London’s favourite Scottish restaurant Mac & Wild opened their third restaurant at the Falls of Shin in Scotland on Thursday 28th June 2018. Taking Mac & Wild back to its Highland roots, founders Andy Waugh and Calum Mackinnon are delighted to open the site at the Falls of Shin visitor centre, once known as the ‘Harrods of the North’. The latest opening sees Mac & Wild venture back to the heart and soul of the Highlands, where their story first began, continuing to showcase the best of Scottish produce and suppliers.
Each supplier to the new restaurant has been handpicked to support the local community, while guaranteeing extreme traceability and provenance of all the meat, fish and vegetables on offer. As in their London restaurants, Mac & Wild at Falls of Shin predominantly serves meat sourced and butchered with care by Andy’s family’s game-butchering business, Ardgay Game, which has been in existence for over 30 years and is located just six miles away from the new site.
Located on the River Shin, The Falls of Shin is one of Northern Scotland’s wonders and most popular tourist attractions, where in the summer months’ visitors can witness salmon leaping from the falls and roam the rocky banks of the River Shin. The visitor centre, previously owned by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, now offers visitors and locals true Scottish fayre.
Mac & Wild at Falls of Shin features a 50-cover restaurant, a pavilion with outside seating (x 60 outside covers), a gift shop, and an exciting schedule of Mac & Wild experiences. Throughout the year, Mac & Wild will host foraging walks and talks, haggis-making masterclasses, whisky masterclasses and meet the maker masterclasses, where guests can meet Mac & Wild’s producers and suppliers, while learning about the provenance of the produce. Later in 2018, Mac & Wild plan to introduce additional workshops and immersive experiences; with the likes of sheep shearing sessions and curing classes on the agenda.
The menus in the restaurant feature a selection of Mac & Wild’s signature dishes such as; their award winning Veni-Moo Burger (voted London’s and UK’s Best Burger 2016), Haggis Pops, Venison Weekend Roasts with all the trimmings and Deep-Fried Mars Bar Sundae served from the Kitchen menu. The new menu focuses on seasonal Scottish produce available throughout the year from local farmers and fishermen. Dishes from the Counter, available to eat in or takeaway include; Venison topside Open Sandwich, topped with Homemade Salsa Verde, Roasted Veg, Kohlrabi and Chili Slaw; Venison and Pork Sausage Rolls, as well as a selection of homemade salads and soups served everyday until 5pm. Diners can tuck into breakfast dishes such as; Eggs and Avocado, Porridge (served to your preference) and a traditional Full Scottish Breakfast featuring Portmahomack Bacon, Tattie Scone, Venison Sausage, Black Pudding, Mushrooms, Lorne Sausage, Eggs and Bone Marrow Beans, offering both Scots and visitors alike a true taste of the Highlands.
Open for dinner every Friday and Saturday evening, diners can delve into signature dishes from the Kitchen menu, as well as Mac & Wild’s meaty Butcher cuts including; MacDuff’s Ribeye Steak, Venison Chateaubriand and the ultimate showstopper, a Tomahawk Steak, all of which can be perfectly accompanied by sides of chips or Haggis Mac & Cheese.
The latest venture is truly a homecoming for Mac & Wild and provides a real hub for the local community, having created 20 new jobs and, bringing a large amount of footfall to the area. Alongside the restaurant, Mac & Wild serves hot and cold drinks, ice creams and a selection of street food dishes within the pavilion; while the shop at Falls of Shin stocks and supports local brands and producers selling an array of edible treats and artisan products.
Mac & Wild began its journey as a Scottish street food sensation, serving up one of Scotland’s finest exports to Londoners. From a market stall on Whitecross Street, to a pop-up on Charlotte Street, Mac & Wild opened their first permanent restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia on Great Titchfield Street in September 2015. Since launching, Mac & Wild has continued to champion and celebrate Scottish produce and personality. Mac & Wild have won ‘Street Food of the Year’ at The Young British Foodies Awards, Best Signature Burger at the National Burger Awards 2016, were named by The Evening Standard as one of the top five places to eat game in London and the Veni-Moo burger was awarded UK’s Best Burger 2016. Mac & Wild now have two permanent restaurants in Central London – Mac & Wild Fitzrovia, located in the heart of London’s West End, and Mac & Wild Devonshire Square, just a stone’s throw from London Liverpool Street station.
What Andy Waugh (Co-Founder of Mac & Wild) says of the latest project: ‘Falls of Shin is an incredibly exciting project for us at Mac & Wild and offers us the opportunity to work even more closely with our producers and the ingredients growing on the doorstep. At Falls of Shin the seasons will dictate what is available to us at the restaurant and we will continually pickle, ferment, dehydrate and cure ingredients to make the most of the best produce while it is in season.’
