Accolades & Commentary

The AA 5 gold star breakfast award 2019

The AA 5 gold star rating for restaurant with rooms award 2019

The AA 5 gold star breakfast award 2018

The AA 5 gold star rating for restaurant with rooms award 2018

The AA 5 gold star breakfast award 2017

The AA 5 gold star rating for restaurant with rooms award 2017

The AA breakfast award 2016

The AA 5 Gold star rating for restaurant with rooms award 2016

5 Gold Star rating from VisitScotland for restaurant with rooms 2015

Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence 2015

James Thomson finalist in the Scottish Business Awards 2014

The AA UK Wine Award 2013

The AA Wine Award for Scotland 2013

5 Gold Star rating from VisitScotland - their highest accolade 2014

Eat Scotland Silver Award 2013

The AA Five Yellow Stars - highly commended 2014

The AA - Where to stay and Eat on Scotland 2014

The AA recommended restaurant - One Rosette 2013

The AA - Notable Wine List Award 2012

Good Hotel Guide listing 2013-14

Sunday Times Travel Awards Best City Bolthole

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1995

Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence 2013 and since 2004

Room for Romance Hotel of the Year Award for Britain’s Sexiest Suites

Mr & Mrs Smith Guide to Britain’s sexiest hotels

The Seven Wonders of the Hotel World, Cosmopolitan Magazine

Scotland’s Most Romantic Hotel, Scotland on Sunday

Scotland’s Ten Best Rooms, Sunday Times Scotland

Ten Most Romantic Destinations, Men’s Health Magazine

The 4th most Romantic Destination in the World, The Independent Newspaper

Top Romantic Honeymoon Destination, from Wedding Magazine putting us on a par with the Ritz

Macallan Taste of Scotland Restaurant of the Year Award, 2002

Sunday Times Regeneration Award for the creation of the Secret Garden Restaurant

Domecq la Ina Most Civilised Dining room Award

Courvoisier The Best of the Best Awards for the Witchery and Secret Garden

Fromers Highly Recommended & Frommer’s Favourites

Scotch Beef Club member

Decanter Magazine Wine List of the Year for six consecutive years at the Witchery

Luxury Edinburgh founder Member

Connoisseur's Scotland member

Personal Awards

OBE James Thomson was awarded an OBE for service to hospitality and Scottish Tourism in the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Restaurateur of the Year for James Thomson 2009

Chevalier de la Commanderie du Clos Montmartre & Defender of the Auld Alliance 2011

Silver Thistle The highest accolade in tourism, presented to James by the First Minister

Honorary Doctorate from Napier University

Asssociations of Colleges Gold Award presented to James Thomson 2009

Hospitality Industry Trust Industry Achievement Award for James Thomson 2002

Chevalier of the Order of the Tasse de Vin, for James Thomson 2001

Industry Achievement Award for James Thomson, Tourist Board Thistle Awards 1999

Spirit of Scotland Awards Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards finalist 1999 & 2003

Business Awards

BT Vision 100 Index member of the annual index of the UK’s 100 most visionary organisations

Investor in People, the Witchery was the first independent restaurant in Scotland to be accredited in 1998

Company of the Year, Lothian Business Excellence Awards 2000.

The Quality Scotland Awards for Business Excellence Highly Commended, 2000

Quality Scotland, Awarded Membership of Scotland’s EFQM assessing organisation inn 2001

National Business Awards for Scotland 2000 Commended Finalist

And some of what the Press say...

Almost as famous as the Castle itself. Harpers & Queen

Its theatrical suites are decadent hideaways that regularly feature among the great places in the world to stay. The Guardian

The Witchery is right in the middle of the action, but it's so gorgeous you'll have difficulty leaving your room to go out. 'Lavish' is an understatement for the way these generously proportioned rooms are decorated with antiques, tapestries and drapes. It might be sensory overload for some people, but this is the place for those who like their beds four-poster and their baths designed for two.
Observer

A worldwide reputation for sensational food in the most indulgent setting.
www.restaurant-guide.com

Outrageously gothic, and just a broomstick hop from Edinburgh Castle, the Witchery has nine suites, and is the place to stay if your pockets are as deep as the blood-red velvet curtains on the four-posters. Organ pipes for a bed head in the Vestry, a stuffed mallard by the bath in the Inner Sanctum — this is a fabulous, shamelessly camp temple of too-muchness. It’s obvious why Jack Nicholson’s not the only celeb to make it his Edinburgh home from home.
The Sunday Times

Quite honestly the most spectacular restaurant in town, and like nowhere else. The food is ridiculously impressive.
The Itchy Guide

It is the most atmospheric place in Edinburgh for a luxurious night’s sleep.
Travel Intelligence

Baroque opulence. As for the food think lobster ravioli…think roast crown of squab pigeon with foie gras…think about booking in advance.
Gillian Glover, The Scotsman

Edinburgh’s most romantic hotel/restaurant boasts a gothic history, prestigious location and a celebrity guest list most proprietors would die for. Impressed? The Witchery will leave you spellbound.
www.lovetripper.com

It's not hard to see why Dannii Minogue described The Witchery as 'the perfect lust den'. The Gothic suites at this restaurant with rooms will give you a sensory overload.
The Observer

Top spot for a romantic dinner.
The Daily Telegraph

It’s hard not to be bewitched by the gothic grandeur, countless candles and theatrical dining experience of the Witchery.
Virgin

Hedonist’s heaven in the heart of Edinburgh.
Room for Romance

In this jewel box setting Lord Irvine would be green with envy.
Scotland on Sunday

The dog’s bollocks.
Gail Hipgrave, Cosmopolitan

The most exceptional and atmospheric in town.
Peter Irvine, Scotland the Best

Destination dining in a historic location.
The AA

James Thomson

The best restaurateur I know.
Clarissa Dickson Wright

A reputation others would die for
Scotland on Sunday

James Thomson is Edinburgh’s star restaurateur
Time Out