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An award-winning boutique hotel in the stunning Black Isle countryside has reopened its restaurant, now helmed by award-winning Inverness chef Alex Henderson.
The relaunch of Newhall Mains, said to be the only luxury accommodation provider in the UK with its own airfield, follows a period of refurbishment and the appointment of Mr Henderson as head chef.
Set in a converted 18th century farmhouse in Balblair on the northern edge of the Black Isle, Newhall Mains was established in 2021 following extensive restoration by owner Euan Ramsay and his family.
Mr Henderson, who began his career as a kitchen assistant at the Waterside Hotel in his home town, brings years of experience from famous kitchens across the UK, including six years as sous chef at the Michelin-starred House of Tides in Newcastle and most recently as head chef at Highland hotel The Torridon.
He is keen to make the most of Scotland’s larder, using ingredients found on the Newhall Mains estate and in the surrounding area, including elderflower, chanterelles and meadowsweet.
Almost everything is made in-house, including the bread, called “Andy’s Sourdough” after the chef who brought the sourdough, and the jam and honeycomb from the estate’s bees.
The menu changes regularly to highlight the best ingredients, with an emphasis on vegetables, Scottish seafood and whole fish preparation.
The restaurant, which seats 35 people, is housed in a former granary and overlooks the hotel’s courtyard and grounds.
After working in the finance and hospital sectors in London for six years, Mr Ramsay left the city in 2019 and moved to the Highlands to take on the renovation of his family farm.
The restaurant is now in its fourth year of operation and Mr Ramsay said: “We are delighted to welcome Alex to our team. His arrival marks an exciting new chapter in the development of our restaurant and I am confident that his innovative and sustainable approach, based on promoting local ingredients, will be a great addition to the Highlands restaurant scene.”
The restaurant is open daily from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are possible HERE.
The luxurious accommodation consists of five cottages and four double bedroom suites, each individually designed and decorated to embody a versatile yet functional take on Highland hospitality.
