Prince Albert of Monaco popped in to dine on some great Scottish produce in the Tweed Valley last week, according to local newspaper the Southern Reporter.

The Tweed Valley was the venue for the highly successful UCI World Cycling Championships.

With the world’s elite mountain bikers competing for multiple World Championship titles at Glentress, this created wonderful publicity for the sport and for the Tweed Valley as a visitor destination, the newspaper said.

Cringletie House Hotel was honoured to also play its part by providing a very special VIP luncheon during the event.

His Serene Highness Prince Albert, UCI President David Lappartient and UCI Director General Amina Lanaya visited the hotel for an official UCI World Championships luncheon hosted by the VisitScotland tourist authority.

Head Chef Iain Gourlay and team were delighted to look after the VIPs, with the group dining on superb Scottish produce including hand-dived Orkney Scallops, Fillet of Dexter Beef, Wild Turbot and Scottish strawberries, all complemented by some of the finest fresh produce from Cringletie’s own historic Walled Garden.

“Our whole team was absolutely thrilled to welcome this VIP group to the hotel and we were proud to represent the whole of the region and to have the opportunity to showcase the fine Scottish cuisine and hospitality that we are famous for.

“The UCI Championships have undoubtedly put Scotland and her richly diverse regions on the centre stage to an international audience. It was wonderful to see that our country is world class at cycling but that it can also host world class events, too.

“We would like to thank VisitScotland for this opportunity and the lovely comments that we received from the group about our service and food have made this particular luncheon very special indeed.”

ORIGINAL REPORT: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/business/french-riviera-at-peebles-hotel-as-prince-albert-of-monaco-pops-in-4259051

PHOTO: Head chef Iain Gourlay, Cringletie owner Bill Cross, manager Victoria Palmer, Prince Albert II of Monaco, owner Ann Cross and Maitre d’Hotel Hubert Laforge. Courtesy Southern Reporter