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Glenapp Castle gains Five AA Red Stars

Glenapp Castle, the prestigious South Ayrshire luxury hotel was elected today to a small and exclusive club of hotels which are at the pinnacle of achievement with the award by the AA’s inspectors of five red stars.

This recognition is the latest accolade in a stunning run of successes since opening in 2000. Glenapp, a Relais & Châteaux member has received, among other awards, the AA Hotel of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2005-6, and the ‘Which’ Good Food Guide Scottish Restaurant of the Year in 2007. 

In January of last year, the castle was awarded a much coveted Michelin Star, and now, to cap a remarkable season, the AA has given the castle its ultimate rating of five red stars. 

All this combines to make Glenapp Castle one of Britain’s most sought-after destinations. Last year only 72 of the 4000 professionally rated AA member hotels in the UK achieved five-star status.  Only 11 of these were in Scotland.

The award is made only after rigorous inspection procedures which scrutinise every aspect of the establishment’s offering. Glenapp passed with flying colours after inspectors found that the hotel’s impeccably dressed staff provided attentive and unobtrusive service, its accommodation and services met the most demanding standards and its Michelin-star restaurant, under the direction of chef Matt Weedon, provided food of the highest quality.

The award of five stars to Glenapp is particularly gratifying for owners Graham and Fay Cowan, who saved the historic castle from ruin and returned it to its former Victorian grandeur in a painstaking and visionary restoration. Graham said:

“The criteria for five red stars are extremely demanding and we knew from the outset that, as a relatively small country house property, we would have to be at the peak of our performance to achieve this award.

“Our ambition now is to maintain and improve this level of service not only for our loyal and valued portfolio of existing guests, but also for the growing numbers of people who are finding out about the unique service Glenapp Castle has to offer.”

This year, for the first time, Glenapp will remain open to individual guests throughout November and December until January 2nd (with the exception of closure over Christmas week itself).