News / One restaurant wins, another closes
THE SCALLOWAY Hotel has put Shetland on the good food map after being judged the best hotel restaurant in the Scottish islands.
However popular Lerwick restaurant Monty’s has decided to close its doors after almost two decades in business.
The west side hotel run by couple Peter Mackenzie and Caroline Moyes beat competitors from throughout the northern and western isles to be judged regional winner in the 2015 Scottish Hotel Awards.
The accolade sees them competing for the national prize against some of Scotland’s most impressive eateries, including two run by world famous chefs Albert and Michel Roux.
The Scalloway Hotel has had a good year, acquiring two AA rosettes last year for the quality of its food and service.
Last year the restaurant received an added boost when it took on pastry chef Amy Henderson and her partner Chris White, who joined head chef Ciaran Lack, John Targar and Akshay Borges, the longest serving member of the chefing team from Mumbai.
“This comes as a great credit to our team because they all work extremely hard,” Moyes said.
“It’s also great for us to be recognised throughout Scotland in this way, and wonderful to be in such exalted company as the Roux brothers, and places like the Inverlochy Castle Hotel in Fort William and the Pierhouse Hotel in Appin.”
The couple, who celebrate their seventh anniversary running the hotel on Saturday, will be heading to Glasgow for the awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza on 19 April.
Meanwhile Monty’s, on Lerwick’s Mounthooly Street, has closed its doors after 19 years serving food.
Owner Raymond Smith told BBC Radio Shetland he felt it was time for a change while there was still time for him to do other things.
“It’s been nice, we’ve had a lot of good fun and we’ve had some great staff, who have all moved on to other jobs,” he said.
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