New Head Chef joins Balmoral Arm

A new Head Chef has joined the team at Balmoral Arms, taking over the popular Ballater restaurant, 1852 Scottish Brasserie and Grill, and The Ghillies Bar. Tamarin Van Zyl has made the move to Royal Deeside, bringing with her twenty years of global culinary experience from South Africa. Previously leading a team at Johannesburg Mariott Hotel Melrose Arch, Tamarin and her partner will join the AA’s Hotel Group of the Year at Balmoral Arms. With experience in well-known hospitality brands like Hilton and Hyatt. A highlight of her career was working at the internationally acclaimed Singita Ebony and Boulders Lodge, Sabisand, a five-star Relais & Châteaux Private Game Lodge. Tamarin was drawn to the role in the scenic village of Ballater in Royal Deeside after having lived in Scotland.

“Having worked in various cities worldwide, it is refreshing and incredibly exciting to join the team at Balmoral Arms. “I am passionate about using local produce, and in Ballater, there is some fantastic local produce right on our doorstep. I’m looking forward to getting to know the local suppliers and ensuring only the very best local meat and vegetables are used within our restaurant and creatively featured on our menu. “The spectacular landscape inspires our menus at Balmoral Arms. Having only recently moved to this area, I am still in awe of the location and the sights, it’s been lovely moving into such a tight-knit community, I feel very welcomed. “I enjoy the nostalgic feel of Ballater and already have my favourite dish – the homemade eight-hour braised venison shortcrust pie which is made fresh daily and is the restaurant’s bestselling dish; it’s easy to see why!”

Not only does the restaurant partner with H M Sheridan, the local butcher in Ballater, Balmoral Arms also works with nearby fishing ports to source seafood and nearby Cambus O’May Cheese amongst many other local suppliers. General Manager of Balmoral Arms, Joanna Whysall, added: “It is a delight to welcome Tamarin to the team. She has been embraced by the local community, and her new menus are being well-received by all. I am excited to see what Tamarin will continue to bring to our food and beverage offerings. “Our teams work only with the finest fresh produce, which we source locally, ensuring our menus are fuelled by an abundance of superb Aberdeenshire ingredients whilst also reflecting the seasons.”

Balmoral Arms sits in the heart of the Victorian village of Ballater. 1852 Scottish Brasserie and Grill, named after the year in which Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle for Queen Victoria, offers guests and locals a taste of the Cairngorms with fresh produce from the surrounding hills and lochs on the menu. While The Ghillies Bar offers a relaxed bar with roaring fires and hearty meals after a day of adventure in the Cairngorms.

For more information on Balmoral Arms, please visit https://www.crerarhotels.com/balmoral-arms/.