Meet the Team
We are lucky to have an exceptional team of people working here at Portavadie Marina. They are passionate about what they do and committed to providing truly outstanding Scottish hospitality. You can be sure of a warm welcome and first-class personal service across the board.
Summer Opening Times
- Reception
- Monday-Sunday
- 8.00am-8.00pm
- Marina Services
- 8.30am–5.00pm daily
- Marina Restaurant and Bar
- Monday - Sunday
- 9.00am-Late
- Breakfast
- 9.00am-11.00am daily
- Lunch
- Monday - Friday
- lunch 12.00-3.00pm
- Saturday and Sunday
- 12-5pm
- Dinner
- Sunday - Thursday
- 6.30pm-9pm
- Friday and Saturday
- 6.30pm-9.30pm
- The Lodge at Portavadie
- 8am-late daily
- Shop
- Monday-Thursday
- 10.00am-5.00pm
- Friday
- 10.00am-6.00pm
- Saturday
- 9.00am-6.00pm
- Sunday
- 9.30am-6.00pm
We are here to make your visit to Portavadie Marina a memorable one. If you have any questions, or if we can help in any way, just ask. Equally, if there are any areas where you think we can improve, please let us know.
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Iain Jurgensen,
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Robert Kitchin,
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Iain came to Portavadie Marina in June 2009 to help out for a few days and has been here ever since. Classically trained as a chef, he rose to the position of Executive Chef at Fairmont in St Andrews before joining De Vere Resorts as Director of Operations. He oversees the running of Portavadie Marina and guides its strategic direction. ‘I enjoy the challenge of providing a first-rate guest experience in a remote location,’ he says. When he is not working, Iain loves to travel and experience hospitality from the other side. He also enjoys a stroll along the promenade in his hometown Helensburgh followed by a glass of Chablis in the local deli. Iain’s tip for visitors (looking to see a real slice of local life): go and see the shinty team, Kyles Athletic, play in Kames. |
Robert worked in the commercial vehicle industry before joining Portavadie Marina when it opened in 2007. He heads up the marina team, looking after the boatyard and marina. The most rewarding part of his job is the feedback he gets from customers. ‘Our team works hard to provide a great service, so it means a lot when people tell us that we are doing well,’ he says. Robert has been sailing the waters around the west coast of Scotland since he was a lad, and has raced and crewed his own boat for over forty years. When he is not working or sailing he is walking in the hills. Robert’s tip for visitors: potter round the coast and look out for the wildlife. You might see otters, dolphins, porpoises, or, if you are really lucky, basking sharks and even a Minke whale. |
Nichola Chassels
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Simona Jursenaite,
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Nichola spent two years sailing around the world working on luxury yachts before joining Portavadie Marina in February 2011 to run The Lodge. She makes sure that guests have a seamless experience, a personal service and a great holiday. She enjoys the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Nichola knows this area well as her family kept a boat in Tarbert and she sailed here as a youngster. Nichola’s top tip for visitors: visit the Crinan Canal, stopping off for lunch at The George in Inveraray on the way. |
Simona was Restaurant Supervisor at the Fairmont, St Andrews, before joining Portavadie in May 2010. She is responsible for the smooth running of the Marina Bar and Restaurant. The most important part of her job is to motivate her staff so they provide first-class, consistent service to guests. ‘If you look after your staff they will look after the guests,’ she says. When she is off-duty, she is out walking her dog Juno on the beach or heading to Glasgow to see her partner. Simona’s top tip for visitors: take the ferry over to Tarbert and have lunch in the Anchor Hotel. |
Charlie Kelly,
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Pat Currie,
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| Charlie joined Portavadie Marina in February 2011. He trained at Glasgow’s Rogano and has over 20 years’ experience as a chef. He has worked in some of the best kitchens in the business, including Escargot and the Ubiquitous Chip. His job is to ensure the smooth running of the food operation and to provide the creative vision. He is passionate about fresh, locally sourced food and is delighted to be working in a part of the world where so much incredible produce is right on the doorstep. Charlie’s top tip for visitors: Cross the loch and drive down to Machrihanish Bay on the Kintyre Peninsula. |
Pat joined the culinary team in May 2009. Her job is to provide delicious top-quality home-baking for the restaurants at the marina. She likes to work in an organised and tidy space. Her inspiration is Lady Claire Macdonald. |
Cara Ness Atkinson,
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Heather Mitchell,
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| Cara has worked as a beauty therapist for over ten years, both in the UK and Australia. She came to Portavadie Marina in 2010 after a stint at the five-star Carrick Spa at Cameron House. As well as providing hands-on therapy, from waxing to massage, she directs the beauty and wellbeing programme and heads up the team. The best bit of her job is helping people to relax. ‘It is about giving guests a break from their busy lives. They can come here, to this tranquil space, and leave the world behind for an hour,’ she says. In her spare time she loves to put her walking boots on and head for the hills. She also appreciates good food, which is handy because she is married to our Sous Chef, Scott. Cara’s tip for visitors to the area: rent a bike a pedal round Ardlamont Point. |
Heather joined Portavadie Marina in 2009. She initially worked as a waitress before taking up her current role in the shop in January 2012. Heather is also a qualified sports therapist and provides sports therapy and massage in our Beauty Room. Heather’s passion is sport. When she is off duty you will find her on the Kyles of Bute golf course or playing shinty for the Cowal and Bute ladies team, Heather’s top tip for visitors to the area: walk around the headland to Ascog Bay. |
Rachael McGugan,
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Sarah Galbraith,
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| Rachael graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2010 and worked as a supervisor in the Marine Hotel in Dunoon before joining the team at Portavadie Marina in September 2011. She is responsible for organising events, including weddings, conferences, business meetings and parties. She works closely with guests to create bespoke occasions and her attention to detail and organisational skills ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. She enjoys the personal aspect of the job and the relationships she builds with guests. In her spare time, she heads through to Glasgow to catch up with her uni pals. Rachael’s tip for visitors: pop into the Kames Hotel for a drink. |
With a degree in Marketing from Stirling University and an internship with Strutt and Parker under her belt, Sarah arrived at Portavadie in September 2011 to take up this new post. She is responsible for meeting the training and development needs of staff, sourcing relevant training and gaining accreditation. She gets most satisfaction from helping her colleagues to develop their careers. She also loves working in such a beautiful place. When not working, you will find Sarah out and about being sporty: she is a member of both the women’s shinty team and the local rowing club. Her top tip for visitors: take a trip to the beautiful Ostell Bay. |
Reception Team |
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Anne Turner worked in customer-facing roles for many years before joining Portavadie Marina in April 2008. She mans the reception, fielding enquiries, greeting guests and generally remaining unflappable and cheerful even on the busiest of days. She always has a warm welcome for guests. ‘Sometimes people have had a long journey to get here and my job is to make them feel relaxed straight away,’ she says. Anne has lived in Tighnabruaich all her adult life and has a wealth of knowledge about the area. Anne’s top tip for visitors: the weather doesn’t matter. Even if the sun isn’t shining, grab your waterproofs, get out and explore this beautiful place. Layla Adams starting at Portavadie in 2009. As well as working on reception, she is also a trained make-up artist and nail technician and provides manicures and pedicures in the Beauty Room. Layla’s top tip for visitors: walk up to hill at the far side of Polphail Village to the standing stone. The views up the loch are stunning. |
