About Us
Welcome to The Best Western Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway.
More than just a Hotel.........we're a home from home
- 17 en suite bedrooms
- Free Wifi throughout
- Choice of 2 restaurants - The Bistro for casual dining at its best or Artistas restaurant for more formal dining open daily.
- Enjoy our traditional Sunday lunch in Artistas - 2 courses £13.95 or 3 courses £16.95
- Choice of 2 Bars - our relaxing Bar Lounge or The Sports Bar complete with Sky Sport on 2 x 42" plasma screens, both with a selection of real ales, malts, wines and draught beers and lagers.
- A secluded garden - a peaceful oasis in the heart of Kirkcudbright
- A member of Best Western Hotels - independently owned hotels marketing under one umbrella - Best Western - Hotels with personality
- A quiet lounge known as The Burns Room where you can sit with the papers and a latte, relax before dinner or wind down after a hard day.
- A peaceful boardroom for meetings and lectures
- We are The Best Western Selkirk Arms Hotel, at your service.
Our story so far..............
Chris Walker and Douglas McDavid teamed up in April 2007 following long and illustrious careers in hospitality in the South West of Scotland.
With the support and wisdom from their wives and families the pair have set on the journey of creating simply the best Hotel and Dining experience in Dumfries and Galloway. Already awarded Highly Commended for the 2008 Rising Star Award from Hotel Review and re claiming 3 AA stars the pair have started an ambitious refurbishment plan which will take some 5 years to fully complete.
Now in 2010 and with refurbishment well on it's way further bedrooms are earmarked for refurbishment this Spring. In essence 9 bedrooms have been refurbished along with the reception, Artistas Restaurant, the Bar lounge and bistro. The Public Bar has had a total facelift and has been re launched as the Sports Bar complete with 2 40" flat screen TV's showing all the latest live sport.
Both Walker and McDavid are committed to bringing the best levels of service to the Selkirk and staff are undergoing training and development programmes to ensure they continue to put the customer first.
A little bit about the owners:
Chris and Sue Walker met whilst working for the then Trusthouse Forte Hotels at The Old England Hotel in Windermere. Married in 1988 they bought their first business with Chris's sister Carolyn and brother in law Andrew in 1989 at The Creebridge House Hotel in Newton Stewart. Together they built the former Earl of Galloway's home into a busy hotel attracting fishermen, shooters and golfers, before selling the business some 12 years later in 2001. A short spell in Yorkshire followed after the death of Chris's father before the pair returned to open their first solo venture the Masonic Arms in Gatehouse of Fleet, quickly winning awards as CAMRA pub of the year 2004 and Scotland's Best loved Pub from the Daily Telegraph.
The sale of the business to a pub company was too good an opportunity to miss in 2006 and the pair settled for a spell of time out.
The chance to buy the Selkirk Arms appeared in January 2007 and Chris and Sue felt they didn't want to take on the full time commitment a business of this size would demand so they invited local Hotel Manager Douglas McDavid to join them as a partner with the remit of General Manager. They sale went through on the 19th April 2007.
Chris and Sue live in Gatehouse of Fleet with their daughter Lisa and their two Labrador dogs Barty and Jasper.
Douglas McDavid met his wife Barbara, originally from Dublin while travelling in Australia in 1985. Married in 1988, now with 3 children Ruth (19), Murray (16) and Hugh (14) also live in Gatehouse. Douglas, grew up in Creetown, trained in Hotel Management in Glasgow and worked with McMillan Hotels for over 20 years, managing North West Castle in Stranraer and latterly Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse.
Going into business with the Walkers gave Douglas the chance to fulfil a lifelong ambition of owning his own hotel in Dumfries & Galloway. Very much a hands on owner/manager Douglas can always be spotted in the evening wearing his kilt as he attends to his customers.
When not at work, Douglas loves spending time with his family, sailing off the beach at Sandgreen, out on his bike, playing tennis and golf or following one of his favourite football teams.
Douglas's wife Barbara is as Practice Nurse in Gatehouse Surgery.
In May 2008 the company launched it's corporate social responsibility statement showing a clear commitment from CSW Gatehouse Ltd to take local community, staff employment and retention and the environment seriously.
To download and view the Hotels policy click on the link below
corporate social responsibility statement
