Barcaldine Restaurant in Argyll Nets Michelin Protegé, Oskars Kalnins

Barcaldine House Hotel, near Oban, Argyll, has taken on a new head chef: Oskars
Kalnins.
Argyll, Scotland, UK, September 13, 2010 -- Barcaldine House Hotel, near Oban, A
rgyll, has taken on a new head chef: Oskars Kalnins. Barcaldine has a strong emp
hasis on its restaurant and a key attraction is fine dining for non-residents in
a relaxed and friendly environment. Recently awarded 2 AA Rosettes, the Barcald
ine House restaurant is already recognised for its passion for locally sourced i
ngredients.
Kalnins' background in Michelin starred restaurants means he is well placed to m
aintain that tradition. Kalnins has worked in the two-starred Restaurant Andrew
Fairlie in Auchterarder and the one-star Ballachulish House and Golf Club. He is
experienced at serving an international and discerning clientele including busi
ness and world leaders plus royalty.
Barcaldine House came under the management of the Blue Grange Group in 2009. Blu
e Grange founder, Heather Buchanan says, “We see great potential in Oskars who sha
res our passion for high quality ingredients in a relaxed but elegant setting. O
skars has twice reached the semi-finals of the Gordon Ramsay Scholar competition
. He will oversee all the menus, from our afternoon teas to our light lunches an
d special evening meals.
“We are determined to nurture talented chefs and have already recruited and develo
ped Craig Ferguson, who won Scotland's Rising Star Chef award earlier this year.
He was responsible for gaining two rosettes at the Barcaldine House restaurant.
Craig is leaving to go south of the border. We are looking forward to repeating
our success – and more - with Oskars.”
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) announced in July 2010 that they are back
ing Barcaldine House hotel’s bid to gain a coveted 5-star rating. The enterprise b
ody has been working on the hotel’s growth plan with the management team and has a
greed to a £120,000 grant towards the £600,000 build and marketing development costs
.
Barcaldine House, once the seat of the Clan Campbell, was built in 1709. The hou
se, which sits near the banks of Loch Creran, near Oban had fallen into disrepai
r before Buchanan spotted its potential.
Having already won a raft of awards this year this year at the Scottish Hotel Aw
ards, the Blue Grange team will now take the refurbishment to the next level, th
en market it internationally as a luxury country house with an informal, relaxed
atmosphere. In addition to the hotel there are also six self catering holiday c
ottages located in the courtyard and gardens.
Buchanan says, “We have worked very hard to breathe new life into Barcaldine and r
e-create one of Scotland s true hidden gems. We have already done significant wo
rk to upgrade the facilities and we are excited about the prospect of offering f
ive star treatment to our guests. We strongly believe that five star hotels do n
ot need to be stuffy. Our philosophy is to provide excellent food, wine and serv
ice in a laid back environment. Relaxed excellence is a difficult balance to str
ike, but one we believe represents true luxury in our hectic, modern lives. We a
re looking forward to making the experience at Barcaldine even more magical and
to welcoming new guests at our beautiful hotel.”
With 11 bedrooms, the hotel sleeps up to 40, including the cottages. It is avail
able for exclusive use packages, weddings, plus gourmet food and wine weekends a
nd experiences such as wild food foraging in the surrounding forests.
ENDS (Background Information follows)
For interview requests, comment and photos, please contact Penny Haywood Calder,
MD, PHPR Ltd, on 0131 669 5190 or 07850 657 714 or email penny@phpr.co.uk.
Blue Grange Property Group: Press Background
Borders-based Blue Grange property management and development group was founded
in 2003 by Heather Buchanan. Buchanan is a Californian international hospitality
specialist with a talent for management systems
Barcaldine House Hotel was acquired in 2009. The Buchanan managerial touch excee
ded the entire previous year s turnover in just 9 weeks.
Barcaldine is already winner of three major awards this year at the Scottish Hot
el Awards in April 2010:
Rising Star Chef of the Year 2010 Craig Ferguson,
Scottish Family Hotel of the Year 2010 (child friendly), plus
Turnaround Achievement Award (Silver) 2010.
Blue Grange currently manages a portfolio of properties estimated at £12 million,
including:
Barcaldine House Hotel, built in 1709 as a Campbell stronghold. Barcaldine is on
e of Argyll’s most important period country houses.
Fortingall Hotel, the newest addition to the portfolio: a historic 4-star count
ry house hotel in Highland Perthshire
Eildon House, Melrose-based prestigious serviced business offices.
Three holiday let properties near Melrose, plus two listed city centre flats In
Edinburgh.
Oskars Kalnins
Experience
2010, Pierhouse Hotel and Seafood Restaurant, Port Appin, Scotland
2009 – 2010, P&O Cruises
2008 – 2009, Café 115, Fort William, Scotland
2006 – 2008, Ballachulish House and Golf Club, 1 Michelin star restaurant in Argyl
l, Scotland
2004 – 2006, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, 2 Michelin star restaurant, Auchterarder,
Scotland
2003 – 2004, The Strathearn Restaurant, Auchterarder, Scotland. Represented Glenea
gles and achieved semi finalist recognition at Annual Awards of Excellence
2001 – 2003, Piperdam Restaurant, Dundee, Scotland
Awards
2006: Gordon Ramsay Scholar Semi Finalist, Birmingham, UK
2004: Academy of Culinary Arts Annual Awards of Excellence Edinburgh, Participan
t, Scotland
2003: Savoy Educational Trust Young Chef 2003 – Regional Finalist, Edinburgh, Scot
land
2000 First Place Diploma in National Young Chefs competition, Riga Chefs and Hot
el School, Latvia
Contact:
Penny Haywood Calder
PHPR Ltd
3 Lower Joppa
Edinburgh EH15 2ER
0131 669 5190
penny@phpr.co.uk
http://www.phpr.co.uk/