The Cairn Lodge Hotel in Auchterarder has scooped the 2020 Scottish Bar & Pub ‘Restaurant of the Year’ award at a recently held virtual ceremony. Cairn Lodge secured the judge’s vote ahead of strong, well established competition from across Scotland. The judges commented on the Cairn’s all-round high performance from the welcome they received to the food quality and fantastic customer service.
A record 9,000 people voted this year and host showbiz journalist Beverley Lyons presented a total of 20 awards with unsuspecting recipients surprised by a knock at the door and a socially distanced congratulations from one of the awards team – among them Jonathan Gillbanks, Managing Director of Cairn Lodge who was surprised at home with a bottle of Champagne in celebration of the award.
Gillbanks, commented ‘This is a great recognition for our Garden Room Restaurant considering we have only been operating for less than 18 months and were up against such strong finalists. The Award demonstrates what great teamwork can achieve and means even more to receive it in a year where the hospitality industry has been devastated from the impacts of Covid. We would like to thank the judges, all at the DRAM magazine and all of our great loyal customers. Here’s to a successful and strong 2021 for everyone.’
Scotland’s longest-running industry ‘Oscars’ are organised by publishers of DRAM magazine and this one was determined to honour the fighting spirit and resilience of the people that make up Scotland’s hospitality industry during this heavy Covid weather as well as their all-round excellence as they usually do.
All the 2020 Scottish Bar & Pub awards winners:
Antos Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year, The Brig & Barrel, Dunbar
BII Customer Service – The Auldhouse, East Kilbride
Buzzworks & Montpeliers Family Endeavour award – McKenzie Family, Cathedral House, Glasgow
Carling Community Pub – The West End Bar, Blantyre
Cellar Trends Independent Pub Group – Buzzworks Holdings, Ayrshire
Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year – Flora Grant and Marion McKinnon, The Ardshiel Hotel, Campbeltown
DRAM Cocktail Bar/ Cocktail Initiative 2021 – The Glasgow Cocktail Collective
DRAM Inspirational Woman of the Year – Louise Maclean, Signature Pub Group, Edinburgh
Fatbuzz Social Media Awards – The Thornwood, Glasgow
Gordon & MacPhail Whisky Bar of the Year – The Pot Still, Glasgow
Kopparberg Best and Most Improved Outside Area – The Fort Hotel, Broughty Ferry
Open Ear Lionheart of the Industry Award – Donald MacLeod, Glasgow
Sea Change Evolution Award – Billy Milligan, Finsbay Flatiron, Glasgow
Wee Guide Restaurant of the year – Garden Room, Cairn Lodge Hotel, Auchterarder
Wm Grant & Sons Young Hero Award – Sarah Allan, Louie Browns Dalgety Bay
Wm Grant & Sons Local Licensed Trade Hero – Stuart McPhee, Siberia Bar & Grill, Aberdeen
Scottish Bar and Pub Awards Licensed Trade Champion – Stephen Montgomery, Townhead Hotel, Lockerbie
2020 Covid Pivot Award – The Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year – The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow
Lifetime Achievement – Alan Tomkins, Glasgow