coast RECOMMENDS
Our indispensable monthly guide to great things happening on our shores
AWARDS APLENTY FOR NEW HOTEL
Nestled discreetly overlooking the marina and the Firth of Clyde, an Ayrshire hotel is making waves in the hospitality sector just three years after opening.
Brand new hotels are rare nowadays. Hotels are normally refurbished, rebranded or redeveloped. But in the picturesque town of Troon, a new £1.5million boutique hotel is receiving critical acclaim.
The Salt Lodge lies on the banks of Troon Yacht Haven, with all ten rooms overlooking the marina to the Isle of Arran, the Firth of Clyde and beyond. Inside, it’s not a normal hotel; each room is an apartment, equipped with a lounge, balcony, kitchenette and ensuite bathroom.
“Not only did we want the building to be stunning in architecture and design, we wanted our hotel to offer a different type of experience,” explains marina director, Stephen Bennie. “The apart-hotel style appealed to a different audience from regular hotel-goers. We appeal to families, romantic getaways, dog-friendly staycations, the marine leisure market as well as the golfing tourism industry.”
Last year, The Salt Lodge reached new heights, being awarded multiple industry prizes, much to the surprise of the hospitality market, many of whom were unfamiliar with its existence.
“We opened in 2020 during a difficult pandemic trading period. As a result, our launch events were cancelled, PR activity reduced and we simply began quietly taking bookings online,” adds Stephen.
The hotel has won the Traveller Review Award in back-to-back years since 2020, plus Five Gold Anchor Accreditation. saltlodgehotel.com
A WHOLE NEW KIND OF CORNISH PASTY
Think you’ve seen everything when it comes to a Cornish pasty? Then think again, as a new contender grapples for our beachside snack of choice – the first ever kimchi pasty!
Eaten Alive, the award-winning fermented foods producer, has announced a collaboration with Cornwall’s Ann’s Pasties combining the amazing versatility of kimchi with deliciously rich, flaky pastry.
Ann’s are the makers and purveyors of Cornish pasties hand-made in small batches for generations on the Lizard peninsula in West Cornwall. Their dedication to exceptional local ingredients and craftsmanship is evident in every flaky, moreish bite.
The new pasty uses the best-selling Eaten Alive Classic Kimchi – afiery and bold kimchi, that is additive free, raw, vegan and teeming with good bacteria. It combines crisp Chinese leaf and crunchy shredded vegetables with heaps of ginger, chilli and garlic.
