Nick & Nikki Horne and their 3 young children created their own family business by buying The Pierhouse in January 2006. Since then, they have transformed a little known backwater hotel into a renowned award-winning, yet relaxed, family destination. In this, their tenth year at the hotel, Nick & Nikki are delighted to receive the Scottish Independent Hoteliers of the Year award at the 2016 Scottish Hotel Awards. The secret of their success is simple – they strive to offer their guests something different – a personal and relaxed family atmosphere, a ‘hands-on’ management style and a stunning location with a restaurant where the food comes straight from the loch or is reared and grown locally.
“We always wanted to live by the sea and live our dream of working together. Now as well as realising this dream, we also have a business that thrives on the wonderful variety and freshness of the sea and local area’s fresh produce. You will not taste food fresher than this. And you will not feel more by the sea anywhere else in Britain. Come and see for yourself!”
In her first year at the Pierhouse Caroline set up our ‘Cooksafe’ system receiving an award from the Argyll & Bute environmental health team, and is now involved with our Green Business Tourism Scheme for which we were given a Silver award on our first grading visit and through Caroline's subsequent hard work this has been upgraded to a Gold award.
Caroline is seen here on the pier after the 2012 Scottish Hotel Awards when The Pierhouse received two prestigious awards - the Seafood Dining Award and a Hospitality Gold Medal. We are delighted that Caroline was awarded the Hospitality Gold Medal, a much deserved recognition of her hard work and commitment to customer service. The hotel and its people and food have gone on to win further awards each and every year -
The Pierhouse is part of the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Having held a Green Tourism Silver Award since 2010, we are delighted to have now been awarded Gold, following significant changes we have made over the last few years.
We are extremely fortunate to live is such an unspoiled landscape, surrounded by community living, clean air and unpolluted wildness. We are committed to being recognised as a leading representative of good practice in Green Tourism for the benefit of our hotel, staff, the community and our unique and fragile landscape, which in itself is vital to our business.
We know that our guests are drawn to the natural beauty of our west coast setting. We love to share as much knowledge and information as we can to help our guests take full advantage of the nature and wildlife around the hotel.
We are continually working to reduce our carbon footprint within the hotel with a wide range of sustainability projects:
Throughout the hotel we use eco friendly cleaning products for all of our many and varied cleaning tasks. These are supplied to us by Iain Stewart of Caledonia Washrooms from Delphis Eco.
In our laundry we have installed the most energy efficient machines possible and have also installed pulley systems for drying towels to help reduce the amount of energy used in tumble drying.
We reduce our paper trail through the efficient use of our office technology. We do as much as we can online with regard to booking confirmations, payments and receipts.
Our cooking oil is recycled through the company we buy it from. Our supplier takes away our used cooking oil to filter and reuse.
We monitor our progress through a ‘Green Team’ comprising Caroline, Nikki, Janette, Laura and Nick. New initiatives are discussed at regular staff meetings and all staff receive training in using our green products.
Green Tourism Business Scheme
Recommended children's outdoor clothing provider
2016 Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award
Help for Heroes
For the last four years or so, Proprietor Nick has taken part took in the Mull CycloSportive on the Isle of Mull in support of a charity close to his heart - Help for Heroes - and RNLI. The event is 87 gruelling miles on a bicycle in support of these really worthy causes. If you would like to, you can sponsor Nick via his
We are pleased to support Alzheimer Scotland - the leading dementia organisation in Scotland. The organisation campaigns for the rights of people with dementia and their families and provides an extensive range of innovative and personalised support services. To assist Alzheimer Scotland's fundraising, The Pierhouse donated a 2 night stay at the hotel for an auction at Alzheimer Scotland's charity ball in Aberdeen.
The Pierhouse is very pleased to support the Bill McLaren Foundation. The charity, set up in the name of 'the voice of rugby' aims to continue to develop and promote the game of rugby union and its values. Funds raised help to encourage and support youngsters to develop life skills and values through grassroots sports.
