Ernst van Zyl, Elizabeth Kellett named head chef and restaurant manager at Isle of Eriska

Ernst van Zyl and Elizabeth Kellett have joined the team at the 3 AA Rosette, one Michelin star restaurant at The Isle of Eriska as head chef and restaurant manager.

Ernst will replace Andrew Turnbull in the head chef position, who took on the role when Graeme Cheevers left in the spring of 2020, himself at the helm as executive head chef when the restaurant earned a Michelin star in the 2020 guide. 

The chef brings a wealth of experience to the role, having moved to the UK to work for the Hilton Hotel group and since worked at the Stanneylands Hotel, a four star hotel in Wilmslow; Etrop Grange in Manchester, where his style started to earn him attention (and 2 AA Rosettes); and his own restaurant, The Lord Clyde in Cheshire, where he spent four years and earned 3 AA Rosettes before going solo as a private chef.

Originally from Sutton Elizabeth Kellett has been in catering for more than 20 years, working as an ops manager of big hotels, managing 17 ski chalets in France, running 38 villas for a 5 star hotel in Cornwall and restaurant manager for an up-market establishment in Cheshire.

Announcing the news on social media, Ernst said: "Myself and [Elizabeth] have accepted positions in Scotland at the beautiful stunning [Isle of Eriska] and it's where we'll be in a few weeks time. We are over the moon and so excited to be their new head chef and restaurant manager." 

Privately owned by the Buchanan-Smiths from 1973 until August 2016, Eriska is now owned by Creation Gem, a family-owned company based in Hong Kong. Since then, the 25-room hotel has undergone a massive refurbishment.

The 145 hectare flat tidal island is located off the Western Coast of Scotland, at the entrance to Lock Creran.