Ayrshire’s leading hospitality group, SimpsInns, has appointed a new executive head chef to lead its kitchen teams and elevate its menus at five restaurants across the region.
Ewan McAllister, 43, will now lead a team of over 40 hospitality professionals to help reinforce SimpsInns’ reputation for offering some of the best food and drink experiences on the Ayrshire coast, including Coast Restaurant at The Gailes Hotel & Spa, The Potting Shed at Si!! in Irvine, The Loans Inn at Troon and The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride.
Ewan joins SimpsInns with over 24 years’ experience in a variety of culinary and hospitality roles. His most recent positions include an executive chef role at the Corinthian Club in Glasgow and head chef at Seamill Hydro Hotel.
Ewan was also the head chef at the acclaimed Kirkmichael Arms in Maybole for 11 years. During this time, he played a key role in achieving 2 AA rosette status for the restaurant.
As part of his new role with SimpsInns, Ewan is taking a fresh look at the menus across the group to elevate the food and drink experience. His aim will be to introduce more local and seasonal produce, as well as serving up delicious classic dishes to suit a wide variety of tastes, including local diners from across Ayrshire and overnight visitors to the region.
Ewan’s first project for SimpsInns is to create a new menu for The Loans Inn at Troon, which is currently undergoing a fresh makeover in time for a spring re-launch.
Commenting on his appointment as new executive chef for SimpsInns, Ewan McAllister said:
“I’m really looking forward to the challenges that this new position will bring. It’s the pinnacle of my career to date and provides me with a wonderful opportunity to make a real mark on Ayrshire’s food and drink scene.
“My culinary philosophy is to keep things local and seasonal and to serve well-cooked and well-presented tasty food to our all our guests at each of SimpsInns’ restaurants.
Ewan added:
“Scottish produce is second to none, so I plan to add more local ingredients and make the most of the amazing local seafood landed in Troon. I’m delighted to get langoustines and seafood delivered straight to the kitchen door from the boat and use Blackthorn Sea Salt, which is produced right here in Ayrshire.”
Ewan grew up in East Kilbride and attended Ballarup High School. His hospitality career developed later in life after initially working in engineering. His first job in hospitality was as a kitchen porter at Hollytree Hotel at Kentallen, near Ballachulish, followed by various roles in boutique hotels in the Highlands.
Ewan moved back to Ayrshire to work for the Prestwick-based Costley & Costley Hoteliers and has also spent some time undertaking stages in some of London’s leading establishments, including The Galvin Brothers on the fifth-floor restaurant in Harvey Nichols and The Park Lane hotel.
Ewan has two grown up children; Lucy (22) and Isla (18). He lives locally in Troon, where he enjoys playing golf when he is not working.
Hospitality runs in Ewan’s family as both his brothers are also chefs. His brothers and daughter also work in various hospitality and catering roles around Scotland.
Lee Simpson from SimpsInns, said:
“We’re really excited to see what Ewan will create across SimpsInns’ collection of restaurants. His culinary talent will play a huge part in attracting local customers and overnights guests for a great value dining experience as we develop and expand our offering in 2025.
“We know Ewan is the right choice to spearhead our kitchen teams and further enhance our growing reputation for providing some of Ayrshire’s most exciting food and drink destinations.”
The Irvine-based Simpson family is the driving force behind SimpsInns, which owns and operates a collection of award-winning hotels, restaurants, bars, spa, golf, and leisure activities along the Ayrshire coast, including The Gailes Hotel & Spa in Irvine, The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride and The Loans at Troon.
Continued investment has been a key strategy for the growth of Simpsinns over the last three years, with over £4 million invested across the group. SimpsInns is currently expanding The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride, adding 17 new rooms and a stunning sea front spa, an extension of their successful Si! Spa brand at The Gailes.
For more information on the SimpsInns Group, visit www.simpsinns.com
