One Islay hospitality business has more reason than most to be celebrating a great year of welcoming guests old and new to their stunning island home.
Graeme and Emma Clark, who both volunteers who help to run Explore Islay and Jura, giving their time to promote the islands for tourism, have won National recognition as best Guesthouse for their own business, Glenegedale House, Islay.
Glenegedale House, Islay, a five-star luxurious guesthouse on the Isle of Islay, has scooped a second Thistle Award having been crowned Best B&B or Guesthouse Experience in Scotland in the coveted Scottish Thistle Awards this month (November 2024).
This is more than a BnB – this is the national winner of the country’s tourism awards!
The Scottish Thistle Awards celebrate the very best of the tourism and events industry. They have become an annual celebration of innovation, collaboration and sheer excellence in the sector and the organisers said: “This year has been no exception with our finalists and winners demonstrating why Scotland is world-renowned as a must-visit destination.”
Emma said: “This award is like the BAFTAs of the Tourism World. The ethical nature of the process, the judging and the work gone in to make sure not a stone is unturned and they have made the right decision makes winning such a huge honour.”
So what did the judges love? They loved it all, but saved special mention for ‘the integration with the community and the passion the owners have for the business’.
It’s almost 10 years since the Glenegedale House was named the Central South West Most Hospitable Bed and Breakfast/Guesthouse in the Scottish Thistle Awards 2014/15, an accolade they achieved barely a year after opening.
And since then the awards have kept on coming with praise for the welcome, for the friendliness, for the food and the hosting. In 2019/20 it scooped winner of the Most Hospitable B&B / Guesthouse for Visit Scotland in the national Thistle Awards.
And it’s not just within the industry that Glenegedale impresses, but with the guests themselves, many of whom return time and again. Guests’ rave reviews have meant Glenegedale has topped the Trip Advisor charts every year for the past decade.
About the owners
Glenegedale House is a stunning Victorian house, located on the Isle of Islay, just moments from the airport and one of the islands most stunning beaches. Run by husband and wife powerhouse Graeme and Emma Clark, this luxury guesthouse offers a cosy atmosphere and the warmest of Islay welcomes .
With Graeme and Emma both having completed their degrees in Hospitality Management and Graeme going onto work his way up in the management ladder through Thistle hotels, MoatHouse and then finally the Marriott International for several years while Emma focused on Sales and brand Marketing within the Pharmaceutical industry they both found they had a passion for tourism and hospitality and with a combined total of over thirty years in the industry they draw on their experience in order to create the perfect guest stay at Glenegedale House.
You can expect roaring peat fires, elegant antique furnishings, and stunning views. The food is as fabulous as the surroundings, whether it is the incredible breakfast choices, the stylish but satisfying dinners or the spectacular seafood platters. Guests will also be able to enjoy gourmet Scottish cuisine, locally sourced ingredients, and a warm, personalised experience.
“Glenegedale house is not only our business, it’s a passion and creating amazing guest experiences and helping them make wonderful memories to treasure until they visit again is always brilliant, but this award is a dream come true,” said Emma, who is joint chair of Explore Islay and Jura Marketing Group. “It helps us all continue to strive to do better and feels like the biggest pat on the back for all the hard work over the years to share with the world!”
It’s been a big year for Emma, who was also entered the Top 100 Women in Tourism list, compiled by Women in Tourism
What makes it so special?
We asked Emma what the Silver Thistle Award means to her and Graeme, and what plans they have for the future.
“It is simply put the most prestigious and coveted award in our industry. To win recognises the work and commitment to our business and ensuring each and every guest that stays with us has the most magical time not just on our amazing island but also as they travel across Scotland.
“Our mission here at Glenegedale House is to ensure every guests that leaves leaves feeling they have spent their time and money well and leaves with a sense of happiness and fulfilment and a wish to return.”
And return, they do, in fact, one of the headaches for this four-bedroomed guesthouse is that they cannot always accommodate all those that want to stay here.
“Our biggest challenge is we spent most days turning away guests who are unable to stay as we are already fully booked. It is a great complaint to have and as such we do have plans to convert our existing courtyards barns in to more bedrooms that are larger than our existing ones and to develop our food and drink offering further with some more exciting collaborations across the island and its producers.”
But expansion will not mean compromising on quality and attention to detail.
“This must be done without losing the Five star gold status that we have earned and are famous for,” says Emma.
Welcome to Glenegedale House
Situated midway between Bowmore and Port Ellen, the Visit Scotland and AA Five Star Gold award-winning Glenegedale House, has a prominent position with uninterrupted breathtaking views over the Mull of Oa and out to the Atlantic.
Glenegedale House boasts four lovely, individually designed, en-suite bedrooms. Sumptuous soft furnishings, roaring fires and beautiful antiques evoke a sense of luxury and indulgence in all guest areas – including the morning room and the lounge.
There are a wealth of books, maps and local tourist information for you to browse through and we are very happy to help plan your day so that you make the most of your time on the beautiful island of Islay.
Since returning home to Islay in February 2013 and starting Glenegedale House Graeme and Emma have achieved Five Star Gold with both the AA and Visit Scotland and have been recognised for their hard work and dedication winning the following awards.
- Winner of the Central South West Most Hospitable Bed and Breakfast/Guesthouse Scottish Thistle Awards 2014/15
- Hospitality Hero by the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2016/17
- Scottish Food Awards and Academy Breakfast Destination of the Year 2017
- Gold Medal Winner for Real and Local Food by the Scottish Food Awards and Academy 2017
- The UK’s friendliest bed and breakfast 2017/18 out of 3000 nominations by the AA
- Winners of the Eviivo Hidden Gem award for 2017/18
- One of Three Finalists for 2017 Outstanding host by Eviivo 2017
- Finalist for The Rural Awards Scotland Rural Tourism AND Rural hero 2015
- Finalist for The Rural Awards Scotland Rural tourism Award 2016
- Finalists for The Scottish Thistle Awards Hospitality Hero 2017/18
- Five Star Gold Award by Visit Scotland each year from 2013 to present
- Five Star Gold Award by AA 2015 to present
- AA Breakfast Award 2015 each year to present
- Visit Scotland Taste our Best Award each year 2013 to present
- The business became number one on Trip Advisor and has stayed there consistently since 2014, each year winning the “certificate of excellence” award
- The Observer Food Monthly named Glenegedale as its Baker of The Year 2017 alongside Nigel Slater
- The BBC have now filmed Emma and Graeme in operation cooking for guests twice and it airs on a regular basis on BBC Scotland
- They were asked and then featured as bed and breakfast of the year by The Luxury Bed and Breakfast Magazine 2017
- Winner Hospitality and Tourism Hero for 2018 by Highlands and Islands Tourism awards
- Finalist Scottish Rural Awards 2018
- Finalist for Most hospitable Guesthouse by Highlands and Islands Tourism awards 2018
- In November 2018 Emma was appointed the Director of Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative for Islay
- Emma was awarded the honour of being included in the inaugural “Top 100 women in Tourism for 2018”. Emma was delighted to be listed amongst some truly inspirational women.
- Finalist for the Federation of Small Businesses Awards Family Business of the Year 2018/19
- Finalist for Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Tourism and Hospitality Hero 2018/19
- Winner of the Most Hospitable B&B / Guesthouse for Visit Scotland Thistle Award 2019/20