The Shoregate

Located in Crail in Scotland’s East Neuk of Fife, The Shoregate offers a destination restaurant, a cosy traditional bar along with three stylish guest rooms and a top-floor show-stopping two-bedroom suite with breathtaking views of Crail and the Firth of Forth beyond. The Luxury Editor recently visited this beautiful boutique property – read on for the full review.

Background & Concept

What was once an 18th-century building that served as a hostelry since the late 1800s was purchased by Nicholas Frost and Damon Reynolds in 2019 and then underwent a two-and-a-half-year restoration before reopening in May 2022 as The Shoregate. Formerly known as ‘Cross House’ and converted into a hotel in 1890, by 2019 it required extensive restoration with Nick and Damon working closely with local craftsmen to ensure the renovation reflected the building’s history and coastal location and the finished result is simply stunning.

Location

This picturesque Scottish coastal village is known for its maritime heritage, harbour, cobbled streets, and traditional cottages that reflect its long association with the sea. It’s also recognised for its vibrant arts scene, with local galleries and craft shops showcasing the work of local artists. If you are visiting on a weekend make sure to pop along to Bowhouse‘s weekend market in Anstruther where you can enjoy the best local food and drink traders from across Scotland. In addition, Crail’s proximity to St Andrews and only an hour and a half drive to Edinburgh makes it an ideal base for exploring Fife and beyond.

Rooms

Tucked away on the first and second floor behind a door and accessed by a key fob, lies the property’s four bedrooms. On the first floor, five original rooms were transformed into what are now three large ensuites – two with front-facing views, while the top floor has been opened out into a stunning two-room suite with far-reaching views across the Forth to East Lothian and St Abbs Head.

Interiors are finished in bold contrasting colours with each room taking on a unique personality. All feature UK-manufactured fabrics, blankets sourced from Yorkshire, oversized artwork from Scottish National Collections and local artists and herringbone-inspired carpets that reminded me a bit of Jim Lambie’s works.

All rooms are equipped with high-thread-count linens, hypo-allergenic pillows, bathrobes, and slippers. You will also find a dressing table complete with a hairdryer, a mini-fridge and a secure safe. For your viewing pleasure rooms come with a 50-inch TV with casting capabilities (and two TV’s in the suite).

Complimentary snacks and mini bottles of Darnley’s gin with tonic, a Nespresso machine as well as a kettle with a variety of teas and fresh milk are stocked in your mini fridge.

Room Four

During our stay we were hosted in Room Four which is the Shoregates Suite, I didn’t want to leave… Extremely generous in size at 42m² you enter into the lounge area with a double sofa to the left, which can be turned into a bed making the suite ideal for families too. A writing desk tucked into the alcove window lies ahead of you and to the left a dressing area and next to the sofa a large TV.

Head towards the bedroom and to the left is the bathroom with amenities by Arran Aromatics and powerful rainfall and hand shower.

Lots of drawers and cupboards to explore, one drawer houses teapots, cups, and an array of tea bags and coffee pods for the Nespresso machine. While another drawer is home to a hairdryer, there is also a safe and mini fridge alongside ample wardrobe space.

The suite comes with two Darnelys Gin and tonics, macaroons and I only discovered the next morning when I opened the macaroon box two cubes of Scottish tablets as well.

The bedroom has a cosy warm feeling to it, with exposed stone down one side and a gigantic superking-size bed you sink into covered in tactile blankets adding to the hygge. A second large 50-inch TV along with a reading area next to the bedroom window offers fantastic views out to the Firth of Forth.

Dining Room

The restaurant has quickly become a destination in itself, Led by Head Chef Craig McAllister and Sous Chef Josh Macdonald they have deservedly earned a strong reputation at The Shoregate for their innovative and well-executed dishes. Craig has honed his skills at esteemed establishments such as Number One at the Balmoral, the Sheraton Grand, Prestonfield House Hotel, and the Road Hole Restaurant at the Old Course Hotel. While Josh, originally from the Isle of Arran, gained experience in small hotels and restaurants on the island before working in Valence, France.

Taking full advantage of the natural light and stunning views down the hill towards the sea the space had a Scandinavian meets Scottish feel to it. Light oak tables are paired with Carl Hansen chairs and enhanced by touches of near-burnt orange and a back wall adorned with teal panelling. Mirrors placed along the walls create a sense of depth while the room’s quirky character is further enhanced by serving pieces from Crail pottery and Harris tweed lampshades and cushions in shades of bronze and dark turquoise.

The menu focuses on seasonal flavours and local ingredients with much of the product coming from Scotland and one to two dishes changing every couple of months on the menu. I was truly impressed with the food offering – considering this is a small village in Fife the restaurant can easily take on any fine dining establishment in St Andrew’s – and across the whole of Scotland for that matter.

I would say hand on heart it’s one of the best meals I have had this year. Even if you are not staying in the Shoregate it’s worth the trip for dinner, just make sure you prebook as it’s very popular and quite rightly so!

Breakfast

After a solid sleep (the mattresses are wonderfully comfortable!) head back to the restaurant for an à la carte breakfast, attention to detail shows the same flawless execution as the dinner service. We choose a seat right next to the window where the sunlight floods in and immediately lifts the mood.

A fine selection of breakfast offerings are available, opt for the Shoregate full Scottish if you want a classic way to start the day. We chose the Omelette Arnold Banner and the Eggs Royal. The Omelette is served open (rather than the traditional folded presentation) which reminded me of okonomiyaki, it’s topped with flakes of smoked haddock and drizzled with mornay sauce and it’s a wonderful variation of the classic omelette. The Eggs Royal were completely indulgent, dripping in hollandaise sauce, topped with a pinch of paprika and runny eggs that oozed out over the smoked salmon and muffin beneath.

Bar

At the back of the property, you will find the Shoregates traditional pub. The bar’s design drew inspiration from century-old photographs. historical plans of the original layout, and architectural elements found in and around Crail.

Original Victorian pitch pine tongue and groove panelling, uncovered behind layers of plasterboard in the attic, was carefully restored and reinstalled. Along with etched glass ceiling fixtures and brass ship’s lighting. The space is further enhanced by stained glass newly commissioned works by local artist Keny Drew. Reclaimed pews from a de-consecrated chapel near New Lanark, now upholstered in fabric woven in Ross-shire and an open fire make this the perfect setting to enjoy a beer or wine.

Final Thoughts

The Shoregate is an example of how to execute a village hotel properly and Damon, Nicholas and the entire team should be proud of what they have achieved. Breathing new life into this historical building took over 30 painstaking months to achieve and since opening, they have added great value to Crail. Rooms are a delight and the restaurant’s fine dining experience wouldn’t be out of place in any major city in the UK. So the next time you are thinking of going to Fife, forget St Andrews make sure you head to Crail and book into the Shoregate – you won’t be disappointed!

This property is featured in our guide to the best hotels in Fife