Ballathie House Hotel manager Christopher Longden moves on

After 17 years during which he helped win a string of top awards for a renowned Perthshire hotel, Christopher Longden is leaving as manager of Ballathie House to run his own guesthouse in the Borders.

Since he took over the role in 1993 Ballathie has been voted Scotland’s best country house, country sports and fishing hotel, been awarded two AA Rosettes for its food and given the EatScotland Silver Award and this year was judged to have the country’s top rural restaurant.

He will be succeeded by Frenchman Arnaud Merrouche who for the past 13 years has been food and beverage and duty manager at the hotel on the banks of the River Tay at Kinclaven near Perth.

“I’ve enjoyed 17 remarkable and stimulating years at Ballathie but my wife and I have always wanted to run our own guesthouse, and the Borders is one of the most beautiful regions in Britain so I’m looking forward to new challenges,” said Mr Longden.