Who's Who

Nick & Nikki Horne - Owners

Nick and Nikki Horne and their 3 young children created their own family business by buying The Pierhouse in January 2006. Over the past 5 years, they have transformed a little known backwater hotel into a renowned award-winning, yet relaxed, family destination. The secret of their success is simple – they strive to offer their guests something different – a personal and relaxed family atmosphere, a ‘hands-on’ management style and a stunning location with a restaurant where the food comes straight from the loch or is reared and grown locally.

Nick & Nikki have also come closer to realising their personal goal of giving themselves and their 3 children an experience that they will never forget. “There are very few places where you can literally step just outside of your front door and straight onto the beach, and immediately feel the salt spray and wind on your cheeks. The children love to play on The Pierhouse beach, check the lobsters in the creels, watch otters and seals diving in the crystal clear waters and in the autumn, watch the wild geese and swans migrate south to winter.”

“We always wanted to live by the sea and live our dream of working together. Now as well as realising this dream, we also have a business that thrives on the wonderful variety and freshness of the sea and local area’s fresh produce. You will not taste food fresher than this. And you will not feel more by the sea anywhere else in Britain. Come and see for yourself!”

Caroline Willis - Operations Manager

Caroline (on the right of the picture) was brought up on the beautiful island of Lismore – just across the water from The Pierhouse. After going to university in Aberdeen, working throughout the UK with a stint in Holland, Caroline came back with her family to live on Lismore once more.

Caroline is the voice on the telephone if you call to book and if you have a question to ask, head for Caroline. She loves to share her enthusiasm for Lismore - telling guests about all the best places to explore on the island and in the area around Port Appin.

In her first year at the Pierhouse Caroline set up our ‘Cooksafe’ system receiving an award from the Argyll & Bute environmental health team, and is now involved with our Green Business Tourism Scheme for which we were given a Silver award on our first grading visit.

Caroline represented The Pierhouse to receive the 2011 Romantic Restaurant Award at the Scottish Hotel Awards ceremony held in Glasgow. "It was a really enjoyable night out" said Caroline, "but more importantly, it is always a pleasure to win recognition for the hard work put in by all our team to make dining at The Pierhouse a truly special experience."