Carrbridge Hotel

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to dine in a cryogenic lab, the Carrbridge Hotel restaurant will answer all your questions. The food arrived with all the flavour of a forgotten Iceland freezer bargain. Defrosting, it turns out, is optional here - and sadly, optional in the same way seatbelts were in the 1950s. The menu seemed to promise “cooked meals,” but what landed on our plates was still clinging bravely to its frozen origins. At one point I wasn’t sure whether to eat it or use it to chill my drink. Easily the worst culinary adventure I’ve had this year, and I’ve eaten airline food on many occasions! The one saving grace was the waitress, who was so relentlessly cheerful and smiley that she deserved an award - or at least a transfer to an establishment where the food doesn’t fight the diner for room temperature dominance. I genuinely hope she escapes to a nice restaurant soon, because she deserves far better than presiding over this Arctic farce. In short: if you enjoy food that is equal parts nostalgia and frostbite, this is your place. Otherwise, consider fasting.

Stopped off on spec for a quick lunch. Both had the roast beef ciabatta with mustard and onions, served with fries and a jug of gravy. Beef was tender and everything hit the spot.

Yesterday on the Ministerial visit to Dava to review the damage of the wildfire at the last minute, we booked afternoon tea for seven. The afternoon tea was excellent and both Bright Spark Burning Techniques and SLE offered to pay, they said it was their thank you for the work the gamekeepers had done as if the fire hadn't been contained, they may have had to close their business. A huge show of appreciation for the local land workers. Thank you .