We’ve been trying to book an afternoon tea here in Lamlash House since what seems like forever. It’s always fully booked because they only do them once in a while. For example, the next one isn’t until 7th September. Anyway, we managed to get booked so here we are in the lace manufacturing town of Newmilns in deepest Ayrshire.
Although lace manufacturing has largely died out in the town MYB Textiles still carries on the tradition. Now, they are the world’s only producer still making patterned lace on their 100 year old looms.
Banking To Banqueting
Lamlash House was built in 1889 for the Royal Bank of Scotland. It’s opulent Victorian interiors were obviously designed to impress but they are only evident today due to the monumental renovation undertaken by its current owners, Gordon and Jonathan. To begin with they only had the upstairs but in 2014 when the bank decided to quit they acquired the downstairs as well. Years of intense restoration followed before they were able to open the doors again in 2019. And what a job they have done! The attention to detail is astonishing. It is like stepping back in time but with an air of playfulness replacing the rather stern solidity of the bank. Their years of toil have really paid off.
Today they were celebrating a five year anniversary so everyone was presented with complimentary fizz on arrival. Our tea was served in what used to be the main banking hall; now styled around Charles Rennie Macintosh. 
From the Leaf Tea and Infusion Menu we chose the Lamlash House Signature Blend which was billed as the perfect accompaniment to scones … just what we needed!
The afternoon tea was a cornucopia of goodies from delicious sandwiches to citrusy posset with a raspberry on top. And fabulous scones, of course. All this combined with perfect service in beautiful surroundings made it a wonderful experience. Although not quite Pat’s birthday she was suitably serenaded and presented with a cake complete with candle. This was an experience which could easily rival Fonab Castle and Schloss Roxburgh as our sconey benchmarks.
Small but perfect
Afterwards we went out to the garden to finish off our bubbles in the sunshine. 
And after that we went to what they think may be the smallest bar in Scotland – the Strongroom Bar. Obviously it used to be the walk-in safe for the bank and it features one which used to sit in the main banking hall where we had our afternoon tea. It’s great fun and, as expected, beautifully reimagined as a bar. However, it can only accommodate a couple of people so our cocktails were served next door in the Library. It’s not a lot bigger but is beautifully appointed and does have a couple of very comfortable easy chairs.
Lamlash house has a real family feel about it. No one seems to be in a rush. It was Jonathan’s mother that answered the door and it was her and her friends who were working in the kitchen. Long after afternoon tea was finished they still took delight in showing us around the premises and explaining the significance of some of the features and the difficulties experienced during renovations. Of course, they can only do this because they carefully manage the number of small weddings and other events they hold to keep stress levels to an absolute minimum … perfect!
Lock in
We have seldom enjoyed a visit as much as we did this one. It was an absolute pleasure. It seems a shame to sully it with political comment so we won’t.
Except to say that we missed the TV Leaders Debate between Sunak and Starmer which we referred to in our previous post from Stockbridge House. Of course, the media have been talking about nothing else so we almost feel as if we did actually see it. There was no mention of anything of importance like the National Debt, Brexit or Scotland. Instead they just lied to each other and to us. With leadership like this we wish we could just lock ourselves in Lamlash House until it is all over … or even longer!
KA16 9AD tel: 07912 874 600 Lamlash House
///racked.smashes.etchings
Everything seems perfect here but did it get a top scone or not?
Yes Kath, easy topscone. Maybe I forgot to say that?
Super post guys. Must try and get down there sometime. Thanks for all the info x
It’s a nice part of the country Irené, well worth a visit
Ah for a moment we were searching our memories for a place like this on Arran, it was a real surprise to find you were in Newmilns.
In April we parked in their new car park just across Browns road and did a circular walk round Lanfine estate to see the wild boar & piglets.
We did discuss the nice condition of the building which is a bit unusual in Newmilns
The shed next to the car park also generated some discussion, a bit of a contrast to Lamlash House. I expect we will see it feature in one of your future shed pictures.
We tend to pass through Newmilns Darvel and the other Irvine valley villages on our cycle tours or for grandkids visits to the Newmilns dry ski slopes however there is always another hidden gem, great find indeed, thanks for sharing.
No-one seems to know why it’s called Lamlash House. Apparently, at one time the Riverside Inn across the road was called the Lamlash Inn but nobody seems to know why that was either. They do occasional “Millers and Merchants’ tours where you start off in the lace factory along the road, lunch in Lamlash House followed by a tour of the house.
We need to do more Ayrshire scones
This all sounds totally amazing! You are like scone detectorists , and struck gold once more.
Scone detectorists … like that Rowena.
Looks like a fabulous place. The food also looked scrumptious. How do you find those places?
Keep looking.
Thanks guys, we think it must be something genetic!
You must be due for a meal at home soon😁😁??
Well Mark, a couple of weeks ago the doctor looked at the results from my blood tests and said that I was ‘perfect’ and that I must have a wonderful diet. Didn’t tell her that I only eat scones 🤣
I had never heard of this place and had no idea that Billy had been trying to book an afternoon tea for such a long time. It was fantastic though as were Jonathan and Gordon, such nice people and nothing was any trouble to any of the folk helping them with the afternoon tea. Have no idea how they knew it was coming up to my birthday (? I wonder who told them ). Thank you boys for such a lovely afternoon, hopefully we will get back to see you another time, we’ll look out for dates when you have availability.