Head chef and co-owner Tom Tsappis has been shortlisted in the Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year category in the annual Hotel Cateys, the hospitality industry Oscars, alongside fellow finalists: Mathew Sherry, The Balmoral; Rob Mason, the Cottage in the Wood; and Samira Effa, Grantley Hall.
A benchmark of excellence
Since their launch in 2007, the Hotel Cateys have celebrated the most successful hotels, hoteliers and hotel employees across the UK. Recognising and rewarding those individuals and teams who work tirelessly to ensure exceptional guest experiences.
The awards, supported by headline sponsors Bidfood, remain the hotel industry’s only truly independent benchmark of operational excellence, with entrants judged by their peers and industry experts. Over 100 judges, selected for their experience and industry knowledge, met earlier this month (September) at the Royal Automobile Club to select the shortlists and debate the potential winners.
The category finalists now have to wait until 13th November, when the winners of the 20 award categories, including Food & beverage Manager of the Year, Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year, Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year, Concierge of the Year, Housekeeper of the Year, People Manager of the Year, and the 2023 Hotelier of the Year award, will be revealed at a glittering black-tie event being held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.
This is not only excellent news for Killiecrankie House but also good for the whole Pitlochry community which will benefit from such a prestigious dining experience in the town. Good food attracts visitors and that’s good news for any area that has a vibrant tourist industry as part of its local economy.
A gourmet bolthole that can hold its own
In addition to the Hotel Cateys, Killiecrankie House has also been shortlisted in the Food & Travel Magazine Reader Awards, in the Gourmet Bolthole category, alongside a who’s who of industry names. The nominees include: The Black Swan (Oldstead), Bull & Last (London), The Loch & The Tyne (Old Windsor), Old Downton Lodge (Ludlow), Outlaw’s Guesthouse (Port Isaac), Padstow Townhouse (Padstow), The Queen’s Arms (Corton Denham), Restaurant Sat Bains (Nottingham), and Ynyshir (Eglwys Fach). Its great to see a Perthshire restaurant being able to compete in such acclaimed company.
The annual Food & Travel awards are designed to celebrate the world of food, drink and travel, with the 2023 shortlist reflecting the talent and ever-increasing variety out there. Each of the award nominations is based on feedback from real guests and individual readers of the magazine. Each nomination is then judged by a panel of industry experts who draw on real-life experiences to inform their vote and decide the winners in each of the 24 award categories.
Now the nominees, including the team from Killiecrankie House, have to wait until November to be invited to a black-tie dinner which will be held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London, to discover who will win through in each of the award categories. Including: Restaurant of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Bar of the Year, Hotel of the Year, Cookery School of the Year, Tour Operator of the year, Airline of the Year, Cruise Line of the Year, City of the Year and Long-Haul Destination of the Year amongst others.
A roller coaster year
Commenting on Killiecrankie’s two award nominations Tom and Matilda Tsappis co-owners of the restaurant with rooms, near Pitlochry, said:
‘’We’ve had a bit of a rollercoaster year so far and being recognised alongside some of the industry stalwarts is incredible. We’re an exceptionally small team that just gets stuck in and tries our utmost to ensure that each and every guest who dines or stays with us has the best possible experience. The hard work and dedication we put in as a team demonstrates our commitment to being the best we can possible be, and without doubt these two award nominations are a reflection of that, and we’d like to thank every member of the team for all that they do in helping to make Killiecrankie a success.’’
A destination
Many visitors know Killiecrankie as a place where Scottish history and natural history combine. The Battle of Killiecrankie took place in 1689 and is best known now for the Soldier’s Leap. This was a spectacular 18 foot leap across the fast flowing River Garry which was the only means of escaping the victorious Jacobites. Killiecrankie and Pitlochry are both steeped in history.
The Garry Bridge at Killiecrankie offers never to be forgotten views of autumnal trees and is visited by many keen photographers wanting to capture nature at it autumnal best.
So if you are looking for a quality visitor experience that encompasses Scottish history, natural history and fine dining then Killiecrankie has it all on offer this autumn.
Further information can be found on the Killiecrankie House website.
Article based on a press release by Killiecrankie House
