Three Georgian townhouses designed by George Rae in 1847 on Playfair Terrace are set to reopen this June as The Kithmore, a 44 bed boutique hotel with rooms starting at £415 per night. The buildings have served many purposes over the years, including student boarding houses, wartime accommodation for the War Department, and most recently the Ardgowan Hotel. Following a £7.5 million redevelopment, the property is now accepting bookings ahead of its official opening.
Located just moments from the Old Course and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the hotel sits in one of the most sought after areas in St Andrews. For Marram Collection, which already operates The Leddie in Aberlady and The Bushmills Inn in Northern Ireland, the launch represents a strategic move into the golf tourism market that defines the town’s busy summer season.
The name comes from the Scots word “kith,” meaning friendship and familiarity. It’s a deliberate pitch: luxury that feels like home, not a corporate resort. Whether that resonates with guests paying over £400 a night remains to be seen.
Restoration work focused on preserving original features whilst meeting conservation area requirements. Original stonework was cleaned and repaired. New double-glazed windows were installed to match the historic sash style. Cornicing, timber panelling, and architectural details in select suites were restored rather than replaced.
A new extension added four bedrooms. Two more were carved from the former Pilmour Bar on the ground floor. That brings the total to 44 across four categories: cosy, comfort, deluxe, and suites. Some suites feature freestanding baths positioned in bay windows overlooking the sea and the Old Course. Others showcase restored cornicing and original timber detailing.
Interior design came from Scottish studio ICA, with architecture led by RKA. The approach layered light, neutral bedrooms against darker corridors—creating what the designers describe as a sense of arrival and retreat. Bespoke furniture includes custom dressing tables, feature wardrobes, and hospitality units. Oak timber flooring runs throughout, topped with plush rugs. Local artists contributed work displayed across public spaces and guest rooms.
Bathrooms feature Italian stone porcelain tiles—Ceppo di Sabbia—inspired by terrazzo. German brands AXOR and Hansgrohe supplied brushed black brassware and dual-head rainfall showers. Freestanding vanity units with under-mounted basins complete the look.
The reception area centres on a bespoke red marble desk. Herringbone timber flooring, lounge seating, and original art fill the lobby. Hand-painted signage by local signwriter Thomas Payne guides guests through the building—a detail that adds craft to an otherwise polished environment.
A standalone bar and restaurant occupy the ground floor, accessed via a separate street-level entrance. The interiors include snugs with banquette seating, timber panelling, and leaded glazed screens. An extended landscaped terrace features climbing honeysuckle, native grasses, feature yew trees, and uplighters—designed to feel sheltered yet connected to Playfair Terrace.
But the full dining concept won’t launch until spring 2026. That’s nearly a year after the hotel opens its doors. Until then, the space will operate in some capacity, though details remain vague. The eventual menu promises all-day Scottish dining focused on seasonal produce and the local larder—from breakfast through to evening drams.
Kathryn McNairn, appointed as general manager, is overseeing recruitment for key management positions now, with front-line roles to follow closer to the June opening.
“From the very beginning, The Kithmore has been about creating a refined yet welcoming retreat, rooted in the character of St Andrews and delivered to the highest design specification throughout,” McNairn said.
“Inspired by the Scots word ‘kith’, meaning friendship and familiarity, we have designed a luxurious boutique hotel that feels elegant but never formal – a true home from home. Whether guests are here to play world-class golf, explore the town, enjoy exceptional food or simply slow down and relax, our hotel offers a thoughtful alternative to larger resorts, with quality, comfort and attention to detail at its heart. As we head towards our opening in June, we’re now open for bookings and recruiting the team who will bring this vision to life.”
The brand ethos—”Links that Last a Lifetime”—aims to evoke memory and experience rather than transactional hospitality. It’s positioning that differentiates from established St Andrews properties whilst competing for the same demographic: golfers, tourists, and visitors willing to pay premium rates for location and design.
The Marram Collection’s portfolio targets guests drawn to links golf courses and design-led properties with community connections. Global hospitality agency Crown Creative developed the brand identity, ensuring consistency across the collection whilst allowing each property to reflect its location.
The buildings themselves hold historical significance within the St Andrews Conservation Area. Numbers one and two Playfair Terrace began as separate residential townhouses forming part of the early 19th-century planned extension beyond the medieval burgh. They were joined in the early 20th century as a single property for university students. The Ardgowan name arrived in 1926 when the buildings became a hotel.
During the Second World War, the War Department requisitioned the property. The large rear extension—still standing—was likely built during this period. Numerous alterations followed over subsequent decades, and eventually 1 Pilmour Place was incorporated into the hotel operation.
That layered history now underpins the latest reinvention. The long, narrow plots reflect ancient burgage plots. Finely detailed local materials anchor the buildings in their aesthetic context. The architecture matters here—not just for heritage value, but because it shapes the guest experience McNairn and her team are attempting to create.
Bookings opened this week at www.thekithmore.com. Summer rates start at £415 per night. The property targets golfers timing trips around Old Course tee times, tourists exploring Fife, and anyone willing to pay for proximity to one of Scotland’s most iconic stretches of coastline.
Whether the St Andrews market can absorb another luxury property—particularly one charging over £400 in peak season—will become clear once the doors open in June. For now, the bet is that location, design, and the promise of “kith” will be enough.
