The owners of a Highland restaurant with rooms are celebrating after their latest award wins.

A former manse which dates back to 1789, The Dipping Lugger in Ullapool is a unique retreat overlooking the banks of Loch Broom, known for its menus of fresh Scottish seafood and three luxury bedrooms.

Cementing its place as one of the country's finest hospitality venues, this year the team has retained the AA's five-star-gold restaurant with Rooms award, three AA Red Rosettes for Culinary Excellence and the AA Breakfast Award for the third time.

The AA Hotel Services’ hotel & restaurant inspector said: "The property continues to project a strong impression on arrival - the harbourside location and setting are truly enviable and no doubt will impress visitors here.

"Bedroom interiors are individually designed and show high-quality décor and complimentary furnishing styles.

"Highlights of the meal taken were a beautifully fresh large local scallop and a delightful and technically accomplished dessert."

David Smith, Head Chef at The Dipping Lugger, Ullapool (Image: Alexander Baxter/The Dipping Lugger)

Rounding off a season of wins, the Dipping Lugger has now added a Notable Wine List Award to its collection. Introduced in 1998, the AA Notable Wine List Award is presented based on the overall quality of a venue's wine selection, as well as an "outstanding contribution to promoting wine understanding and appreciation".

Nominees are judged on the quality of their wine list and their ability to inspire customers to make wider and more adventurous choices in selecting wines.

The Dipping Lugger co-owner Robert Hicks said: “We’re delighted that we’ve maintained our five Star restaurant with Rooms Award, three AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence, and our Breakfast Award, but the fact that the AA has also chosen to recognise the strength and depth of our wine list with a Notable Wine List Award is the cherry on top.

"Helen and I would like to thank them for the commitment they’ve shown in helping us work towards our goals for The Dipping Lugger across every area of our business."

The AA introduced a star rating system to classify hotels in 1912, and in 2006 they developed Common Quality Standards for inspecting and rating accommodation. These standards and rating categories are now applied throughout the British Isles.

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An AA Red Rosette award is only presented to restaurants that are achieving standards that stand out in their local area by serving food "prepared with care, understanding and skill, using good quality ingredients".

Robert continued: ‘’It’s been an exciting year so far with The Dipping Lugger being shortlisted in the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards in the Fine Dining Category, The Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards in the Restaurant of the Year category, and most recently we were announced as regional winners in the Scottish Thistle Awards for the Highlands & Islands Best Eating Experience category, which now sees us go forward to the National Finals in Glasgow in November.

"I’m sure when we all have five minutes the entire team will take a few moments to celebrate everything we’ve achieved so far.

"With that in mind, I’d like to add that these awards are really about every member of the team, from housekeeping to front-of-house and from pot wash to our chefs and I’d like to say very big thanks to them for all their help in making The Lugger what it is today.’’

The Dipping Lugger (Image: Alexander Baxter/The Dipping Lugger)

Last month, The Herald reported another Scottish restaurant with rooms was celebrating its new title of the Best in the UK. Perched on a promontory on the fringes of the west coast of Scotland in Ardnamurchan Estate, Mignary Castle is overseen by chef Colin Nicholson.

The 13th-century castle was restored to its former glory in 2016 and in 2021 its drawbridge dropped and reopened as a restaurant with rooms.

After the AA Hospitality Award Ceremony in London, the team said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won the prestigious AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year UK.

"A big thank you to our team and guests for contributing in this achievement."

Elsewhere, the Restaurant of the Year Award for Scotland was presented to Loch Bay on the Isle of Skye while the Cromlix in Dunblane was named Scotland's Hotel of the Year.