News & Updates
The Inn is a vibrant hub of activity in the village and there is always something on. We love our locals and our visitors from afar so whoever you are, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to eat, drink and stay at the Inn. Check out our latest news and events below.
6 Nations at the Inn
We’re showing all of the action from the 6 nations.
Join us for some special themed match foods and drinks.
The Calcutta Cup is always busy, so make sure you book in your tables for dinner.
Check our social media channels for up to date match fixtures and menus.
01838 200 880 or info@bencruachaninn.com
Valentines 2024
Book a romantic night with us this Valentines Weekend Wed 14th Feb – Sun 18th Feb.
Includes a complementary bottle of fizz on arrival, Breakfast for two, a rose petal turn down and late checkout for only £149
Burns Night 2024
This year, Burns Night will be celebrated here at the Inn on the Friday 26th January, with a host of traditional specials including the infamous haggis! The team will be out on Cruachan early Friday morning catching the wee furrys.
An informal evening this year, come as you are, sit where you like and enjoy the show.
Live Music from 7pm (with @ScoogzMusic).
Booking is highly recommended as it’s always a busy night.
01838 200 880 or info@bencruachaninn.com
Hogmanay 2023
The inn has released it Hogmanay 2023 menus.
A feast of 8 Courses, with drams and welcome drinks galore.
The first course served at 7pm, with seating for 6.30pm.
Live Music with MARRAM will commence at 9.30 when the bar re-opens to the public, taking us into the New Year and beyond.
A fiesta! At the Inn
Ben Coo-achans make a comeback!
Back in 2019, we introduced some cute little mascots to our rooms at the Inn. The Ben Coo-achnas went into early retirement during the Covid-19 pandemic as all that grooming and sanitising took its toll on the wee guys.
We’re glad to say, following extensive risk assessments our Covid-19 procedures have scaled back significantly, although we will be keeping some of the enhanced cleaning aspects in place, we were able to re-adopt these cuddly coo’s to brighten up our guests days.
Classic Cars are all the rage!
We’ve hosted many a Classic Car event and rally here at the Inn.
We’d like to say we’re all petrol heads, it just isn’t true, but we just can get enough of the vintage and rally style events here at the Inn with 4 booked in this Spring/Summer alone.
Book in your event now at the Inn, we’ve a whole carpark and beer garden to offer along with the bar and dining space.
“Probably the best tea and scones in the world”. Said one Danish driver at the the Hero Malts tour. – We didn’t have any Carlsberg.
Happy Easter from the Inn
A very Happy Easter break from all of the team here at the inn.
We’ve lots of specials, easter themed treats and maybe even a visit from a special floppy eared visitor too!
Have a look on our Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.
Birthday Celebrations
01 APRIL 2023 AT 19:00
We’re delighted to be celebrating our 6th Birthday here at the Inn.
Following a traumatic time for all hospitality businesses worldwide, post Covid-19 we are going from strength to strength. 2023 is shaping up to be the single biggest year for us for events, weddings and changes to our operations with Guest Satisfaction at the heart of everything we do.
We’d love to have you stay and share in the wonders that Argyll and Loch Awe have to offer.
Mothers Day 2023
19 March 2023 AT 19:00
Treat a very special Mum this year by celebrating with complementary bubbles here at the Inn.
A traditional Sunday offering with delicious roast beef, sticky toffee pudding, hearty lentil soup and a side of our famed homemade bread!
Available lunch and dinner service, with two and three course options by prebooking only.
BURNS SUPPER 2023
25 JANUARY 2023 AT 19:00
Our First Event of 2023. We’re excited to invite you to our Burns Supper.
Three Traditional Courses and a Complementary Dram for a January wallet saving £20.00.
Our Team will also be attempting the usual address and frivolities!
Booking is essential, give us a call or email to book your seat and the big highland style table.
HOGMANAY 2022
14 DECEMBER 2022 AT 12:00
We’re delighted to announce we have secured WEE CAL and Eoin Cumming as our Hogmanay entertainments this year.
The bar will be serving up drinks all evening to guests and residents alike, dinner bookings are very limited and MUST be booked in advance.
Join us ringing in the bells this year on the banks of Loch Awe.
Doing Our Bit
13 DECEMBER 2022 AT 13:30
Some of our eagle-eyed regular guests may have spotted a new feature in our beer garden.
In partnership with Argyll and Bute Council, GRAB Trust and the 2 Minute Foundation, we “picked up” up a litter station to help reduce our impact on the local environment. Pictured are Mike and Team Member Davie, out for the inaugural litter pick around the Inn and village.
