Grand designs
Now in her first summer as General Manager at Cringletie, we catch up with Victoria Palmer to learn more about life running one of the finest hotels in the south of Scotland
Think of a luxury rural hotel and a few must-haves spring to mind: a long, sweeping drive; extensive grounds to explore; the satisfying crunch of gravel on arrival; and, of course, the impressive façade of the building itself.
It’s fair to say that Cringletie, an elegant, 13-bedroom hotel, set on a hilltop between Peebles and Eddleston, delivers on all counts.
There is rich history here, too. The 28-acre estate was first acquired by Sir Alexander Murray of Black Barony by Crown charter in 1666. He quickly set to commissioning the building of the first Cringletie House for his second eldest son.
But when the original house fell into disrepair two centuries later, it paved the way for the building seen today – a magnificent country house designed by David Bryce, the Edinburgh-born architect famed for perfecting the Scottish Baronial style.
The grandness of the building and setting remain, but there is a softness and warmth that has been carefully cultivated by a hotel staff now led by Victoria Palmer – a long-serving but still impressively youthful member of the team who was appointed as General Manager in November last year.
For Victoria, the appointment marked the next step in a journey that began in 2018 when she joined Cringletie as Restaurant Manager. Change came the following year when the hotel was acquired by Bill and Ann Cross – seasoned hoteliers who have run upmarket ventures around the world, including in Bill’s homeland of New Zealand.
“It’s about creating a personal experience that allows guests to truly relax and not lift a finger.”
The then new owners had a very clear idea for repositioning the hotel as a truly luxury proposition. “I was inspired by their vision for the hotel and worked with them and the kitchen team as we looked to become an AA Rosetted restaurant,” explains Victoria.
Victoria rose to the position of Assistant Manager, learning much more about the overall management of the business, including the considerable challenges faced by all in hospitality during and following the Covid pandemic.
Today, Cringletie hits that magical sweet spot of being polished and professional, but also incredibly welcoming and relaxed. Stuffy it is not. “Our aim is to provide a ‘home from home’ for our guests,” says Victoria. “It’s about creating a personal experience that allows guests to truly relax and not lift a finger.”
The warmth of welcome is emphasised by the time taken by both Victoria and Bill to meet and chat with every single guest at some point during their visit. It’s a bit of hands-on, old-school hotel-keeping that goes a long way.
Guests come to Cringletie from all over the world – there was even a lunch visit by Prince Albert of Monaco during the UCI Cycling World Champs in 2023 – with a good mix of domestic and international guests overnighting, particularly during the peak months from March to October. The quieter months attract a regular following of UK-based guests.
It’s also a place tailor-made for occasions. “Most days we have guests celebrating either a birthday or an anniversary, while we also specialise in more intimate weddings, with couples able to tie the knot anywhere in the grounds or hotel,” says Victoria.
For Victoria, there are many special things about the hotel and wider estate: a 360-year-old walled garden that is home to some of the oldest yew hedges in Scotland; the intricately painted ceiling in the hotel’s wonderfully grand Sutherland Restaurant; and – most importantly – the overall ‘feel’ of the place.
It’s been a busy summer season so far, with the team focussed fully on the guest experience, but there is always more to do. “I’m also working in the background on continued staff development, forging relationships with other local businesses and guest planning for the remainder of the year and beyond,” explains Victoria.
“The pandemic impacted on our plans for refurbishment of the main hotel, so we hope to get these back on track soon,” she adds. “We have also recently appointed a new gardening team so I will be working closely with them to further develop the wider estate and gardens.”
Further info
Cringletie is located on the A703, five miles north of Peebles. It is also accessible on foot or by bike from the nearby Eddleston Water Path (plus has a helipad for those arriving by air!). In addition to offering 13 individually appointed rooms and suites, including an accessible junior suite, Cringletie also has a separate self-catering cottage in its extensive grounds. The hotel’s 2 AA Rosette Sutherland Restaurant serves lunch daily with a five-course daily changing tasting menu for dinner. For more, visit cringletie.com
Images © Gareth Easton Photography