A hotel in Dunkeld has launched the town’s only Indian restaurant, while also unveiling plans for “Scotland’s largest” gin bar.
The Royal Dunkeld Hotel opened the Royal Indian Restaurant on Friday, transforming its existing dining space into a 55-seater venue offering authentic Indian cuisine.
The refurbished restaurant is located in the Atholl Street hotel and also offers a takeaway service.
Hotel manager Zoltan Csurgai told The Courier the town has been missing Indian cuisine since a previous restaurant closed.
‘Dunkeld was lacking the Indian flavours’
“We felt there was a very high demand coming from our loyal local guests,” he said.
“A couple years back there was a very well-established Indian restaurant in the village which closed.
“We decided we would make a start, we had the dining room to extend and came up with a brand new 55-seater restaurant.
“We kept an authentic Highland Scottish design, and the cuisine is a proper authentic Indian cuisine.
“Dunkeld was lacking the Indian flavours, and there was a very high demand for it.
“We have started doing takeaways as well as opening the restaurant.”
Zoltan added that the launch weekend was “positive” and the restaurant was “absolutely packed” throughout.
He said people have been anticipating the opening of the new restaurant.
Plans for ‘Scotland’s largest’ gin bar at Royal Dunkeld Hotel
The Royal Dunkeld Hotel’s owner, Thomas Melville, is behind several ambitious plans to modernise and expand the business under the Melville Hotels Group.
Later this year, the hotel will open a gin school, where guests can craft their own concoctions.
It has also announced plans to open what it says will be Scotland’s largest gin bar.
The new venture, named The Gin Trap, is expected to house an extensive collection of gins from across the country and beyond.
Zoltan added: “We’re looking to become an experience-based venue for less money, so people can spend more on food and drinks.
“We’re also very proud of our new McKenna Suite which has been recently refurbished.
“It will be free to hire and we can cater up to 120 people for birthdays or anniversaries or weddings – and we don’t charge for a room hire.
“The Mckenna Suite is named after the father of the owner, who recently passed away.
“It’s a very important room for Mr Melville.”
The hotel uses a biomass-powered heating system which Zoltan says helps the local environment.
A full refurbishment of the hotel is scheduled for next year as part of the hotel group’s continued investment in Dunkeld.
Conversation