The Scottish luxury kitchen specialist expands its prestigious hospitality portfolio with a unique Chef's Table installation aboard Edinburgh's five-star Fingal, following a significant management buyout and new strategic appointments.
Kitchens International (KI), the renowned Scottish firm specialising in luxury kitchens and living spaces, has announced a notable expansion into the hospitality sector, highlighted by its most recent and distinctive project: a bespoke kitchen designed for Fingal, the acclaimed AA five-star floating hotel docked in Leith, Edinburgh. This commission marks a strategic move for the award-winning company, which recently completed a management buyout and unveiled ambitious growth plans.
The innovative kitchen was crafted for the Chef’s Table experience aboard Fingal, situated in The Bridge, the ship’s former command room. This intimate setting now accommodates up to ten guests, offering a unique dining experience where each course is prepared just metres from the table, allowing chefs to engage directly with diners. The space on Fingal’s top deck had previously lacked its own operational galley, making this installation a first for both the vessel and Kitchens International, as their inaugural onboard ship project.
Fingal, a former Northern Lighthouse Board service ship built in 1963 by the Blythswood Shipbuilding Company in Glasgow, underwent a significant £5 million transformation by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, opening as a luxury hotel in January 2019. The vessel boasts 23 exquisitely designed cabins, each drawing inspiration from its rich maritime heritage and named after Stevenson lighthouses. The hotel’s Lighthouse Restaurant has been awarded two AA Rosettes, contributing to Fingal being crowned ‘AA Hotel of the Year Scotland 2023-24’.
Graham Johnston, CEO and Owner at Kitchens International, commented on the unique nature of the project: “Designing a kitchen for a private dining setting with so much history and character was a real privilege for Kitchens International. This is the first project of its kind for us, and it drew on everything our design team has learnt across years of bespoke work.” He further elaborated on the collaborative effort, stating, “We worked closely with Fingal’s Executive Chef, Mark Alston, and the galley team to design a small open kitchen that sits comfortably within its surroundings while functioning as a professional working space. A custom-made kitchen was central to creating a strong visual flow between the Chef’s Table and the open kitchen, and Gaggenau appliances complement the subtle modern detailing found throughout the ship.”
This expansion into the commercial realm aligns with KI’s strategic direction following its management buyout in June 2026, which saw Graham Johnston acquire the business from the James Donaldson Group, establishing it under independent family ownership. The company is embarking on a new phase of growth, including plans to open three new showrooms across Scotland this year in Edinburgh’s Morningside, Glasgow’s West End, and an appointment-only studio at Orwell Farm, Loch Leven, which recently opened. This expansion is expected to increase the firm’s total employee count to 40, reinforcing its presence across Scotland.
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KI’s growing hospitality portfolio also includes collaborations with other prominent Scottish culinary figures such as Nick Nairn’s Cook School, which reopened in Port of Menteith in January 2024 after a three-year closure, and Tony Singh’s intimate Supper Club in Edinburgh. Additionally, the company completed a previous installation at Martin Wishart’s Cook School. [cite: original article] Chef Tony Singh MBE has also joined KI’s newly formed Advisory Board, alongside entrepreneur Colette Grant, marketing leader Emma Aitken, and technology specialist Martin Ewart, providing strategic guidance for the business’s ambitious plans.
The UK’s luxury fitted kitchen market, valued at £2.15 billion in 2025, represents a significant segment, with specialist studios like Kitchens International accounting for over 60% of projects costing at least £70,000. This demonstrates a robust market for high-end design and bespoke solutions, a sector in which KI has a proven track record. The firm has consistently been recognised for its excellence, including multiple KBB Review UK Kitchen Retailer of the Year awards, and in 2025, Araminata Glenn from Kitchens International secured the KBSA Concept Designer of the Year award for the third time.
Johnston concluded, “Our hospitality work has grown steadily alongside the residential side of the business, and projects like this one are where our design team is at its most inventive. It was a pleasure to work with the team aboard Fingal, and we are proud of what we have created together.” The luxury hotel market in Scotland itself is experiencing robust growth, with Edinburgh’s high-end establishments showing strong occupancy and rising room rates, outperforming several other European luxury markets. This buoyant environment provides a fertile ground for KI’s continued diversification and success in the premium commercial sector.
