I stayed in 'top coastal' Michelin hotel in stunning Scottish village - my verdict
A weekend stay in a welcoming hotel on East Lothian’s Golf Coast is an ideal start to spring, finds Rosalind Erskine.
East Lothian is not somewhere I’ve spent a lot of time; only passing villages like Haddington and East Linton while on route elsewhere. Therefore a chance to spend a weekend in the famous Golf Coast in early March was a good opportunity to explore picturesque Aberlady and stay in the award-winning The Leddie hotel.
The Leddie Hotel has been voted one of The Times Top Hotels to Stay In for a truly memorable Coastal Escape. This award-winning boutique hotel and restaurant is located just 30 minutes from Edinburgh City Centre and five minutes from Gullane.
This pretty village is a busy spot so parking on the street might be a challenge especially if you’re staying on a weekend. The hotel has a small tightly packed car park but it’s on a first come first served basis.
Budget or boutique
With 27 rooms, which start at £230 per night for a double, this is a boutique hotel.
Room service
We stayed in a cottage suite, which was dog-friendly. Located outwith the main building, it had its own gated garden and was a spacious room with king sized bed, TV, desk area and bathroom with large walk-in shower. The beige walls and sofa are accessorised with burnt orange and tartan cushions while the bathroom is a sea of turquoise tiles with modern fittings.
Wining and dining
Dinner and breakfast are served in the warm and welcoming restaurant and bar. It was busy when we sat down for dinner on a Friday night, with excellent live music in the bar. The compact menu includes local East Lothian produce including eggs from Gosford Farm, fish from Belhaven smokehouse and meat from John Gilmour. While vegetables and herbs, where possible, come from the hotel’s garden.
Inspired by the coastal location we ordered the North Sea prawn croquette, fish and chips served with crushed peas, tartare sauce and lemon and a lovely poached pear frangipane tart, served with honey vanilla ice cream.
The team have won awards for their breakfast, which is all a la carte and includes fresh dishes such as yoghurt with rhubarb compote; The Leddie Muffin which has a sausage patty, fried egg, cheese and a side of hash brown and a full Scottish breakfast.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Aberlady is home to two golf courses - Kilspindie and Craigielaw, but if you’re not into golf there’s the Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve and the Myreton Motor Museum. If you’re a whisky fan, Glenkinchie distillery is a 20 miniature drive away and has a wonderfully immersive tour. When we visited it was made even better by tour guide Willie who knew us all by name (and who was celebrating a special anniversary). Keen cooks can book into the Yarrow Cook School which is a 10 minute drive from The Leddie and is a bright and spacious place in which to learn skills like taco making, Kerala curry and sushi from chef Richard.
Little extras
While we weren’t offered a drink or arrival or a turndown service which I’d read about before our stay, the welcome homemade shortbread in the room was a nice addition as were the full sized L'occitane toiletries and the dog bed, bowls and treats laid out for Archie.
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Guestbook comments
Nestled on Scotland’s spectacular Golf Coast, The Leddie offers refined yet relaxed accommodation with characterful rooms, warm hospitality, and impeccable attention to detail. The Leddie Hotel specialises in destination dining with menus showcasing the very best of local produce, from fresh coastal fish to seasonal Scottish favourites and special occasions paired with an excellent wine list and whisky collection. The next morning, wake up to a leisurely a la carte breakfast before exploring the East Lothian coastline or the nearby championship golf courses.
Hotel info
The Leddie Hotel & Restaurant
West Main St, Aberlady, Longniddry EH32 0RE
01875 440644
Guests can currently enjoy a great spring deal for stays before 30 April with an overnight in March and April priced from £115pp sharing including à la carte breakfast in the morning. Scotsman readers can quote SPRINGTREATSCOTS for a complimentary upgrade. Subject to availability.
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