James Thomson, a Scottish hotelier and restaurateur, has been awarded the AA Lifetime Achievement Award at the AA Hospitality Awards ceremony in London on Monday (22nd September).
First introduced in 2006, the award recognises individuals who have dedicated their careers to the hospitality industry. Thomson was honoured for his four decades in the sector, his role in revitalising historic properties and his contribution to Scottish tourism.
Born and educated in Edinburgh, Thomson opened The Witchery by the Castle in 1979 at the age of 20, after restoring a row of 16th Century tenements near Edinburgh Castle. The restaurant became a fixture of the city’s dining scene and has since grown into a luxury destination with nine suites. Last year it was named AA Best Restaurant with Rooms in Scotland and in February was listed as the “most romantic hotel in the world” by Big 7 Travel.
In 2003 he bought Prestonfield House, a 17th Century mansion built by the King’s architect Sir William Bruce. Thomson led a multimillion-pound refurbishment that saw it awarded AA Hotel of the Year for Scotland and, most recently, welcomed into the Relais and Châteaux collection – the first Edinburgh hotel to do so.
His charitable work includes co-founding the annual “Lunch with an Old Bag” event, which has raised more than £9m for The King’s Trust Scotland since 2009. A separate “£1 on the bill” campaign has raised over £1m for the charity.
Thomson said: “I am truly humbled and honoured to receive this AA Lifetime Achievement Award. It has been a real privilege to spend my life creating memorable experiences that celebrate Scotland’s heritage, individuality, and a true sense of place.
“To see The Witchery and Prestonfield evolve into internationally recognised destinations is incredibly humbling. This recognition is a deeply meaningful milestone – not only personally, but as a tribute to the remarkable people who’ve helped bring that dream to life.”
