Who's who

An introduction to The Pierhouse team. We look forward to welcoming you!

About the Pierhouse Hotel and Seafood Restaurant on Scotland's west coast

Caroline Willis - Operations Manager

The voice of The Pierhouse, and life-long Lismore enthusiast.

Caroline Willis - Operations Manager

Caroline 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 and through Caroline's subsequent hard work this has been upgraded to a Gold award.

Caroline is seen here on the pier after the 2012 Scottish Hotel Awards when The Pierhouse received two prestigious awards - the Seafood Dining Award and a Hospitality Gold Medal. We are delighted that Caroline was awarded the Hospitality Gold Medal, a much deserved recognition of her hard work and commitment to customer service. The hotel and its people and food have gone on to win further awards each and every year - read more here>.

Sergejs Savickis - Head Chef

From Latvia via One Devonshire Gardens and St Andrews - and now in love with the west coast.

Sergejs Savickis - Head Chef

Sergejs joined us as Sous Chef just before Hogmanay 2015 - and set straight to work at one of the busiest times of the year for the hotel kitchen. In autumn 2017 Sergejs took up the role of Head Chef and we are delighted that his hard work and culinary creativity was recognised at the 2018 Scottish Food Awards where Sergejs was named Young Chef of the Year 2018.

Originally from a small town in south west Latvia, Sergejs studied away from home before joining Latvian Railways where he worked with rolling stock. He'd always loved cooking though and after moving to Scotland at aged 22, Sergejs worked in Glasgow hotels, trained as a Chef and became a Commis Chef at One Devonshire Gardens and Dunblane Hydro. He then worked his way up until most recently working as an accomplished Head Chef at a seafood restaurant in St Andrews.

It was while there that Sergejs took part in the Scotland. A Spirit of its own campaign for Visit Scotland. In the #scotspirit video campaign Sergejs shared his passion for seafood with the nation.

Sergejs loves life on the West Coast and is a great fan of fresh, local produce that's sustainable and with known provenance. He enjoys working with our local fishermen and suppliers to find the very best local, seasonal produce. What inspires our Head Chef's dishes? It's simple - the seasons influence every dish bringing together ingredients that work beautifully together.

Lorraine O'Hare - Restaurant & Bar Manager

The life and soul of The Pierhouse and super quick to welcome guests with a friendly smile.

Lorraine O'Hare - Restaurant & Bar Manager

Lorraine O'Hare is a senior member of the team and has been Restaurant & Bar Manager since 2008. Being part of The Pierhouse team is very much a family affair with 3 generations of Lorraine's family - the McFaddens - working at the Pierhouse. There's Lorraine's mum, Irene (Housekeeping/KP) and her children Dean (KP) and Lauren (Teas & Coffees) as well as Lorraine's lovely dad, the much missed late Danny who was our repairman for many years. Followers of our Blog will remember Lorraine's beautiful Highland wedding a number of years ago. When Lorraine arrives for work it is like a hurricane blowing through! Thoroughly dependable and the life and soul of The Pierhouse and super quick to welcome guests with a friendly smile. We were delighted to see Lorraine's work being rewarded in the 2016 Scottish Hotel Awards when she was awarded Food & Beverage Manager of the Year for Argyll & Lomond Region.

Rita Thomson - Bar Manager

Port Appin local with a radiant smile and an infectious laugh.

Rita Thomson - Bar Manager

Rita and her family have lived in Appin for the best part of 40 years with three generations of the Thomson's working at The Pierhouse in that time. Rita started in the hotel kitchen in 1990 and over the following 10 years worked her way up to Head Chef before retiring from chef duties in 2008.

Over the last decade, Rita is the person you'll most likely meet first in the bar during the day. Always happy with the most wonderful, radiant smile and infectious laugh - you'll definitely hear Rita before you see her! Rita, who won Scottish Hotel Awards Bar Manager of the Year 2016 for Argyll & Lomond Region, is known for her great sense of humour and is much loved by guests for her friendliness, personality and efficiency in the bar and restaurant.

Escape to the coast at The Pierhouse Hotel and Seafood Restaurant

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