Welcome to the club

We discover how Alejandro Wunderlin and Laura Lopez-Diaz are injecting new life into a golf destination in the heart of the Tweed Valley.

Nothing stands still for long in this corner of Scotland. And the picturesque town of Innerleithen, once home to a vibrant textiles scene, and now a premier outdoor activity hub, is testament to this.

The town’s reinvention is most evident in the many restaurants, cafes and pubs peppered around the High Street. Head north out of the town on the ‘Granites Road’ however, and you will discover an unsuspecting foodie destination that is also drawing in healthy weekend crowds: the Golfie Kitchen at Innerleithen Golf Club – its name a nod not just to the club’s characterful nine-hole course but also the network of mountain bike trails found in the forest above.

The explanation for what has been a recent influx of walkers and bikers, along with loyal golf club members, is simple: the arrival of Alex and Laura, the fresh faces behind the catering offer at this historic club. 

Although new to the Innerleithen scene, the Argentinian couple have contributed greatly to various Tweed Valley kitchens since arriving here from Spain with their three children in 2015. The Tontine Hotel, Cocoa Black and Peebles Golf Club have all enjoyed Alex and Laura’s culinary creativity and expertise – but it’s clear the couple couldn’t be more content with their latest move.

 “We came to Innerleithen Golf Club because it’s the right size for the two of us,” explains Alex. Laura, a trained pastry chef, takes care of the front of house and all things cakes and bakes, whilst Alex focus is on delivering “good, honest food” from the quiet of the kitchen.

He likens the Golfie Kitchen to a restaurant at a train station: “You can be very steady, then suddenly a train comes and 200 people come through the door! Then it’s empty again.”

Thankfully it’s not quite 200 customers at a time (the café only seats 40), but there is an excitement building about the place … and the spring season hasn’t even started yet! From golfers tucking into hearty breakfasts and hungry mountain bikers coming off the hills for a burger, to walkers simply stopping by for coffee and cake with a view, the Golfie Kitchen offers a warm, welcoming sanctuary for all.

The menu certainly holds a few surprises, too. “I don’t like to use recipes,” admits Alex. “I’ve worked in restaurants all over the world and find that recipes tie your imagination – I like to play with cooking so that I don’t get bored.” Such an approach explains why Cuban pork belly sandwiches and Mumbai veggie toasties sit alongside traditional clubhouse staples – including their already famed Sunday roasts.

“It’s a clubhouse not a five-star restaurant. But when you pay, you’ll feel that the food you have eaten was well worth the money.”

As a chef, Alex is very honest about what’s achievable in his “super small” kitchen. “I can’t promise to make fancy foods with 20 different ingredients – it’s a clubhouse not a five-star restaurant. But when you pay, you’ll feel that the food you have eaten was well worth the money.”

And if he gets his way, he would also love to inject a bit of Argentinian spirit to the valley with regular BBQs (or asados) throughout the summer. If the weather gods are on his side, he has grand plans to take his love of cooking out of the kitchen and into the great outdoors, making the most of the club’s additional seating space and spectacular backdrop.

But for now, when the Friday to Monday rush is over, the couple can head home, rest and enjoy all that the area has to offer. Which, in Alex’s case, means fishing (“I’m 50% chef, 50% fisherman!”), and for Laura, an exciting new venture in the form of Laura’s Cakes and Bakes.

Alex and Laura moved to Scotland a decade ago in search of a better life for themselves and their family; it looks as though they have found just that in the shape of Innerleithen Golf Club – and the beautiful surroundings of the Tweed Valley.

 Further info:

The Golfie Kitchen at Innerleithen Golf Club is nestled between Caberston Forest and the banks of the Leithen Water. An excellent walk from the town’s colourful High Street, the café is open from Friday to Monday (8.30am to 4pm), serving a selection of breakfasts, lunches, cakes and bakes to all who pass by its door. For more info on golf memberships and bookings, visit: innerleithengolf.co.uk