Tweet

One of the north Highlands’ leading chefs has unveiled a new loch side dining experience at Kylesku Hotel on the world-famous North Coast 500 (NC500) in Sutherland.

As of today Head Chef Grant Mercer and his team have launched a fresh summer menu for diners to enjoy outdoors with uninterrupted panoramic views over Loch Gleann Dubh, by the iconic Kylesku Bridge.

Owned and operated by Highland Coast Hotels and led by Chef Mercer, the Kylesku Hotel team has created the new loch side dining experience in time for mid-summer. Complete with glass-fronted deck and space for up to 30 people, Kylesku will offer a unique destination restaurant for people to indulge in award-winning fine dining in world-class natural scenery.

For those who prefer to dine indoors, the restaurant and dog-friendly bar at Kylesku offers space for up 64 people to dine with views of the loch. Outdoor heating and blankets are available for evenings and cooler days.

Combining his passion for sourcing high-quality, local and seasonal ingredients, Chef Mercer’s new menu celebrates the best of Scottish Highland larder, including fresh fish, hand-dived scallops and lobsters from Ullapool and Oban; award-winning Highland fine cheese from Rory Stone in Tain; venison from Ardgay Game and Inchnadamph estate; as well as North Highland grass-fed beef from Nigg.

Dishes on the new Kylesku menu include Kame’s Steelhead Trout; Fillet of Halibut and Inchnadamph venison, Scallops landed on the pier in front of the hotel, beetroot and goats cheese mouse, chocolate and earl grey mouse, and peanut butter cheesecake.

Commenting on the launch of the new loch side dining experience at the boutique Kylesku Hotel, Head Chef Grant Mercer, said:

“We’re really excited to be launching our new loch side dining experiences to guests in time for mid-summer. Located right on the world-famous NC500, we’re lucky to have one of the north Highland’s most enviable locations for alfresco dining with panoramic views of the beautiful Loch Gleann Dubh.

“I’m confident that our new menu has something for everyone, and will appeal to foodies, or casual diners. You can choose to eat at the formal restaurant, bar or new outdoor dining area which allows our guests to enjoy the sunshine and uninterrupted panoramic views over the loch.”

Chef Mercer added:

“My ethos is to use as much locally based produce as possible. I’m very much a champion of the best of Scotland and if I can get it on the doorstep I will.

“I specialise in cooking fresh seafood, so you don’t need to play with it too much. It has amazing flavours. We are right on the loch side, so we get deliveries of mussels, langoustines, lobsters, and crabs landed straight in front of the restaurant and carried directly into the kitchen. I just have to cook it and let it simply sing for itself.

“Our next-door neighbour, Darren Mackay, is a fisherman who keeps us well supplied with langoustines, brown crabs, and spiny lobsters. The catch is often hours old if not minutes old.

“You can see the mussel farm, which is owned by John Ross, from the windows of the hotel. Mussels couldn’t get any fresher, we are talking about food metres, rather than food miles.”

Created in April 2021, Highland Coast Hotels is a Scottish-based group aiming to bring innovative, sustainable and community-led hospitality to the stunning coastlines of the North Highlands of Scotland. Highland Coast Hotels intends to strengthen and enhance the hotels it owns, as well as boost regional growth.

Since 2021, Highland Coast Hotels has acquired six of the region’s landmark hotels, including the newly opened Tongue Hotel with views over the Kyle of Tongue, Ben Loyal and Ben Hope; Plockton Inn at Loch Carron; the award-winning Kylesku Hotel overlooking the beautiful Loch Gleann Dubh in the far West Highlands; Newton Lodge overlooking Loch Glencoul; the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch, which is positioned on the first tee of one of the top four most revered links golf courses in the world; as well as the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, which is situated close to popular golf courses, stunning beaches and world-renowned distilleries.

The restaurant and bar at Kylesku is open seven days a week lunch is served daily from 12pm to 3pm with dinner from 5.30pm to 9pm. The bar is open from 11am to 11.30pm. Breakfast is served from 8am to 10pM, and coffee and cake from 10.30am

Advance booking is essential online at www.kyleskuhotel.co.uk/restaurant-and-bar, call the hotel directly 01971 910 047 or email info@kyleskuhotel.co.uk

Local people who live within 20 miles of Kylesku Hotel are eligible to apply for a Highland Coast Community Card and enjoy 30% discount in the Kylesku Restaurant & Bar and 50% discount off an overnight stay, seven days a week.

To find out more about the Highland Coast Community Card discounts and to apply, visit https://www.kyleskuhotel.co.uk/community

For more information on Kylesku Hotel, visit www.kyleskuhotel.co.uk and follow on social media, including Facebook www.facebook.com/KyleskuHotel and Instagram www.instagram.com/kylesku_hotel

For more information on Highland Coast Hotels, visit www.highlandcoasthotels.com and follow on social media, including LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/highland-coast-hotels; Twitter https://twitter.com/highland_coast; Facebook www.facebook.com/highlandcoasthotels and Instagram: www.instagram.com/highland_coast_hotels