What do you change at Britain’s favourite visitor attraction?

French chef turned chief executive sees big opportunities as he takes charge at Royal Yacht Britannia

Franck Bruyere at work: Pic by Helen Pugh

Franck Bruyère, soon to take the helm of one of Edinburgh’s great success stories, is a happy man. And that’s no common thing.

There’s no mention of any daily grind in our conversation, even in jest. Just a man, clearly happy in what he is doing.  If you’re wondering what on earth that means, one definition of happiness put forward by the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius was that knowing something is not as good as liking it, and liking something is not as good as rejoicing in it.

Franck is rejoicing in his mission to navigate the future course of an accolade-laden enterprise that’s navigated a sure-footed course since it was first established in Scotland’s Capital around 26 years ago.

The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust owns and runs both the Royal Yacht and visitor attraction at Ocean Terminal and, in more recent years, also the nearby and stunning floating boutique hotel Fingal. The Trust has enjoyed almost three decades of success under the “captaincy” of chief executive Bob Downie, who is due to step down later this year.

Franck is the man tasked to replace him, after spending a year working with Bob as the Trust’s Director of Hospitality, and while he knows he has big shoes to fill he happily spelled out his plan of action to the Inquirer. “I’m not changing anything. I want to enhance what’s already here. This is a treasure.” 

And he certainly has a point…

Bob Downie, stepping down later this year: Pic by RY Britannia Trust

Britannia has been named as the UK’s best visitor attraction – a coveted national award voted by the users of Tripadvisor, Britain’s biggest visitor review site. Fingal similarly is the UK’s best luxury hotel AND the best small and boutique hotel on Tripadvisor, as well as AA Hotel of the Year in Scotland. That’s quite a trophy haul.

If you think Franck’s plan is a little passive, that nothing will be going on down in the Port of Leith, think again. There are no days set aside in his diary for laurel resting. The pursuit of excellence, a word constantly on Franck’s lips, will remain central to every activity undertaken.