When you approach Speyside Kitchen’s Catering Services, our professional caterers shall help you decide a perfect menu in line with your event’s needs. 

Here’s a great checklist to think through:

1. At what time of the day shall your guests be having their meal? 

Is your meal going to be a breakfast or brunch to kickstart the day, a working lunch or a celebratory dinner? If it’s in the evening, are we aiming for early or late? When you’re having the meal and what tone you want to set around the day is hugely important in deciding your menu.

2. What kind of space will the reception area be?

The area your reception is in can impact whether a sit down meal, finger-food buffet or hearty pots of serve-yourself stew are best to provide for your guests.

3. Exactly how many people shall be dining?

We’re great at catering for any size of event, but how many people are attending can affect how you’ll want to tailor your meal. If you’re wanting to cater for lots of people, we can create something which will make serving more efficient and avoid having your guests wait too long for food. 

4. Does your event have a fixed theme?

We can tailor your menu to whatever theme you’ve picked - fine dining for formal, hearty barbecue for rustic outdoors, local specialities for events celebrating Scottish heritage, and much more.

5. Will the attendants include children?

Your menu can be tweaked to suit all, or we can provide a few dishes just for your youngest attendees to enjoy.

6. At what time of the year will the event be?

We use the best seasonal produce, and so to make these ingredients sing, your menu could be different depending on the time of year. We’ll make sure to warm everyone up in the colder months with hearty dishes, or refresh you all in summer.

Each of these questions has important answers. We help you plan options that you should

consider. For example, if you are unsure about a sit down  meal, a standing buffet, or are hoping to do something else entirely, we will come up with suggestions down to your last preference.

Here are some additional questions we might ask:

1. Would you like to do something different?

How about exploring an entirely different cuisine, or picking a few dishes which may not necessarily seem like they go, but reflect the life of the person you’re celebrating? We can sit down and discuss this together. 

2. Would you like to pay a tribute to a family memory?

A special beach holiday celebrated with seafood; the time you lived in Italy brought back with a unique destination menu. Tell us all about the reason you’re holding this event and we’ll make it into another incredible memory.

No matter how you design the event, you can be sure that the catering services you avail from us will be in line with the last detail of your event.

Contact us and we’ll start helping you plan your day. Email info@speysidekitchen.co.uk or call +44 1479 861387 / +44 7925 544473.

Speyside Kitchen: helping busy individuals and groups alike achieve memorable life events by providing first class event planning and catering service that prioritises customer service and customer experience.

Formal set up for fine dining

Different meals for every audience

We can even create a food court for large scale events

We use the best seasonal produce

Why your office needs an away day in the Highlands - and 1 great team building exercise you can try

Away days are usually a great way to get people out of the office, where you can rebuild and rejuvenate your staff after long periods of working together in the same place, but maybe not working together as a team.

Of course, not many of us have been in the same place for quite a while now. Most of us have been working from home on our own, and are maybe only just getting back to the office now. As the world reopens and teams come back together, an away day in a beautiful environment could be exactly what you need to help your team reconnect, build back relationships and rekindle friendships. 

If your office is based in the city, letting us look after you at the Badaguish events centre will be exactly what you need - breathe in some fresh air, take in the mountains, walk by lochs and use the fantastic variety of outdoor providers in the area to get stuck into a series of fun, challenging activities which will help you team think even more creatively.

On an away day your team will be able to

Celebrate - away days are a great way to mark an important milestone in your workplace, like finishing a project, reaching a big target or something even bigger, like coming back to work in the same place after a pandemic!

Build moral, build motivation and bond - case studies have shown how productivity can increase massively after an away day. When a team feels more connected and happier to be with each other, their work improves massively. It makes them use skills they need every day, but for something creative and different - once they know they can tackle a crazy challenge together on an away day, it’s even easier for them to do it back at the office.

Foster new skills - your away day can be targeted at something you think your team needs to work on, like leadership, organisation or communication. Stuck on a project? It could help them engage their minds in something new and expand their blue sky thinking.

Learn more about each other - communication can break down when teams haven’t had chance to get to know each other. Often the more we understand each other, the easier it is to empathise and work together through times when communication could be difficult. 

