the UK Restaurant and Hotel Zine

From: toy savage [tsavage@pilot.infi.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 1998 5:23 AM
To: 'dine'
Subject: Kinnaird House

Dear Sirs:

        Our recent two-day stay at Kinnaird was quite possibly the finest
"hotel" experience we have ever had in a full life of travelling.  It
began with a double rainbow appearing at our window (and I mean right at
our window) as we were ushered in, and continued uninterrupted in that
vein. The staff were always at the absolute ready, but without any show or
over-formality.  When our gas fire wouldn't light in our room, the
delightful girl from downstairs appeared in 15 seconds, and upon being
unable to get it lit, apologized and said she would send someone else up.
I expected a 20 minute wait for some guy in stained overalls.  Instead, in
20 seconds, another young lady arrived and with a Mary Poppins smile,
leaned over into the fireplace and "poof" started it up.  "You just have
to know how to reason with these things," she said.  I was utterly
charmed.

        Our dinners were superb, and again were served without any of the
stuffy
18-pieces-of-silverware-five-wine-goblets-three-chargers-at-your-place
pretentiousness you encounter at so many of these places. I had a saddle
of rabbit that was particularly fine.  Martin guided me to just the right
bottle of older claret for our last-night-in Scotland celebration.  After
dinner my companions coaxed me into playing the piano in the drawing room,
and as far as I could tell, both management and other guests had no
objection.  As many places as I've been, I don't recall a place to stay
where a generally untalented amateur felt welcome rattling off a little
Lloyd Weber [sic] after dinner.

        On this trip we also stayed at the Connaught, Gleneagles, Cameron
House, Ardanaiseig House, Kinloch House (on Skye) and Bunchrew House.
They were all fine, each with their strengths and weaknesses, but Kinnaird
was a demonstrable cut above all of them.  Bravo!  

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