Monogram Collective’s Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire to open new restaurant

Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire is to welcome a new signature restaurant, Seton’s, next month.

The restaurant takes its name from the Seton family, who owned the estate of Meldrum for seven generations.

Its launch follows the extensive refurbishment of the manor house bedrooms and drawing room after its acquisition in 2024 by family-owned Apex Hotels, which has been expanding its rural presence through the creation of countryside retreat brand, Monogram Collective.

Prior to that, Meldrum House was privately owned by Aberdeenshire businessmen Bob Edwards and Terry and David Buchan for more than 30 years.

The Seton’s menu will feature a selection of sharing pies, ranging from rumbledethumps to Aberdeen Angus and Wasp’s Stout pie, in addition to local seafood such as half Scottish lobster, Scottish dressed crab and Oban oysters.

It will also collaborate with suppliers such as Keltic Seafare, Presley’s and Barra Farm in Oldmeldrum, which is known for its ‘Barra Berries’.

Seton’s restaurant will be overseen by head chef Ross Bott, whose previous experience includes Monachyle Mhor in Perthshire, Château La Chaire in Jersey and the Europe Hotel & Resort in Killarney.

He will be mentored by Monogram Collective group executive head chef Tom Scade, who was previously the executive chef at Vineyard at Stockcross in Berkshire, which was acquired by Apex Hotels in late 2024.

Ritz London-trained Scade now oversees three hotels, including Pine Trees hotel in Pitlochry and the Vineyard in Berkshire, which is due to reopen in early 2027 following a refurbishment.

Bott said: “Growing up in the countryside and around farms is where my love of food first began. From an early age, I learned the value of great local produce and the hard work that goes into producing it. For me, if you have the right ingredients, the food can do all the talking. Aberdeenshire is a unique place – it has the close-knit feel of a small town while being surrounded by some of Scotland’s best farming communities. I’m passionate about working with local suppliers and showcasing the incredible quality and provenance that the region has to offer."

Apex Hotels was founded by Scottish entrepreneur Norman Springford, who opened his first property, Apex Grassmarket hotel in Edinburgh, in 1996.

In 2023, the hotel group secured a £60m refinancing package to support its expansion into rural locations, starting with the Pine Trees hotel in Pitlochry.