Taste of the Highlands Dinner
Taste of the Highlands Dinner
Sarah Rankin Taste of the Highlands dining experience
Sarah Rankin brings her celebrated approach to Scottish food to the Kingsmills Hotel for one exceptional evening on Friday 27th February 2027. This dining experience Scotland showcases the finest Highland producers through a four-course menu. Food will also be paired with local drinks, live music, and storytelling from the suppliers themselves. MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin hosts the evening, introducing artisan producers while Executive Chef Geoff Malmedy’s menu celebrates the Highlands’ larder.
Tickets £75 per guest. Overnight package from £265 including two tickets.
Book your dining experience for Friday 27th February 2027 at 7pm.
Your dining experience with Sarah Rankin includes
This dining experiences Scotland event at the Kingsmills Hotel delivers a complete Highland celebration:
- Amuse-bouche on arrival showcasing seasonal Highland ingredients
- Welcome drink – choose local gin and tonic, whisky cocktail, or craft beer
- Live entertainment from talented Highland musicians throughout the evening
- Four-course tasting menu Inverness featuring artisan producers
- Meet-the-maker introductions from suppliers joining the evening
- Wine pairings with starter, intermediate course, and main dish
- Finishing dram of Highland single malt whisky
- Hosted by Sarah Rankin with stories woven throughout the meal
- Overnight package including two tickets available for £265
Meet your host: Sarah Rankin chef and food writer
Sarah Rankin chef credentials extend well beyond her MasterChef finalist appearance. She’s a celebrated cookbook author with two books showcasing Scottish produce. Both of which are available in bookshops nationwide, and reflect her philosophy that exceptional food should feel approachable and joyful.
You’ll also recognise Sarah Rankin from regular contributions to BBC Radio Scotland’s Morning Show and as a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s iconic Kitchen Cabinet. She also hosts the Eat and Drink Stage at Ideal Home Show Scotland and appears frequently at food festivals across the UK. Her warm, engaging style transforms fine dining experience evenings into relaxed celebrations where producers and diners connect.
Sarah Rankin’s work with Visit Inverness Loch Ness , promoting food and drink tourism, makes this partnership natural. And this evening represents everything she does best – connecting exceptional ingredients with the stories and people behind them at the Kingsmills Hotel.
Overnight package for a complete experience
The overnight package priced at £265 includes two dining tickets plus accommodation, making it one of the best value dining experiences Scotland offers. Stay in comfortable hotel rooms rather than worrying about transport after wine pairings and whisky drams. Wake to full Scottish breakfast the next morning, extending your Highland food celebration.
Staying overnight lets you explore Inverness properly before or after the event. Visit the recently opened Inverness Castle Experience, walk River Ness trails, or browse Victorian Market’s independent shops. Use complimentary leisure facilities including heated pool, jacuzzi, and gym. The package transforms a single evening into a full Highland escape at the Kingsmills Hotel.
The venue: Kingsmills Suite
Our Kingsmills Suite provides the perfect backdrop for this, one of the most unique dining experiences in Scotland. The space accommodates guests at hospitality tables of 8-10, encouraging conversation between strangers who share a passion for good food. You can also book eight tickets together to secure a private table if in a group.
In the Kingsmills Suite, large windows overlook mature hotel grounds, though February evenings mean candlelight and atmosphere take precedence. The suite’s layout also allows easy movement. So, you’ll enjoy suppliers circulating between courses and musicians performing without overwhelming conversation. What’s more, the relaxed configuration suits the community-focused spirit Sarah Rankin is set to bring to the Kingsmills Hotel.
A menu concept celebrating local Highland producers
Our Kingsmills Hotel Executive Chef, Geoff Malmedy, collaborated with outstanding regional partners to create this unique dining experiences UK menu. As a result, each course showcases artisan producers working at small scale with exceptional quality.
