The Cairn Lodge & Hotel has opened in Auchterarder, near Gleneagles, following a multi-million pound makeover and creating more than 40 jobs in the area. Perthshire’s newest 5-star property is the vision of award-winning hotelier, Steven McLeod, and the latest addition to his luxury Aurora Hotel Collection.
Over £3 million was spent on the acquisition and reinvention of the Victorian property to create a stunning hotel featuring 10 exquisite bedrooms, a chic bar & grill, an outside terrace and separate luxury 5-bedroom lodge house.
The sizeable investment is reflected in the designer touches that are evident throughout the hotel, with interior decoration and furnishings by Andrew Martin, light fittings by Studio Italia, bedrooms featuring sumptuous Philippe Starck bathrooms, and with luxury amenities from the White Company.
The focal point of the boutique hotel is The Grill Room, one of the few venues in the UK to feature a Josper Grill, the latest oven to take the culinary world by storm and acclaimed by renowned chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal. Inspired by the grand Grill rooms of London, the restaurant offers an extensive and exciting choice of timeless classics with a modern twist, using locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
Chief Executive of the Aurora Hotel Collection, Steven McLeod said:
“The Cairn will add a new dimension to the accommodation and dining available in the area and is a great addition to the Aurora Hotel Collection.
“There is a market for hotels that offer a quality product and great service at an affordable price, and this is why we are continuing to hold our own and build our business in these very challenging times.
“The Cairn is the first of several ventures which we plan to open in the next 18 months and there will be at least two further additions to the Aurora Hotel Collection in the near future. The luxury Hotel Colessio will open in Stirling at the end of this year and, following an upgrade and refurbishment, the historic Kenmore Hotel, near Aberfeldy, will be re-launched along with our luxury lodge development at Kenmore.
“In total we expect to invest over £12 million in these projects and create employment for over 100 people by the end of 2012; but we are also still on the acquisition trail and, if the right opportunity presents itself, other projects and developments may well come on-stream.”