The Peat Inn, one of Scotland’s leading restaurants for several decades, is on sale with chef-patron Geoffrey Smeddle and his wife Katherine deciding to move on after 19 years.
The 250-year-old inn near St Andrews in Fife wins consistent praise in the Harden’s guide for its ‘old-school class’ and has been a regular on the annual Harden’s 100 list of the UK’s best restaurants, with the Smeddles building on the reputation established by David and Patricia Wilson before them.
Announcing the decision to change tack at the age of 53, Geoffrey stressed that he remained fully committed to the restaurant ahead of the sale – and that the business is flourishing: “I’m young, in control, and business is good – it just felt like the right time to explore a new chapter.
“It’s an iconic institution, and it’s been a privilege to be the custodian of The Peat Inn and strengthen it before passing the baton on.
“It’s important to add that many hospitality businesses have struggled financially in recent years, but not us – we’re choosing to sell The Peat Inn. It was my dream but now it is time to bow out.”
Geoffrey trained as a chef in London and worked in Europe and the US before moving to Scotland in 2003, initially to set up restaurant Etain in Glasgow for the late Sir Terence Conran.
