Reviews
Sunday Herald Magazine 19th August 2007
"Nowhere better sums up the face & character of new Inverness better than Rocpool Reserve"
Scotsman Magazine 28th April 2007
"Rocpool Reserve hotel in Inverness lives up to its five-star hype"
Scottish Woman Magazine Spring 2007
"Could this be Scotland's most chic, sophisticated & ultra glamorous hotel of all time?"
"Forget Edinburgh or Glasgow this is all happening in Inverness"
BBC 1 Holiday Programme January 2007
"Ticks all the required boutique hotel boxes"
"As good as any international boutique hotel"
Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen
The Sunday Herald October 29th 2006
"Rocpool Reserve lives up to its seductive billing with first class food in fine surroundings"
Joanna Blythman
Food Rating 9/10
"A square building of classical dimensions sitting on a hill above the Ness, it has a grand portico with Ionic pillars, it looks like a diminutive version of a greek temple. Viewed from outside it positvely glows. The effect is striking"
"Inside, they have really gone for it - an uncompromisingly original modern look. The effect is stunning. Reserve evokes the opulence of Imperial Russia, the slickness of a Monte Carlo Casino, the loucheness of a very high class bordello in a Luis Brunuel film..."
"An Italian spirit also underpins the menu. The home-baked foccacia is fantastic and home-made pastas loom large. A babyfood-smooth veloute of white beans and roasted garlic produced a deep-flavoured,velvety soup. With its silky purse-shaped pasta stuffed with prosciutto, it raised humble ingredients to a new level."
"I was actually blown away by the marsala zabaglione, a warm, winey, eggy foam served in a tall glass with a perfectly poached pear. This shot to Number One in my 'Desserts of the Year category'
"Bling on the Luncheon" Jonathan Trew
"Rocpool Reserve, recent winner of Scottish Boutique Hotel of the year and highly commended in both the Scottish Hotel Design and the country's Sexiest Hotel of the year awards has won more bling than J-Lo"
"At lunch you pay Primark prices for Prada food"
"The dishes live up to the promises that the decor makes. They are well balanced and smartly presented"
"The starter was a delicate dish of slinky pasta pillows stuffed with crab and salmon. The crab shone through a subtle sauce of tomatoes, white wine and parsley."
"A main of Nicoise salad showed real attention to detail. The tuna was pink while the yolk of the egg was in a pleasant melting state. The anchovies were fresh, the new potatoes firm and the olives tasty. Deliberately, all the ingredients of the salad were not fully mixed together so that each flavour sang out"
The Sunday Times - Scotland May 7th 2006
The Meal: Adrian Turpin:
Is Inverness ready for glamour?
"Rocpool Reserve may sit above the banks of the River Ness, but it's more suited to the Riviera. For Inverness it is unfeasibly glamorous"
"I chose the hand-dived scallops with black pudding, pancetta, pea and mint dressing. It was simple and impressive the flavours and textures sparking off one another"
"A tarte tatin convinced me there was a genuine French aunt in the kitchen"