Highlights include Seastocks Hebridean smoked salmon rillette atop a homemade potato scone from The Spud Hut. There’ll also be a strathspey assiette of venison sourced through Simpson Game, demonstrating Highland game at its finest. A decadent chocolate and orange torte then provides the sweet finale. And throughout, freshly baked bread from XOKO accompanies courses, while craft beverages from Dog Falls Brewery and Kompassion Kombucha add local character.
The vegan menu matches the main offering’s ambition, featuring The Spud Hut Pink Fir potato with soused shallot alongside other seasonal Highland ingredients. Both menus demonstrate that dining in Inverness, Scotland, can rival any city when local producers and skilled chefs collaborate at the Kingsmills Hotel.
WoodWinters Inverness carefully selected wines are also paired with each course, and their expertise ensures flavours complement rather than compete. Arrival drinks feature local gin, craft beer, and whisky cocktails showcasing regional distilleries and breweries.
The evening concludes with warming drinks from Loch Ness Tea and Inverness Coffee Roasting, both roasting and blending locally. The finishing dram introduces you to Highland single malt character. Think peaty Islay styles, smooth Speyside expressions, or robust island whiskies. These supporting suppliers complete the immersive dining experience Scotland at the Kingsmills Hotel.
Book your place at this special evening
Tickets for this Friday 27th February 2026 dining experience Scotland evening cost £75 per guest. Limited availability means early booking essential – intimate events like this sell quickly once Sarah Rankin’s involvement becomes known. The overnight package at £265 including two tickets represents exceptional value for couples or friends wanting the complete experience.
Reserve tickets now through our online booking system, or call 01463 237166 to discuss group bookings or dietary requirements. The management can accommodate most dietary needs with advance notice, ensuring everyone enjoys this celebration of Highland food at the Kingsmills Hotel.
Terms and conditions
Ticket price includes arrival drink, four-course dinner in our Kingsmills Suite, and wine with the meal. Guests join hospitality tables of 8-10 people. Booking eight tickets together guarantees a private table. This ticket is non-refundable and non-transferable. Management reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events due to circumstances beyond our control. We’ll provide an alternative date, venue, or full refund in such instances. Standard Kingsmills Hotel terms and conditions apply to overnight packages.
FAQs: Sarah Rankin Taste of the Highlands Dining Experience
Sarah Rankin creates immersive experiences where you meet the producers behind your food. Unlike typical fine dining where chefs remain in the kitchen, Sarah introduces suppliers throughout the evening, sharing their stories and craft.
Yes, the Kingsmills Hotel accommodates most dietary needs with advance notice when you book. A fully developed vegan menu runs parallel to the main offering, featuring the same quality of local ingredients including The Spud Hut heritage potatoes and seasonal Highland produce.
The overnight package saves money compared to buying separately and eliminates transport concerns after wine pairings and whisky. You’ll wake to a full Scottish breakfast and can explore Inverness properly the next day. This turns a single evening into a complete Highland food experience.
WoodWinters Inverness selects wines specifically to complement each course. The team considers the full flavour profile, from starter through intermediate course to main, so wines build logically through the meal. Your finishing dram of Highland whisky provides the traditional Scottish conclusion.
Yes, hospitality tables seat 8-10 guests to encourage conversation and community. Many guests appreciate meeting fellow food enthusiasts and hearing different perspectives during producer introductions. If you prefer privacy, book eight tickets together to guarantee your own table in the Kingsmills Suite.
Local Highland musicians provide atmospheric entertainment throughout the evening, not overwhelming conversation. Expect traditional Scottish instruments and melodies that complement rather than dominate the dining experience.
The evening balances occasion with approachability. So, smart casual works perfectly. Sarah Rankin’s style emphasises relaxed enjoyment over stuffiness, so you won’t feel out of place without formal wear.
Hosted by Sarah Rankin
“What a joy it is to be back at the Kingsmills Hotel for the Taste of the Highlands Dinner. This evening promises to be a wonderful celebration of the absolute best of Highland produce. I'm thrilled to be hosting the evening, sharing the stories of these incredible producers, and enjoying some outstanding food.”
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