National Chef of the Year to Open First Restaurant

Orry Shand's culinary background includes time at the Michelin-starred Number One at The Balmoral in Edinburgh and the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles. Prior to his national title, he was also named Scottish Chef of the Year in 2019. The National Chef of the Year competition is one of the UK's most prestigious culinary contests, with past winners including Gordon Ramsay and Alyn Williams. Judges, including Matt Abé of the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, commented that Shand "set a new standard" with dishes executed to near perfection. His winning menu featured turbot from the North Sea with smoky Orkney scallop, Lumina lamb, and a dessert of Manjari Valrhona chocolate with Asian influences. Falls by Orry Shand is a revival of the former Falls of Feugh restaurant, which closed in late 2025, and is undergoing a half a million-pound makeover. The establishment will create 10 local hospitality jobs and will be open for dinner four nights a week, from Wednesday to Saturday. The restaurant's concept centers on a set 12 to 15-course tasting menu that will blend Scottish ingredients with Nordic inspiration and classic French cooking techniques. Shand has appointed Craig Palmer, the 2023 Scottish Chef of the Year winner, as his head chef. In addition to opening his first restaurant, Shand is representing Scotland and Aberdeenshire on the 2026 series of the BBC's Great British Menu.