This is part of our ongoing policy to reduce our environmental impact and move to greener, sustainable practices where possible.
Christmas at Cruachan 2022
29 NOV 2022 AT 20:30
Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. This year the Inn has decided to celebrate with the team. We will be closed from 24th Dec, to the 26th to allow our team a rest with their families before our Hogmanay celebrations.
The Inn will serve drinks after lunch service on the 24th Dec until 17.00 and reopen to the public 26th Dec at 12 noon.
Our self-catering apartment’s will remain open.
Halloween Competition 2022
THURSDAY, 28 OCT 2022 AT 19:30
Get Crafting with the Kids this October.
Carve us a pumpkin for our Halloween Display for a chance to Win a Meal for 2 and a Goodiebag for the kids (or yourself!).
Open to all and businesses too.
We’ll put your handywork to a public vote and announce the winner on the 31st Oct!
Entries can be handed into the bar for the 28th Oct.
Argyll Ceilidh Trail – Comes to Loch Awe
THURSDAY, 4 AUGUST 2022 AT 19:30
It’s been so long since we’ve been able to celebrate properly here at the Inn! We’re so excited to be hosting traditional music from some of the best young musicians and singers from Fèis Latharna
Rooms With a View
21 JULY 2022 AT 13:30
Along with our Garden Suites, offering an awe inspiring view of Loch Awe, we’ve added some extra rooms for the local bug and bee populations.
Part of our ongoing Green Commitments to ensure we give back to our beautiful landscape.
Our team will be installing these new insect habitats over the next few days and monitoring the local wildlife #WildArgyll #BeeInAwe
Highland & Islands Food and Drink Awards 2019
15th of November 2019
We scooped our second food and drinks award of the year on Friday night winning the category Best New Business at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards. The annual Awards were held in the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, on Friday the 15th of November and was attended by the cream of Highlands & Islands food and drinks industry.
Scottish Food Awards 2019
26th of August 2019
We were delighted to win “Gastropub of the year for Central Scotland” at the Annual Scottish Food awards, held at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow.
Dog friendly holidays
15th May 2019
Holidays, staycations, an escape from day-to-day life, everyone needs a break once in a while including our four-legged friends, for dog owners though there’s always more to consider about booking a week away. Will there be space for my dog, will he or she be welcome when we want to eat, are there plenty of safe walks, outside space?
Here at Ben Cruachan Inn we’ve done exactly that and asked ourselves, what would we like from a pet friendly Inn? Most of our staff and owners have dogs and they are regularly popping in to see us. This means we like to think we’re pretty good at making your dog as welcome as you are! So here’s six reasons why we’ll try to make your visit a good one.
Green Tourism Award
18th March 2019
Ben Cruachan Inn has achieved a Silver Award from Green Tourism, the largest and most established sustainable certification programme in the world.
‘From our earliest days at the Inn, we have worked hard to build a business with a clean, green environmentally friendly mission at its heart’, says local owner Ian Irvine ‘It feels really good that our efforts have been recognised on our first assessment with Green Tourism’.
Is your pup our dog of the month?
5th February 2019
The Chinese Year of the Dog might be coming to end today but here at the Ben Cruachan Inn, we are keeping it strictly canine. We’re launching our very own Dog of the Month, and of the Year competition!
Burns Supper at the Inn
26th January 2019
Our 2019 Burns Supper celebrations went beautifully at the weekend. A delicious 3 course traditional Scottish meal and fantastic entertainment. Roll on the next one, so much fun! Click for photos of the night.
A little bit of sweetness
19th January 2019
If you’ve been into the Inn lately, you’ll have seen some of the delicious cakes and sweet treats on the bar. All freshly delivered from our friends Holly and Bron AKA Cakes in the Callbox.
Local ale re-branded for St Conan’s Kirk
17th December 2018
We are delighted to announce, together with Fyne Ales that we will now be selling their Workbench IPA exclusively at the Inn under a re-branded name, the St Conan’s Workbench IPA.
The venture has come about in support of the iconic St Conan’s Kirk building based in Lochawe, Argyll which is currently raising money towards its extensive maintenance and restoration costs.
Christmas Residential package
December 2018
Relax and unwind with the Ben Cruachan Inn and join us for our 3-night Christmas Residential Package.
Arrive on Christmas Eve and let us take care of everything including canapes and drinks by the fire, and a sumptuous 5 course Christmas Dinner.
Christmas Fayre Menu
Running all December
Our Christmas menu is a feast to savour. Click to read the delicious menu. Book a table to celebrate with your friends, work colleagues or family and we’ll help you enjoy a meal full of Christmas cheer and sparkle.