An amazing team-building challenge you can try

When you are building a team at work, it is extremely important to build opportunities for members to interact and know each other better. Nothing builds positive communication better than food!

Away days typically include a lot of activities outside, especially if you come to the beautiful Cairngorms to do it. Or, you’ll be working together in a new space to think creatively at a business meeting or conference. We suggest that alongside these challenging activities, you add something a little different into the mix and break up your day or weekend. 

A few weeks ahead of your event, ask all your members to write down a food item or a dish that represents something to them. Pick a topic such as:

1. Culture

2. Personality

3. Dream

4. Favourite travel destination

5. Favourite holiday memory

6. Childhood

7. What inspires them

Use the answers to then work with us here at Speyside Kitchen to design a custom menu for your team. You’ll gather for lunch or dinner and be presented with an array of incredible dishes. 

You can then 

• Ask each of your team members to guess whose dish is whose favourite. 

• You can write the answers down on pieces of paper, or by getting people to talk about it and call out answers, or work in teams.

• Once you know who each dish belongs to, ask the team if they want to tell us more about their particular dish

• Adding prizes could elevate the experience, making it more fun and memorable

Think an away day sounds like a great idea? Contact us and we’ll start helping you plan your day. Email info@speysidekitchen.co.uk or call +44 1479 861387 / +44 7925 544473.

Speyside Kitchen: helping busy individuals and groups alike achieve memorable life events by providing first class event planning and catering service that prioritises customer service and customer experience.

Enjoy an away day in spectacular settings

Take part in fun activities like mountain biking

We’ll be able to create a range of fantastic dishes for you to try

Breathing in the fresh air of the Highlands will help promote blue sky thinking

Working in the events industry, we know just how hectic organising any sort of gathering can be. The list of tasks and things to think about is endless - but we specialise in being one less thing on that list. That’s why we want to tell you why you should go with catering for your next event,  and that we’re the best team for the job. Here we go through why choosing catering will make your life so much easier, and how you won’t be disappointed if you go with us.

1. It will take the stress out of your event 

Probably the most important reason, making your event faff-free and stress-free is a very important part of what we do. There are times when you suddenly realise there’s a lot of planning needed for an event - it’s not just picking a date, it’s finding a venue, writing a guest list, sending out invites, arranging transport - the list can be endless. If you start thinking about having to deal with all this as well as a menu, shopping list, and the timings of this, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Let us take something off your plate and help you create the best event possible. 

2. You’ll save so much time

You can’t really put a price on how valuable your time is. Sometimes you just want to try to cut costs in any area possible, and catering services is the first area we make concessions in. Why pay for preparing meals when you can buy the ingredients when you can do it yourself, you think? You think you will be able to limit the budget and save some costs - but honestly, it’s never worth the hassle. 

3. You won’t have to think about any of these questions…

How many of your friends and family will be willing to help? Do you have all the appropriate equipment? Is there enough space to cook for a large gathering? Would you require excess portions for extra helpings? How will everything stay warm? Finally, who will go and serve every guest at the event? We’re exhausted just thinking about them. Working with us will take all these questions right off your to do list.

4. Hygiene and food safety guaranteed 

Even if you’re an excellent cook at home, once you start to increase the numbers you’re cooking for, and do it within a time constraint, things can start to go wrong. We specialise in the highest standards of food hygiene and safety, ensuring nothing will ruin your special occasion or event.

5. High-quality meals to make your meet memorable

We all remember certain meals don’t we? The stand out, scrumptious plates you just expect to be having at that conference or wedding. Catering companies - and Speyside Kitchen especially - give you the chance to treat everyone to affordable, high-quality food, without compromising on the rest of your event.

6. You’ll be able to cater to everyone’s needs

Yet another task that can bog you down in your planning - making sure you meet everyone’s dietary requirements. As we all learn more about what’s good for us and the planet, more and more people are making more diverse choices with their diet. But assembling a list of what everyone wants, what they need, what they can and can’t eat, is a task in itself - and that’s before you even start thinking about how to provide that menu. Catering companies specialise in making sure everyone gets something delicious that suits them - at Speyside Kitchen especially, we pride ourselves in being able to offer exciting and versatile food which can easily be adapted, without compromising on quality, to all sorts of dietary needs.

