Apex Hotels has confirmed that its long-running collaboration with chef and television personality Nick Nairn at Dunblane Hydro will come to an end in March 2026, drawing a 16-year chapter at the Kailyard restaurant to a close. The move is described as a mutual decision that coincides with a major refurbishment and repositioning of the historic hotel under the Apex Dunblane Hydro banner.
The partnership between Nairn and the hotel began with the launch of the Kailyard, which quickly became known for its modern take on Scottish cooking and its focus on local, seasonal produce. Over more than a decade and a half, the restaurant has helped cement Dunblane Hydro’s reputation as a dining destination in central Scotland.
Apex Hotels has stated that the collaboration will formally conclude in March 2026, following the recent reopening of the property as Apex Dunblane Hydro in November 2025. Both parties have emphasised that the decision is amicable and aligned with their respective future plans.
Nairn will now concentrate fully on his existing ventures in Port of Menteith, including his restaurant Nick’s and the Nick Nairn Cook School. These businesses have become central to his work in recent years, combining informal dining with hands-on cookery experiences.
For Apex, the end of the partnership comes as part of a wider repositioning of the hotel following its acquisition of the 200-bedroom property and the launch of a multi‑million‑pound refurbishment programme. The work covers bedrooms, public spaces, leisure facilities, and conference and events areas, marking one of the most significant periods of investment in the building’s 147‑year history.
The hotel group plans to introduce a reimagined restaurant concept with a new name, look and menus, to be revealed in early 2026. The refreshed F&B offer is intended to align more closely with Apex’s brand while maintaining a strong sense of place in the Perthshire market.
Despite Nairn’s departure, there will be continuity at the stove, with long‑standing colleague Brian Scanlin staying on as Executive Head Chef. Scanlin has worked alongside Nairn at the Kailyard and is expected to bring both consistency and new creative direction as the restaurant evolves.
Nick Nairn said: “I’m very proud of all the Kailyard has achieved. However, it’s time for me to focus exclusively on the restaurant and cook school in Port of Menteith. I wish only the best for the Dunblane Hydro and the team. I’ll be a very interested onlooker as Apex invests in and improves the hotel I believe it’s in good hands and I look forward to visiting as a guest.”
Apex’s area general manager, Paul Mooney, has paid tribute to Nairn’s influence on the hotel and the wider central Scotland food scene, highlighting his role in building a restaurant noted for quality and its championing of Scottish produce. Mooney also pointed to “a great deal to look forward to” as the new concept comes to life within the refurbished hotel.
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To mark the end of the partnership, Apex plans to host a farewell event at Apex Dunblane Hydro on Thursday 26 March 2026, celebrating Nairn’s 16 years at the helm of the Kailyard. The occasion will bring together colleagues, partners and friends to acknowledge his leadership, creativity and contribution to the hotel’s success.
While the collaboration is ending, both parties are positioning the change as a springboard for future growth: Nairn in Port of Menteith, and Apex as it reshapes one of Scotland’s most recognisable country hotels for a new generation of guests.
