Matthew O’donnell Takes Charge As Head Sommelier At Number One, Bringing Expertise To Edinburgh’s Top Restaurant: All You Need To Know

Published on September 27, 2025

The Balmoral Hotel precocious promoted Matthew O’Donnell to Head Sommelier for nan hotel’s award-winning edifice successful Edinburgh, Number One. O’Donnell’s assignment represents a important advancement, chiefly for nan restaurant’s vino programme. Having spent complete a decade successful nan UK hospitality industry, and astir precocious moving successful immoderate of nan country’s starring hotels, O’Donnell’s ambition is to heighten Number One’s good eating acquisition for visitors to Edinburgh, arsenic good arsenic nan restaurant’s vino selections.

In this recently role, O’Donnell is expected to activity alongside Chef de Cuisine Mathew Sherry, and Restaurant Manager Emma Hemy, to create a vino database that aligns pinch nan changes successful nan restaurant’s seasonally inspired Scottish menus. As Edinburgh continues to solidify its estimation arsenic a apical culinary destination, nan assignment of O’Donnell is simply a testament to The Balmoral’s committedness to offering nan champion successful hospitality and good dining..

Matthew O’Donnell: A Sommelier pinch Vast Experience Across Prestigious Venues

Matthew O’Donnell’s profession successful vino has taken him to immoderate of nan finest establishments crossed nan UK and beyond. Originally from Airdrie, Scotland, O’Donnell’s passion for vino began astatine an early age, and complete nan years, he has developed a distinguished career, having worked astatine renowned venues specified arsenic Ashford Castle successful Ireland, Grantley Hall successful Yorkshire, and The Strathearn astatine Gleneagles Hotel successful Perthshire.

Before joining Number One, O’Donnell honed his sommelier skills astatine 67 Pall Mall, 1 of London’s starring good vino members’ clubs, wherever he worked pinch 1 of nan city’s astir extended cellar collections. His acquisition successful curating exceptional vino programmes successful prestigious locations has made him 1 of nan astir sought-after sommeliers successful nan industry.

O’Donnell’s qualifications bespeak his expertise, including respective certifications from nan Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), specified arsenic Level 1 successful Sake, Level 2 successful Spirits, and Level 3 successful Wines. He is presently studying for his WSET Diploma successful Wines, a prestigious qualification that will further heighten his knowing and appreciation of nan world’s wines.

Bringing Expertise and Passion to Number One’s Wine Programme

At Number One, O’Donnell will lead nan restaurant’s vino programme pinch a attraction connected sustainability, diversity, and location excellence. His passion for Austrian wines, successful particular, will beryllium reflected successful nan cautiously selected vino list, which will characteristic wines from celebrated regions for illustration Wachau, Südsteiermark, and Vienna. By showcasing Austrian wines, O’Donnell intends to bring a unsocial and often underappreciated action to nan table, offering guests successful Edinburgh a uncommon and intriguing tasting experience.

The vino database will beryllium designed not only to brace perfectly pinch nan modern Scottish cuisine served astatine Number One but besides to create an immersive eating acquisition that invites guests to research nan stories down nan wines and their producers. For visitors and locals alike, nan opportunity to research caller and breathtaking vino offerings will undoubtedly heighten their sojourn to 1 of Edinburgh’s apical eating destinations.

Number One: A Leading Restaurant successful Edinburgh

Number One is not conscionable a restaurant; it’s an experience. Located successful The Balmoral, 1 of Edinburgh’s astir prestigious hotels, nan edifice holds 4 AA Rosettes, a proposal successful nan Michelin Guide, and is besides listed successful La Liste’s Top 1000, a prestigious ranking of nan world’s champion restaurants. The restaurant’s exceptional estimation is simply a consequence of its dedication to combining good eating pinch outstanding work and an ambiance that reflects nan elegance and history of The Balmoral.

For visitors visiting Edinburgh, Number One offers a culinary acquisition that is 2nd to none, pinch each item of nan repast designed to showcase nan champion of Scottish ingredients. From locally originated seafood to seasonal crippled and vegetables, each crockery tells nan communicative of Scotland’s rich | gastronomic heritage. With O’Donnell astatine nan helm of nan vino programme, diners tin expect moreover much breathtaking pairings that will elevate nan flavours and heighten their wide experience.

Enhancing Edinburgh’s Appeal arsenic a Culinary Destination

Edinburgh, pinch its rich | history, vibrant taste scene, and world-class eating options, has agelong been a destination for discerning travellers. The city’s nutrient segment continues to thrive, pinch restaurants for illustration Number One starring nan complaint successful offering exceptional eating experiences. With nan assignment of Matthew O’Donnell arsenic Head Sommelier, The Balmoral and Number One are reinforcing their committedness to providing world-class hospitality and exceptional nutrient and vino experiences for visitors.

O’Donnell’s domiciled will not only heighten nan vino offerings astatine Number One but besides lend to nan broader entreaty of Edinburgh arsenic a culinary destination. As tourism to Edinburgh grows, nan metropolis is becoming progressively known for its Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end hotels, and exceptional section produce. For nutrient lovers visiting nan city, O’Donnell’s expertise and nan unsocial vino offerings astatine Number One will connection yet different logic to research Edinburgh’s vibrant eating scene.

A New Era for Number One astatine The Balmoral

The Balmoral looks guardant to enhancing its good eating services nether Matthew O’Donnell’s expertise and activity arsenic Head Sommelier astatine Number One. With an extended postulation of wines and a passion for sustainable practices, eating experiences will beryllium improved to an exceptional level astatine this restaurant. Therefore, guests eating astatine Number One will proceed to person entree to exceptional food, service, and bonzer wines. Needless to say, O’Donnell’s activity will fortify Edinburgh’s nickname arsenic a good eating metropolis while proving The Balmoral’s continued committedness to outstanding hospitality.