7. You’ll experience a delicious taste of what’s on offer in the area

It’s likely that a lot of your guests might have travelled to attend the event. A good catering company will take influence from the local area to give everyone involved a sample of what the surroundings can offer. At Speyside Kitchen, we specialise in sourcing local ingredients and presenting traditional Scottish recipes in a modern context. From hearty venison bourguignon to our version of the classic chicken balmoral; Speyside fish pie to our Highland bread & butter pudding with whisky marmalade; you’ll be guaranteed a perfect insight into the rich variety of tastes and flavours on offer in the Highlands. 

Convinced? Contact us and we’ll start making your next event a special one for all the right reasons. Email info@speysidekitchen.co.uk or call +44 1479 861387 / +44 7925 544473.

Speyside Kitchen: helping busy individuals and groups alike achieve memorable life events by providing first class event planning and catering service that prioritises customer service and customer experience.

Family Celebation, Buffet Supper, Private Catering

Special Occasions

Speyside Kitchen Badaguish

Taking a dip in open waters has never been more popular, and the Cairngorms is one of the most beautiful places to do it. In and around the Cairngorms National Park, you’ll find plenty of gorgeous dipping and swimming spots which feel wonderfully wild, yet are easily accessible, making it one of the best places to be immersed in nature in the UK. 

A few of our favourite places

Here are just a few of our favourite wild swimming locations for you to check out - but make sure you read our tips at the end on how to go about visiting them too. 

1. Loch Morlich 

It’s a real treat to walk across sand into a freshwater loch in the UK. Knowing you’re swimming at the highest beach in all the UK (318m above sea level) makes it even better! Walking distance from Badaguish and Speyside Kitchen, the water is often cold as it’s fed by mountain waters and snow melt, but the backdrop makes the plunge worth it every time. Pine trees unfold up the hillside before petering out to make way for the dramatic northern corries of the Cairngorms, making a swim here breathtaking on all accounts. It can get quite busy in the summer, so if you prefer a quieter swim, remember there are plenty of access points away from the beach too. 

2. The Green Loch

Whilst many walk up to Loch Uaine, the Green Loch, to see this uniquely Alpine scene, not many take the plunge, so you’ll often have these idyllic waters to yourself. There are many fantastical stories which explain its colour, from fairy dust to pixies washing their clothes - but if those aren't enough of an explanation for you, it’s probably more to do with minerals in the water. 20 - 30 minutes from Glenmore village, it’s not a roadside swim, but the walk in makes it feel all the more adventurous. There are good access points from the path and the walk back down will make sure you keep nice and warm even in the winter months.

3. River Feshie

Glen Feshie has to be one of the most beautiful glens in the national park, made all the better by the River Feshie coursing its way through it. There are plenty of gorgeous spots all the way along the glen, but if you’re after a roadside dip, get in at Feshiebridge. This 18th century stone bridge is a marvel in itself. Park nearby and head carefully down the path on the east side of the river - there’s a lovely natural stone platform and you can change under the bridge if it’s raining! Naturally, as this is a river, you’ll need to pay careful attention to river levels and ensure it’s safe before getting in. These waters are clear and wonderfully deep however, and there’s an eddy which forms the perfect space to splash around and enjoy them.

4. Loch an Eilen

‘Eilen’ means island - so no prizes for guessing what’s in the middle of this loch. One of Scotland’s most famous lochs, the beautiful scenery surrounding it is replete with forest trails, endless pines and lofty foothills, and only made more magical by the 14th century castle on the island. This is also handy for swimmers as it marks your best spot for a dip - it can be quite shallow at the section nearest the car park, so we recommend walking further down to where the castle is, which you could even swim out to.

5. Loch Vaa

A local’s secret, Loch Vaa is the one for you if you want to really get away from the tourist hotspots. A short hop over the hill from the road which goes from Aviemore to Boat of Garten, this loch is so well tucked away you wouldn’t believe it’s only a 2 minute walk from your car to a dip. There’s a path all around which gives you plenty of space options to get in, and guarantees you’ll find a secluded space to sit back and enjoy its peaceful scenes. If you’re a hardy ice swimmer, the south side of Loch Vaa is very sheltered from the sun and can be quite dependable if you’re packing a mallet - similarly, head to the north side to enjoy some winter sun. 