Pete Campbell, Chairperson Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust said ‘We are delighted to welcome local lad Andy Waugh along with Calum Mackinnon and their award-winning Mac & Wild team to Falls of Shin. We were very impressed with the brand they have established and the traceability they showcase around their food and drink offering. This is an exciting time for the local community and visitors alike and we wish them every success in their new venture.’
OPENING HOURS
THE PAVILION 7 days a week, 10am – 5pm
RESTAURANT
Sunday – Thursday, 10am – 5pm | Walk ins only
Friday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm | Walk ins only
Friday – Saturday Dinner: 6pm – 9pm | Reservations and walk ins
MONTHLY POP UPS AND EVENTS: Coming soon. Dates and Timings TBC
For exclusive hires for parties and events please contact info@macandwild.com
MAC & WILD at FALLS OF SHIN: Achany, by Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4EE Tel 01549 402888
MAC & WILD FITZROVIA: 65 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PS
MAC & WILD DEVONSHIRE SQUARE: 9A Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YN
WEBSITE www.macandwild.com/fallsofshin
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/macandwildfallsofshin
TWITTER & INSTAGRAM @macandwild / @macandwild_falls_of_shin
TEL: 020 7637 0510 (London) Tel 01549 402888 (Falls of Shin)
EMAIL: info@macandwild.com
ABOUT MAC & WILD
MAC & WILD – an off-road adventure celebrating Highland hospitality and the best of Scotland’s produce.
Scottish Champions Mac & Wild take diners on a journey to the Scottish Highlands, enjoying the finest wild venison, game, seafood, whisky and beer in a rustic setting. Founded by Andy Waugh, who hails from just north of Inverness, and Calum Mackinnon, who made his name north of the border on the bar scene in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Mac & Wild began its journey as a Scottish street food sensation, serving up one of Scotland’s finest exports to London’s everyday people. From a market stall on Whitecross Street, to a pop-up on Charlotte Street, Mac & Wild opened their first permanent restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia on Great Titchfield Street in September 2015.
Since launching, Mac & Wild has continued to champion and celebrate Scottish produce and personality, and has become renowned for their welcoming, friendly, relaxed and modern approach to Scottish dining. The majority of Mac & Wild’s meat is sourced and then butchered with care by Andy’s family’s game-butchering business, Ardgay Game, which has been in existence for over 30 years. Mac & Wild have won ‘Street Food of the Year’ at The Young British Foodies Awards, Best Signature Burger at the National Burger Awards 2016, were named by The Evening Standard as one of the top five places to eat game in London and the Veni-Moo burger was awarded UK’s Best Burger 2016. Mac & Wild now have two permanent restaurants in Central London – Mac & Wild Fitzrovia, located in the heart of London’s West End, and Mac & Wild Devonshire Square, just a stone’s throw from London Liverpool Street station.
About Falls Of Shin
The former Falls of Shin visitor centre, previously owned by Al Fayed, was destroyed by fire in May 2013. Following this, the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust was invited by Big Lottery Fund Scotland to submit a Stage 2 Growing Community Assets Application for project funding to rebuild the popular attraction. Valerie Houston was employed as Project Officer and worked with the community, stakeholders (Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Highland Council, Forestry Commission Scotland, VisitScotland and Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust) and Design Team (CH Architecture and WSD Scotland Ltd) to lead the Project to submission of the Stage 2 Application for funding in November 2015.
During this first phase, funding applications were also submitted to Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Highland Council, Forestry Commission Scotland and SSE Achany Community Fund. By March 2016, the majority of Project funding was in place with the final piece being confirmed in May. In June 2016, the next phase of the Falls of Shin Project began with Valerie Houston being welcomed back as Implementation Manager and Sasha Hudekova employed part time as Project Officer. William Gray Construction Ltd were appointed as the main contractor.
A programme of events and interactive activities for all the family was devised by the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust to celebrate the opening in May 2017. A market village was set up on site with stalls from local businesses. A range of food was also available representing the best produce from around the Highlands. The new grassy plaza was turned into a performance platform, showcasing the talents of local musicians, dancers and gymnasts throughout the day and into the evening. The restaurant and gift shop have been opened since 1st May 2017 serving a range of delicious meals, snacks, refreshments and cakes from 10am, 7 days a week.
About The Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust
The Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust launched in 2011 covering the districts of Ardgay and Creich.The aim of the Trust is to ensure that long-term, sustainable benefits are achieved throughout the community and the Kyle of Sutherland area. The Trust focuses on how best to utilise funding from local wind farms and renewable energy projects, while ensuring all match funding opportunities are identified and secured.
A priority of the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust is to oversee the implementation of the local development plan. Focusing on strengthening and uniting the local community through a range of projects. These include: increasing leisure and outdoor activities available to residents and visitors; creating employment opportunities; developing projects which make difference to the lives of local people and supporting other local organisations to realise their projects. The Trust manages the community development service, ensuring that it meets the needs of the local communities and delivers the plan in an effective and timely manner, whilst also managing a long-term approach to improving the local area.
