Mingary Castle

Named The UK’s Best Restaurant with Rooms by the AA in 2024 and awarded 3AA Rosettes. One of Scotland’s most unique restaurants with rooms, Mingary Castle is perched on a picturesque promontory on the fringes of the west coast of Scotland in Ardnamurchan Estate. The 13th century castle was restored to its former glory in 2016 and in 2021 its drawbridge dropped and reopened as a stunning restaurant with rooms. It was awarded 5 gold stars by AA in 2022 and recognised in The Times Top 100 places to stay in Britain’s list; this year it won Best Restaurant Newcomer at the Scottish Excellence Awards and winners of the Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Choice 2024 awards for Restaurants with Rooms. At the helm is chef Colin Nicholson who is focused on putting the castle on Scotland’s culinary map. The castle boasts majestic views of the Atlantic Ocean from its original battlements with 360-degree views of the peninsula, four beautifully designed suites and an intimate dining room. With its dramatic exterior and windswept location, Mingary offers a truly one-of-a-kind luxurious experience within a fortress steeped in Scottish history. 36-year-old Colin’s passion for hospitality stemmed from his first part-time job in his teens on the Isle of North Uist. He went to Strathclyde University to undertake a Maths and Physics degree before switching last minute to Hotel & Hospitality Management. After a year, his passion for cooking flourished and he decided to return to North Uist to take a full-time job at the place where he first began his hospitality career, Langass Lodge under the watchful eye of John Buchanan. Here he learned a range of skills from fish preparation to butchery, and classical cookery while studying Professional Cookery at Inverness College. He then went onto work at Loch Lomond Golf Club under Darren Harrison for a season before joining the newly built cruise ship, Seabourn Sojourn. Here he travelled from Hong Kong to Europe, experiencing new ingredients from many different countries that helped shape his style of cooking. Colin took on the role of Head Chef at Arisaig House in 2018, working with local suppliers and produce grown within the kitchen garden he achieved 2 AA Rosettes within six months and maintained the Rosettes the following year.