How to wild swim safely 

If you’re going on your own or with friends, make sure you’re prepared. Wild swimming is an incredibly rewarding way to experience nature and extremely accessible - you just need to think about a few things to make sure you keep safe. Have a read of this guide by local expert Alice Goodridge on the Visit Cairngorms website for 10 great top tips.

Go with the experts

Alternatively, you can head out with the experts themselves for an incredible guided wild swimming experience.

SwimWild is run by the aforementioned Alice Goodridge and offers a fantastic range of adventures, from fully immersive long weekend retreats to full & half-day guided swims. Locations and itineraries are adapted to suit the group and whatever conditions Scotland is throwing at you - but whatever the weather, you can be sure of a fantastic experience, learning loads and enjoying an immersive taste of the highlands.

Wild Wimmin is a swimming company dedicated to helping women access the outdoors and promotes wellbeing and mental health through wild swimming. They offer retreats and coaching sessions just for women to connect, learn and have a lot of fun. 

Top it all off by staying well fed with some incredible local food

We’ve had the pleasure of catering for both the fantastic companies above, supporting you on your wild swimming adventures! Whilst the cold and the activity can take a lot out of you, we pride ourselves on providing fresh, healthy and hearty packups and dinners which will keep you going. You’ll get anything from hot soup in thermoses to a grain and veggie packed Buddha bowl, accompanied by a variety of homemade sweet treats for that much-needed pick me up. 

Planning a wild swimming adventure soon? Whether you’re a group of mates or running a retreat, contact us and we’ll help fuel your adventure.

Email info@speysidekitchen.co.uk

or call +44 1479 861387 / +44 7925 544473.

Speyside Kitchen: helping busy individuals and groups alike achieve memorable life events by providing first class event planning and catering service that prioritises customer service and customer experience.

Sunset at Loch Morlich

Loch Morlich beach

The Green Loch

In Glen Feshie

Loch an Eilen | Spike // Wikipedia

Loch Vaa | Jeff Collins // Wikipedia

The joy of wild swimming

We thought we’d provide you with a little update about what’s happening at Speyside Kitchen in 2022.

First things first: we’ve opened our doors for the rest of winter. If you arrive at Badaguish and see the fireplace burning and the lights on, the SK Cafe will provide all with hospitality.

Despite the staffing challenges faced by many businesses in the area this winter, we’re truly delighted to continue to offer a warm hearth through the cold and frosty months. Check social media for our opening hours. Whilst staff shortages will mean the menu will be limited and variable, freshly ground coffee, indulgent hot chocolates and a range of teas and cakes will be available as long as the team is in the kitchen. 

The SK Cafe is managed and run by Claire Mackenzie and Sarah Bromley - and we’ll have their hands full across the season as we also produce events catering and made-to-order meals with a special winter menu.

Together this duo form an incredible team with their combined experience. Sarah is a top-quality chef with a vast knowledge and passion for creative cooking - the SK menu is constantly being tweaked and perfected, using seasonal local produce to combine classic favourites with modern trends. Claire, who’s worked across an incredible range of industries from large-scale agriculture to luxury travel and more, brings her main passions and wealth of experience to Speyside Kitchen through world-class hospitality and customer service.

As the world starts to recover from the effects of the pandemic, we’ve been enjoying our role as a new hub in the community and facilitating what the team loves most about working in catering, aside from producing delicious, high-quality food. Claire says “We love being situated at Badaguish, ideally placed to offer something unique in the area. We believe warm hospitality and customer service is key - all are welcome at Speyside Kitchen Badaguish throughout the coming months.”

With eyes on what’s to come in the new year, we’re looking forward to working with more and more partners on events at Badaguish in conjunction with the team on site to offer an incredible catering package in a beautiful, idyllic venue. 

Cafe Events Centre, badaguish

Speyside Kitchen

Speyside Kitchen is a private catering business serving the Cairngorm National Park and Speyside areas We provide a personal shopping; catering and delivery service with menus to suit. All meals delivered in oven-ready dishes or table ready and so much more...

Locally Sourced Produced

All produce is fresh and locally sourced; meals are prepared in our kitchens near Aviemore. We deliver catering in the Cairngorm National Park and Speyside areas of the Scottish Highlands.

