Ian Syme returns to Fairmont St Andrews as executive chef

Ian Syme is returning to Fairmont St Andrews as the executive chef, where he will oversee the offering across the estate's Squire Restaurant, St Andrews Bar & Grill, La Cucina and Atrium Lounge, as well as in-room dining and events

The Fife-born chef has spent the past three years working at The Gleneagles Hotel as executive chef, prior to which he was the head chef at St Andrews hospitality firm, Eden Mansion Ltd, then worked at Italian-inspired St Andrews' The Seafood Ristorante before spending just under three years as the executive sous-chef at Fairmont.

Fairmont St Andrews

As well as its vast spa complex, the five-star restort is home to two golf courses - the Fairmont St Andrews' Kittocks and Torrance, which have been host a number of international tournaments and where the 150th Open qualifying rounds will be held in June.

Fairmont, which underwent a multimillion pound renovation, completed in 2019, has won multiple awards in recent years, including the title of Greenest Business in the Fife Business Awards 2019; The CIS Excellence Awards' Group Hotel of the Year 2021 and the Good Spa Guide's Best Spa in Scotland 2021.

Commenting on his appointment, Ian said it was "a fantastic time to be coming back" to the hotel, "ahead of what may be our busiest summer on record."

“I am so looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, and meeting some new ones, as we further develop our staff team and our fantastic food offering. I completely share Fairmont’s values in the training and developing of people making a start in the industry and look forward to bringing on some new culinary apprentices over time.

The resort's location will bring the chef back to St Andrews' "excellent local suppliers," allowing him and his team to source some of the world's best seafood right on their doorstep. 

"My fondness for my home in Fife finds a way into all my cooking and the seafood we have here on the East Neuk, like lobster and turbot, is always a prominent feature," he said.

John Keating, General Manager at Fairmont St Andrews extended the team's “very warm welcome back" to the chef, and added: “We are so looking forward to his fresh take on development, training and enhancing our offering as we look ahead to what we hope will be a busy and successful season.”