SimpsInns wins ‘Ayrshire Family Business of Year’ award

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Friday, October 14th, 2011

Malcolm and Karen Simpson have always maintained a strong work ethic and all their efforts paid off when SimpsInns picked up the ‘Ayrshire Family Business of the Year’ title at the prestigious Ayrshire Business Awards.

Malcolm and Karen play a very hand-on role in the day-to-day running of their business and as their strapline states, SimpsInns is “Privately Owned, Proudly Independent”. It is their attention to detail and emphasis on quality of service and product, which has allowed their business to evolve despite these straitened times.

“To have won this prestigious award is a great honour, not only for Karen and I and our two boys, Lee and Jack, but recognition for our entire team,” said a delighted Malcolm Simpson after receiving the family business award from TV presenter Kaye Adams.

“Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure we provide an excellent service every time guests visit or stay at one of our SimpsInns venues. This award makes us very proud as a family but it’s very much for the staff too.”

It has been a roller-coaster ride of late as SimpsInns will officially open their brand new Waterside Bar and Restaurant at Seamill, West Kilbride on Thursday (October 20th). As Ayrshire “must visit” venue, the Waterside will sit alongside the established Old Loans Inn, Troon and award winning Gailes Hotel, Irvine where last night’s Ayrshire Business Awards were held in a packed Lagavulin Suite.

In 12 short years the husband and wife team has built-up a thriving business and are one of the key players within the Ayrshire hospitality industry. It all began after they bought the Old Loans Inn. Two years ago Malcolm and Karen invested £2million in a redevelopment programme and transformed the once country pub into a 20-bedroom boutique hotel.

The Gailes, a former VOWS Wedding Venue of the Year, has been shortlisted for the same award this year. The four-star hotel, complete with luxury penthouse, whirlpool bath and spa, hosts over 100 weddings per year and remains one of the most popular venues in the country.

Si! Café, Bar and Restaurant is due to open in 2012 at the site of the former Golf Hotel in Irvine before phase two at the Waterside gets under way to include conference and banqueting facilities and bespoke bedrooms.

Photo caption: (L-R) Derek McGarvie from Bank of Scotland with Malcolm Simpson, SimpsInns owner, and TV presenter and broadcaster Kaye Adams at the Ayrshire Business Awards at the Gailes Hotel, Irvine
(Martin McLachlan Photography)