There was a true breakfast of champions in Perthshire on Wednesday 23 April as Andy Murray and Kim Sears met local charity heroes at the official opening of his new hotel, Cromlix.
Two people whose efforts have benefitted others joined the Wimbledon winner for the meal at the luxury venue near his home town of Dunblane. The Scottish tennis superstar was accompanied by internationally renowned chef Albert Roux at the informal breakfast gathering, and joined by Perthshire couples, Alan and Ruth Glynn and Gavin and Kathleen Davey.
As a volunteer with the Meningitis Now charity, Alan works locally and around the country to raise awareness of the illness that claimed the life of his 19-month-old daughter Alexis Rose in 2011. His fund-raising activities, including running the London marathon, have amassed more than £90,000 for meningitis charities.
Gavin is chief executive officer and co-founder of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), which was set up in 2012 to deliver front-line care to time-critical emergencies across Scotland. This year he plans to fly a single-engine Piper Comanche plane around the world with the aim of raising more than £350,000 for SCAA and Sick Kids Foundation of Toronto.
Official opening of Cromlix
Speaking after the breakfast, Andy said: “It was a great way to mark the official opening of Cromlix. This is a great community and part of the reason I bought and restored the hotel was to be able to put something back into the local area, which has done so much for me and my family.
“Cromlix is looking amazing and everyone involved is delighted with the reception it has received since we welcomed our first guests earlier this month.”
Cromlix, an elegant Victorian mansion set in extensive grounds in the rolling Perthshire countryside three miles from Dunblane, was bought by Andy last year. Managed on his behalf by Inverlochy Castle Management (ICMI) it has undergone complete renovation over the past year to transform it into a luxury destination. Since opening for business at the start of this month, the hotel has received widespread acclaim from guests and reviewers and a rush of booking enquiries from around the world.
With five suites, 10 bedrooms and a Gate Lodge, Cromlix features an elegant Chez Roux restaurant, overseen by Albert Roux and run by award-winning executive head Chef Darin Campbell.
(Photo copyright of John Paul Photography)
For more information about Cromlix click here