Balmoral Arms

Balmoral Arms in Ballater is a traditional Scottish inn with royal connections. The inn continues the tradition of attracting visitors to Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, a tradition that has existed since Victorian times. The hotel is located just a stone’s throw from Balmoral Castle and a host of other activities within the Royal Deeside area.

Having undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment and striving for 5-star inn accreditation, it was crucial that the new brand reflected the recent investment while also fitting with the wider area’s royal heritage. The hotel encapsulates authentic Scottish hospitality and its spectacular location inspired the design concept and approach.

The hotel’s brand mark combines two of the local area’s main landmarks: the Royal Bridge and the Cairngorm mountain range, to create a bold crown shape. This gives the brand a unique connection to its royal heritage. We chose a supporting type with strong shapes and contrasts to complement the crown mark. Its calligraphic base and character reflect the hotel’s Victorian roots and the rugged landscape of the Cairngorms. The colour palette and paper stocks were picked to complement Highland hues, inspired by the surrounding hills and lochs with paper stocks picked to complement

We collaborated with illustrator Will Freeborn to create supporting assets that could be utilized across the hotel’s touchpoints and collateral. The hand-drawn and watercolored illustrations were designed to capture the numerous points of interest in and around Ballater, as well as the quirks of the hotel itself.

The hotel received its AA 5-star rating just 4 weeks after relaunch