A Perthshire restaurant has been named as Scotland’s finest.
Barley Bree in Muthill took the restaurant of the year award at the fifth Scottish Restaurant Awards. The business has been run by chef patron Fabrice Bouteloup and his wine expert wife Alison since 2007.
It swiftly gained a fine name and impressed judges enough to secure the title of Scotland’s country restaurant of the year at last year’s awards.
Now it has taken the top prize, with Fabrice and his team impressing judges with the skills at play in the kitchen, their clever use of local produce and the warm welcome offered to guests.
Earlier this month, The Courier’s restaurant reviewer gave the establishment 19 out of 20, describing their dining experience as “faultless”.
Also at the awards ceremony, Andrew Radford of the Timberyard, Edinburgh, was named as the Scottish chef of the year.
Judging panel chairman Jonathan Trew said of the restaurant of the year: “This is a business in which the passion of the owners shines through.
“The Bouteloups have put their hearts and souls into Barley Bree and it shows at every level. The judge who performed the site visit was struck by how well the kitchen worked the Scottish ingredients to produce such fantastic flavours.
“If you were entertaining visitors who wanted to know what is so great about Scottish produce, then take them to Barley Bree.”
Barley Bree also took home the best rural restaurant of the year title.
The panel, meanwhile, awarded Andrew Radford the chef of the year award for the “forward-thinking vision” shown over the last quarter of a century.
He was hailed for his championing of Scottish produce, together with his encouragement of new talent, including Barley Bree’s chef patron.