Glenapp Castle
Ballantrae, South Ayrshire
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*Head chef Joe Gould has left to take up a new position at Fawsley Hall in Northamptonshire.*
Visitors to Glenapp Castle might look forward to a certain ‘Downton Abbey’ vibe with its secluded location, impeccable welcome, opulent environment and stunning views across the Ayrshire coast to Ailsa Craig. It’s certainly a place to savour, as you appreciate how those ‘above stairs’ have always had their every need met. The sense of period elegance carries through to the brocades and chintz of the restaurant with its discreetly monogrammed bone china, attentive service and formal feel. Daily changing menus perhaps reflect simpler times, from a three-course lunchtime carte up to a seven-course taster for dinner. Dishes are subtle rather than showy and well attuned to Glenapp’s traditional values – highlighting local farm produce and fresh seafood from the boats at Girvan. You might start with slow-cooked pork cheek on a saffron-infused barley risotto studded with nuggets of confit pumpkin. After that, perhaps, a roseate loin of roast lamb simply accompanied by fondant potato, garden vegetables and a flavour-laden lamb jus. A generous cheese selection is always one of the final choices, along with maybe a mousse or parfait featuring garden berries in season or ever-popular confections of chocolate and whisky. The wine list opens with classic collections of aged claret and Burgundy priced accordingly for those with deep pockets, although options from elsewhere start around the slightly more affordable £45 mark.
