The owners of an award-winning Highland restaurant with rooms are celebrating after receiving four prestigious awards from the AA, recognising the quality of their accommodation, food service and wine list.
The Dipping Lugger, Ullapool, in the north-western Highlands, has just successfully retained the AA’s five-star-gold Restaurant With Rooms Award, three AA Red Rosettes for Culinary Excellence and the AA Breakfast Award for the third consecutive year, and to round things off has now proudly added a Notable Wine List Award to their collection.
The Dipping Lugger’s co-owner Robert Hicks said: “We’re delighted that we’ve maintained our five Star restaurant with Rooms Award, three AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence, and our Breakfast Award, but the fact that the AA has also chosen to recognise the strength and depth of our wine list with a Notable Wine List Award is the cherry on top.
“Helen and I would like to thank them for the commitment they’ve shown in helping us work towards our goals for The Dipping Lugger across every area of our business.
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Robert added: ‘’It’s been an exciting year so far with The Dipping Lugger being shortlisted in the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards in the Fine Dining Category, The Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards in the Restaurant of the Year category.
“Most recently we were announced as regional winners in the Scottish Thistle Awards for the Highlands & Islands Best Eating Experience category, which now sees us go forward to the National Finals in Glasgow in November.
“I’m sure when we all have five minutes the entire team will take a few moments to celebrate everything we’ve achieved so far.
“With that in mind, I’d like to add that these awards are really about every member of the team, from housekeeping to front-of-house and from pot wash to our chefs and I’d like to say very big thanks to them for all their help in making The Lugger what it is today.’’
The AA Hotel Services’ Hotel & Restaurant Inspector commented: ‘‘Highlights of the meal taken were a beautifully fresh large local scallop and a delightful and technically accomplished dessert.’’
The Inspector also added: ‘’The property continues to project a strong impression on arrival – the harbourside location and setting are truly enviable and no doubt will impress visitors here. Bedroom interiors are individually designed and show high-quality décor and complimentary furnishing styles.’’
The AA introduced a star rating system to classify hotels in 1912, and in 2006 they developed Common Quality Standards for inspecting and rating accommodation.
These standards and rating categories are now applied throughout the British Isles.
These well-established and nationally recognised ratings provide businesses with an independent national quality marque, which in turn enables potential guests to make informed decisions about where to stay based on information collated by one of the UK’s most trusted brands.
In turn, an AA Red Rosette award is only presented to restaurants that are achieving standards that stand out in their local area.
These are restaurants that are serving food prepared with care, understanding and skill, using good quality ingredients, enabling diners to make informed decisions about where to eat.
The AA introduced a brand-new award in the form of the AA Breakfast Award, specifically designed to celebrate the best start to the day, which was introduced in 2019.
Introduced in 1998, the AA Notable Wine List Award is given on the overall quality of its wine selection, as well as an outstanding contribution to promoting wine understanding and appreciation.
Nominees are judged on the quality of their wine list and their ability to inspire customers to make wider and more adventurous choices in selecting wines.
