PRESS REVIEWS
July 2009
i-Mag
Suzy welcomes you to ‘tea in the park'
Inverness woman Suzy Rankin has returned home to drive forward the development of the city's four-star ‘secret'
Suzy Rankin's first job as a 14 year old schoolgirl was as part time restaurant help and housekeeping assistant at Dunain Park Hotel. Now, as of three months ago, she is manager there and pushing forward with plans to significantly develop the marketing of the hotel which has been something of a four-star ‘secret' in the city.
Following a successful series of weddings in the hotel or in a marquee in the splendid grounds, Suzy plans the hotel's first active promotion of the wedding market - and to the business sector for team-building days and corporate ‘brainstorming' retreats.
"I also want to get across the message to local people that because we're four star doesn't mean we don't want them calling in for a coffee, a glass of wine or a cocktail", says Suzy. "We actually welcome non-residents for morning coffee or afternoon tea - and our lunch menu is exceptionally competitive with locals in mind.
"We've got healthy bookings for July, August and September, with visitors from all over the world, but at the same time we're seeking to extend the local market - people who, for instance, just want to sit in the sunshine on our deck, have a quiet drink and admire the gardens.
"There's absolutely no minimum spend - we want people to call in and our facilities will sell themselves. And if you come for dinner, whether by own car or taxi, we'll transport you back to the city afterwards."
Suzy is the daughter of well-known Inverness couple Rosemary and Innes Rankin, both active curlers. Suzy's brother Stephen is a former Scottish championship curler - and her sister-in-law Janice was an Olympic gold medal curler just a few years ago.
"I'm not in to ‘cold' sports like curling", smiles Suzy. "I prefer horse riding on my chestnut thoroughbred".
During her acquisition of a degree in hotel management at Inverness College, she did work experience at Kingsmills Hotel and was then offered a full-time job, becoming assistant supervisor. After two and a half years there, she moved to Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen, where she was operations manager, running major functions for oil and gas companies, including the launch of BP's new ‘sunflower' logo.
"I was lucky that Donald Macdonald, owner of the Macdonald Hotels group, came to Ardoe House often and he put me in the fast-track management scheme with the result that I was the youngest deputy manager in the group at the age of 22".
Suzy spent nine years at Ardoe House then a further five years back home as deputy manager and general manager of the Royal Highland Hotel, Inverness. Her next role was in the hospitality sector training, covering an area from Moray northwards.
"The chance to work at Dunain Park, where as a school kid I had worked with Anne Nicol in the kitchen, was too tempting to resist and I started on March 31 - it's been hectic ever since", says Suzy.
"I want to widen its market appeal while focusing firmly on our quality - striving to sustain our four-star status. We've one rosette for food and we're working towards a second rosette. We use herbs and lettuces from our own walled garden, absolutely superfresh.
"The 11 bedrooms and two garden cottages represent stunning accommodation and there are plans for eventual growth, so it is exciting times."
Although the hotel is on the A82, just outside the city, Suzy is keen to adjust its ‘country house' image to perception of a modern, luxury, totally ‘welcoming to all' hotel - "we want people to be talking about Dunain Park", she explains.
Off-beat ball for hotel opening
Ice-cream van delivers dessert
THE sounds of a string quartet, a swing band and, strangely, the chimes of an ice-cream van heralded a new lease of life for a country house hotel and restaurant on the outskirts of Inverness.
A midsummer ball was held at the Dunain Park Hotel at the weekend to celebrate a major makeover for the premises, carried out by Inverness design consultants Susan and Adrian Pieracini, formerly of the city's Rocpool Reserve, in Culduthel Road.
And, during the feasting and fun, the Dunain Park's new owner, David Sutherland, of Tulloch Homes, served up a surprise.
Master of ceremonies Drumnadrochit businessman Willie Cameron announced from the stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, dessert is now served" - and up drove an ice-cream van.
Views
Diners then queued for their cones, sliders and other ice-cream van treats.
Earlier in the Rat Pack-themed evening, the Elgin String Quartet played on the terrace, while cocktails were served on the new decking that gives amazing views out of the lawns and fields towards the River Ness and Caledonian Canal.
Craig McMurdo and that Swing Thang provided the music for dancing into the night.
The 11-bedroom hotel, which includes two honeymoon suites, is just outside Inverness and set in six acres of secluded gardens.
The house was originally built as a shooting lodge for the Duke of Gordon, then extended in Victorian times.
Mr Sutherland described Dunain Park as a "sleeping giant" that had been wakened and transformed by the Pieracinis.
Courtesy of The Press and Journal
THE chairman of Tulloch Homes Group, David Sutherland, hosted a black-tie moonlight serenade ball at the firm's newly-refurbished Dunain Park Hotel and restaurant near Inverness.
He looked every inch the tycoon in his black shirt and soon-discarded black-and-white bow tie.
One reveller enjoyed the night so much she set off by foot to return to the Highland capital before being spotted by a knight of the road who gave her a lift home.
A silent auction raised £28,000 for the Highland Hospice
Photographs: EWEN WEATHERSPOON Martin Marello, Claire Lestoquoit, Hilary Brown and Barry LarsonFormer model Sonia Paterson, Carol MacRae, ball MC Willie Cameron and Laura Mackintosh, PA to David Sutherland Corinne Davidson, Lorraine MacNiven, Malina MacDonald, Bob and Donna MacLeod and Lynne Cordiner Enjoying a cone from Capaldi's van which had come all the way from Brora are David Sutherland with Susan and Adrian Pieraccini. The couple were responsible for the refurbishment Kathleen Hardie and Richard Constanduros Danny and Lesley Gallagher with Colin and Nicky MarrMoray Macdonald and Natalie Buxton Marjory Muir with Sutherland couple Kenny and Joan Duncan. Joan is general manager of Dunain Park's sister hotel, the Royal Marine in BroraDonald and Christine MacDonald with Donald Mackenzie and Fran McQuadeAlastair Mackenzie and Fruma Browne
Courtesy of The Press and Journal
