The Loch Lomond Arms Hotel in Luss has scooped awards for best informal dining hotel and best wedding hotel in the Argyll region.

However, the team could bag a further win at the awards ceremony at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday, April 19 when the hotel will be in contention to win the national category award which selected from each of the regional winners. A Hotel of the Year will also be selected.

Ian Hamilton, general manager of the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel, said the wins were ‘incredibly important’ for the hotel.

He added: “It’s going to mean a lot, it’s incredibly important for us. The awards will enhance and increase our profile, we have aspirations to become a destination hotel and this will help us to become that.” The annual awards are separated into nine different regions and The Loch Lomond Arms Hotel came top in the Argyll region for informal dining hotel and wedding hotel. There are 12 categories in this year’s awards, including breakfast of the year and bar hotel of the year.

Staff at the Loch Lomond Hotel went through a lengthy process to win the awards and had to go through several judging sessions.

The hotel was first visited by an official judge who stayed overnight in the hotel before carrying out an interview with staff. A mystery peer judge also submitted an unannounced reservation and stayed in the hotel like any other guest.

Ian said: “You just know when the judging process is taking place but you don’t know when they’re going to turn up.” The Loch Lomond Arms Hotel is situated in Luss and is described as an 18th century village inn but with the facilities of a modern hotel and has an acclaimed restaurant and holds weddings. It also has a number of self catering cottages.

A new head chef and sous chef were recently appointed at the hotel and there are plans for future development.

Ian said: “The business is constantly growing and developing and we’re all guns blazing for the summer. We have spent a lot of time and money in the hotel to get everything here right.”