In the same year Andy Murray won Wimbledon, he and his wife, Kim Sears, took on ownership of Cromlix, a country house hotel that held special significance for him and his family. Ten years on and the couple has assumed an active role in shaping the identity of the brand, introducing an undone elegance and a naturally inspired feel to the historic Victorian mansion.
Learn a little more about our latest addition to the Walpole membership in our interview with creative force behind Cromlix, Kim Sears...
Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand…
Kim Sears: Andy and I bought Cromlix in 2013. The hotel was facing closure and Andy was keen to save it if possible. Cromlix had a lot of connections to his family – his grandparents held their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel and many other family events followed. It was also a source of jobs for people in Dunblane, the community in which Andy had grown up, so he felt it was important return it to its former state as a thriving business.
For ten years a management company ran the hotel, but in early 2023, we felt like it was time for a change. We undertook a major refurbishment of the whole hotel, closing the property for three months. All of the bedrooms and bathrooms have been upgraded as well as the restaurant, bar and common areas of the hotel. We worked with the interior designer I worked with on our own family home, so it is much more reflective of our style – or my style at least! It’s such a beautiful Victorian mansion and we’ve highlighted all its most impressive features throughout. The hotel feels laid-back, luxurious but in a modern, relaxed way.
Since we reopened in March 2023, the hotel has had amazing feedback from our guests, great recognition from the media and received industry awards. But it doesn’t stop there – the team are always looking at what they can do next to improve the guest experience and we have exciting plans for the future.
What is your brand best known for?
We're a luxury country house hotel, recognised for offering warm hospitality and laid-back luxury. At Cromlix, guests can kick back and relax as if they were in a home rather than a house.
What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?
I am very invested in Cromlix because it was a huge personal project for me, and now it’s much more reflective of me and Andy and the way we live our lives. The design is exactly what I hoped it would be and more, and the whole feel of the hotel is just right - relaxed, unfussy but very special. Previously we didn’t go up to the hotel that often, but I’m so happy to be there now, whether that’s with my kids, my mum and dad or with my best friends. I am so proud of what we’ve achieved.
Why do you love the brand?
I love the identity we have created for Cromlix. I value being out in nature, so we worked to bring into the hotel elements of the beautiful Scottish countryside. There are lots of florals and botanical themes throughout: all our bedrooms are named after flowers that grow on the estate and we cut blooms and foliage from the Kitchen Garden and grounds daily and they are put into the bedrooms and common areas of the hotel. Our restaurant, The Glasshouse, uses local, in-season produce and our Head Chef forages for ingredients in the local woodland or uses fresh produce grown in our Kitchen Garden. The new logo features the beautiful Virginia Creeper that climbs up the outside of the building, but retains the shape of the old logo. We wanted to reference the hotel’s past but update it and modernise it to show how we are evolving.
Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?
We have a brilliant team in place that is passionate about providing the very best experience to every guest that visits, whether that’s for a coffee in the bar, or for an overnight stay.
These values have been recognised through the awards we’ve won in the past twelve months. Cromlix was named in The Sunday Times 'Best Places to Stay' list, it received the Scottish Thistle Award for 'Best Hotel Experience 2023', and Chef Darin Campbell won 'Chef of the Year' at the Scottish Excellence Awards.
What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?
Walpole represents some of the finest brands in Britain, so it felt like the right place for Cromlix. We look forward to meeting the wonderful luxury brands within its membership, and we hope to bring something unique to this community, too.
If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose?
We have an abundance of interesting art at Cromlix, including some pieces from Andy’s own collection and some pieces by contemporary artists on loan from the Royal Scottish Academy. It would be great to collaborate with Saatchi Gallery and perhaps do an exhibition at the hotel.
I also love how Kathryn Sargent is taking on the tailoring world so she would be an interesting partner for us - I’m sure our guests would love a personal shopping experience at her new Edinburgh store.
Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?
We will soon be launching our wellness cottage at Cromlix. This will be a small, intimate retreat tucked away in the woodland at the hotel – we are converting an old storage building into a new wellness space with all the latest treatments on offer. It’s going to be fabulous, and I’m going to be the first person through the door!