Our business includes:

• Made to order meals to suit all tastes and budgets

• Personal Shopping of all food needs

• The Complete Package: Breakfast, Luncheon, Supper & Dinner

• Seasonal Picnics / BBQ Feast 

• Canapes / Bespoke Baking 

• Personal service to suit

Main Point Goes Here

At Speyside Kitchen we believe that each of our freshly cooked meals should be to 'restaurant standard'. We use fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.  We order from our local suppliers rather than a national supermarket. Our local produce is simply superb

Please support our local suppliers: ask us for further information

Email: info@speysidekitchen.co.uk

Please consider  ‘The complete package’ referred to above,  also known as ‘The Weekender’ which is tailored to your needs: https://speysidekitchen.co.uk/menu

View Menus

Take a closer look at Speyside Kitchen’s catering services.

Outside Catering

Introducing Speyside Kitchen @Badaguish. Planning a trip? Find out more.

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Sharing Platters

Sharing Platters are ideal for that gathering, event or occasion where a light plate is ideal.  As a informal snack prior to a supper or with pre dinner drinks. 

Enjoy a relaxing stress free occasion as we deliver to you a few platters of tapas and dips ready to dive into. Platters of locally smoked highland meat and fabulous speyside smoked fish and our Highland Cheese Board too. Rather scrumpy too..

Whats great for sharing platters is to have some seasonal, crunchy veg for dipping. Entertaining food perfect for all occasions.   Sharing Platter's cost from £16.50 per head

(pre-order for collection. For delivery price please provide location).

Our sharing platters are produced from locally sourced product and ingredients all local to Speyside and the Cairngorms in Scottish Highlands.  Quality first.

All can be delivered to your door giving you the recipe for a relaxing break holiday weekend here in Speyside in Scottish Highlands..   

Take some serious time out and treat yourself, your partner, your family and friends to a stress free evening and let us take the strain for you including the to do lists.  Order a sharing platter and relax into your day or evening.  Begin your break away, holiday weekend in Speyside.  

Combine our Sharing Platters, Tapas and Canapes Menus

There are choices for every occasion and we will be happy to discuss your menu in full and create the ideal platter just for you.

Platter of Smoked Meats and Cured Pates:  Fresh homemade Breads and Relishes 

Platter of Smoked Fish:  Trout, Salmon, Hot Smoked Salmon

Platter of Mousse and Pates:  With Breads and Relishes all homemade.

Platter of Local Cheeses – Made in the Highlands: With Oatcakes and  homemade Relishes.

Each platter is 'made to order' to suit your tastes and requirements.

Please see our Suppliers List

The weekender package from Speyside Kitchen provides for you stocked fridge and cupboard items all ready and waiting for your arrival. Midweek or weekend break away; enjoy your holiday weekend here in Speyside in Scottish Highlands. 

Our home-cooked meals are freshly produced daily all from locally sourced ingredients and can be delivered to your venue prior to your arrival. Our ideal recipe for a relaxing shortbreak in Scottish Highlands.   

Take some serious time out and treat yourself, your partner, your family and friends to a weekend / midweek break. Memories to be made.

Order our weekenders package and just roll up to begin your break away, holiday weekend in Speyside.  

Whats included in 'The Weekender Package?

A Continental Breakfast Pack, Supper Menu and Dinner Menu

Fresh Orange Juice, Apple Juice. 

Semi Skimmed Milk, Yoghurts and Butter from Grahams.

Cereal: Muesli, Special K and Hamlyn’s Porridge Oats.

Fruit Box: Apple, Banana & Seasonal Berries when available.

Homemade Jams and Marmalade. 

Cold Cuts of Ham and Smoked Salmon, Highland Cheddar.  Local Farm Eggs.

Freshly Baked Crafted Sliced Bread, Freshly Baked White Bloomer. Freshly made Scots Pancakes and Butteries)

Choice of dishes from our Speyside Kitchen Supper Menu and Speyside Kitchen Dinner Menu 

For delivery please provide your location / venue address and contact details.

Choose:

• 2 Starters from canape menus

• 1 Main course from Supper Menu

• 1 Main from Dinner Menu

• 3 Side Dishes and 2 Desserts from our menus.

£88.00 per head. Please provide location for delivery.