PICTURES: Team behind Dingwall National Hotel revamp raring to go with bookings already coming in
The buzz around the reopening of the Dingwall’s National Hotel in four days time is growing in Ross-shire’s market town with rooms already booked, staff hired and final preparations well in hand.
The Ross-shire was granted an exclusive first peek behind the scenes at the revamped rooms, bar and restaurant and to learn what the new proprietors first plans are for the much loved hotel.
The excited new proprietors are Dougal Cameron, Raffael Santos, husband and wife Patricia Monteiro and Diogo Montiero each with a specific area of expertise ranging throughout the hotel’s operations.
News that the National was to reopen full-time sparked a hugely positive reaction in the town with many locals eagerly anticipating the reopening on Monday when the doors for the cafe will open at 7am.
It is set to be listed on Booking.com – which is one of the world’s largest websites for room reservations – and the Seaforth Lounge and all the rooms have already been reserved for a wedding reception in September.
Mr Montiero said: “The bar area is all ready, we just need the first order to come in and the same thing for the food. In terms of team, we are 100 per cent ready on that one.
“We have got two capable chefs and they are ready to work for us from the first and and cakes for the cafe area, we have got that coming in as well and so yeah, we are pretty ready.”
Mrs Montiero said: “My job will be mainly doing the coffee and reception, Diogo is mainly doing the hotel management and the bar area at night as well. And Rafa will be with us helping out in the kitchen, the bar area and the restaurant really.”
Asked what they were most excited about, Mr Cameron said: “Probably starting from scratch and doing things the way we want to do things, which is a new challenge.”
Mrs Montiero added: “And the fact that everyone is really happy for us to be here, I had a couple of calls for bookings and they said ‘oh my god, you don't know how happy I am that you guys can open’ and that gives us a boost to be more excited.”