Christmas Craft Fair
Sunday 9th December 2018
Stop in to see our lovely local stall holders with a range of jewellery, knitting, goodies and crafts for sale from 12-4pm. Enjoy a yummy lunch, or coffee and cakes while you ponder your Christmas purchases!
Great views and great times at the Inn
22nd November 2018
We were so pleased to feature in the Oban and Lorn Tousim Alliance blog in November.
MacMillan Coffee Morning
Friday 28th September 2018
Bringing millions of people together for coffee and cake each September, Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning has become a British institution over the years – with thousands of events happening up and down the country including Lochawe!
We’re delighted to be holding our MacMillan Coffee morning on 28th September from 9:30am.
Come on down for coffee, cake and a natter – and raise money for a great cause.
Autumn Menu launch
Monday 10th September 2018
There’s a change in the air, can you feel it? Autumn is just around the corner and to celebrate the change of seasons, we’ve given our menu a shake up.
Live Music – The Fold
Saturday 8th September 2018
Playing a mix of rock, pop and soul covers, The Fold will be rocking your weekend in Lochawe.
Live Music – Simon Brett Band
Saturday 25th August 2018
We’ve got this blues, rock and soul band playing the Inn and getting the place rocking on Saturday 25th. Can’t wait to hear what they’ve got lined up for us.
Live Music – Mad Ferret
Friday 3rd August 2018
Perth based folk duo The Mad Ferret Band are known on the Scottish music scene for their hard hitting blend of traditional and contemporary folk music. Their lively, energetic performances are packed with “blisteringly fast mandolin solos”, tight vocal harmonies, driving Cajon beats and earth-moving guitar sounds. We are looking forward to this one!
Live Music – Argyll Ceilidh Trail
Friday 27th July 2018
We are so pleased to announce that we’re one of the venues for the 9th annual Argyll Ceilidh Trail. We’ll have some of the best young traditional musicians playing live at the Inn on Saturday 27th July.
Fèis Latharna’s Argyll Ceilidh Trail is on their 3 week summer tour, playing around the county and beyond. A mix of Gaelic and traditional music and singing, from fiddles to guitar – these local musicians are absolutely going to have your toes tapping.
Live Music – The Camans
Saturday 14th July 2018
Inverary band, The Camans are a three-piece acoustic combo guaranteed to get you dancin’.
They play a mix of contemporary covers, folk and lively traditional jigs and reels and original tunes.
We’re delighted to announce that the band will be playing live at the Ben Cruachan Inn on Saturday 14th July. Fresh from a string of recent gigs, including the Killin Music Festival, we are looking forward to a serious belter of a night.
Fundraising brings defibrillator and training to Lochawe
29th May 2018
The Inn raised over £1,500 from the local community completing a sponsored, snowy 3 mile Santa Run up the Ben Cruachan Dam in December 2017, and a charity auction with prizes donated by local businesses over the Christmas season.
We’ve joined the plastic straw revolution
23rd May 2018
We’re very pleased to announce that we’ve phased out use of plastic straws from our busy bar and restaurant.
We’ve sourced the finest Scottish ingredients
16th May 2018
We’re very proud of our food, and of the suppliers who provide the ingredients to make it perfectly delicious, and perfectly Scottish. Click below to read more on who’s on our menu.
Arts and Craft Fayre
Sunday 29th April
12-4pm
Join us and a host of local artists selling their wares at the Inn. We’re looking forward to a busy day of buying and selling beautiful things. Why not make an afternoon of it and stop for afternoon tea, or lunch? Looking forward to seeing you there.
Ben Cruachan Inn Hill Climb
Saturday 21st April
What an absolutely cracking day for the first Ben Cruachan Inn Hill Climb! Yesterday’s cycle hill climb was attended by 40 intrepid cyclists, including ‘Round the world in 80 days’, world record breaking adventurer Mark Beaumont who set the pace and completed the route ahead of the timed race.
Easter Weekend Fun
Saturday/ Sunday 31st March and 1st April
We’re very excited to be celebrating our first year in business over the Easter weekend. So excited we’ve got live music booked both days, raffle prizes, face-painting, our delicious food and drinks, AND Easter Bunny is visiting us! Read more…
Mother’s Day 2018
Join us on Sunday 11th March and treat your Mum to a special 3 course meal. We’re excited to help you celebrate the special lady in your life. Check out the menu: Mother’s Day Menu and phone or message us to book a table. Read more…
Valentines Day 2018
Our delicious 3 course menu has been specially created for you to enjoy, only £23 per couple.Available Wednesday 14th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th February. Check out the Menu on the following link… Love in Lochawe