The Buccleuch Arms is a well-known country pub/inn with nineteen bedrooms, a bar, bistro, and two function rooms that prides itself on serving quality local and seasonal food and game, with a great following from locals and many repeat leisure and business travellers. Billy Hamilton runs the Buccleuch Arms and is usually found in the kitchen, although he also manages every aspect of the day-to-day functioning of the business, including catering events locally.
Billy works hard to incorporate game from local estates into weekly menus. This includes one roe venison weekly, as well feathered game in season. He goes to local estates and walled gardens to source meat, eggs, vegetables and fruit. Local butchers, vegetable and bread suppliers deliver from the local area, providing a low carbon footprint.
Built in 1836 by the 5th Duke of Buccleuch as a hunting lodge in the heart of the Scottish Borders, this landmark building hosts a broad church of guests where food plays a major role and that of seasonal game throughout the year being ever more important to the menus. Most recently, the Buccleuch Arms was the winner of the Countryside Alliance awards Best Rural Pub for 2023 in Scotland.
Throughout the year The Buccleuch hosts many rural events which are incredibly important to the business. These range from small business meetings, lunches, dinners and local people meeting up, as well as groups including the NFU, sheep breeders, veterinarians, pharmaceutical companies, farm machinery rings, The Countryside Alliance, hunt meetings, fishermen, local farming events, and many more. It is a culinary hub for rural businesses and its prominent position in the Borders lends itself to showcasing the wonderful produce and game of the area.
Billy has done many cookery demonstrations around the country including the Highland Show, Border Union, and Great British Food Festival, where he uses only game meat such as pigeon, partridge, grouse, roe venison and pheasant to name a few. He encourages preparing and cooking game whenever possible. There are many shooting parties who stay at the Buccleuch where their day’s game bag is prepared and cooked for dinner, which is always a challenge, as one never knows what's going to come through the door!
In 2024 the Buccleuch Arms has most recently won best Sporting Accommodation at this year's Scottish Game Fair. A variety of folk who come to the Buccleuch may have never stayed before, but by the time they leave they know that its heart is in the Borders countryside.