was a real achievement for Scalloway Hotel to be nominated. Major players on the Scottish hotel scene, including the Cromlix luxury hotel near Dunblane which is owned by tennis superstar Andy Murray, are vying for awards in some of the other categories.

Caroline said that, having completed work on upgrading all of the hotel’s 23 bedrooms and fitting them with new bathrooms, attention would now be turning to the public areas.

The owners are working with award-winning Glasgow-based interior designers CM Design Consultants on revamping the lounge bar, restaurant and public reception.