Managing Scotland’s storied Scone Palace and overseeing Cambridge’s newly opened Clements Hotel might at first glance seem worlds apart. But as Viv Posselt discovers, the connection was immediate for a Scottish import.
Cameron Pellow beside the hotel’s herb garden. Photo: Viv Posselt
From royal coronations to boutique luxury, Cameron Kellow’s career has been steeped in history.
Now settled in Cambridge, the Scottish hotelier brings his passion for heritage and hospitality from the grandeur of Scone Palace and its iconic 8000ha estate, to the intimate elegance of the newly opened Clements Hotel.
It was those similarities that drew the canny Scotsman to the role of Clements Hotel manager.
History is one of those, he says – “walls that have stories to tell”.
Both venues set an exceptionally high bar in terms of quality, and both integrate naturally with the community they are part of.
“This is a real passion project for me. I absolutely loved what I did in Scone, but I’m delighted to have found something in New Zealand that has its own unique history. I hope to be able to achieve many of the same outputs here.”
Scotland’s stately Scone Palace and estate is where Cameron Kellow worked before coming to New Zealand and the Clements Hotel. Photo: Viv Posselt
Scone Palace (pronounced Scoon) is one of Scotland’s prized heritage destinations. For centuries it was where Scottish monarchs were crowned, seated upon the legendary Stone of Scone, aka the Stone of Destiny. The current palace, which rose from the ashes of a former abbey and was completed in 1807, is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Mansfield.
The Clements Hotel’s history is shorter — but it, too, rose from the ashes.
The original Masonic hotel built by Archibald Clements (hence its name) in 1866 was the first commercial building in Cambridge. Fire destroyed it in 1911, paving the way for a new hotel, larger and grander, that opened a year later.
While the scale differs greatly, Kellow’s commitment and focus remain the same.
He spent just over a year at Scone, overseeing the palace and gardens, luxury and self-catering accommodation, events, and a major racecourse. The estate also involved farming, forestry, and renewable energy projects.
Masonic Hotel circa 1915-1925
Masonic Hotel in February 2023
Clements Hotel October 2025
“The Clements has a smaller footprint but is equally special. It has its own rich history in this community … that is where the attraction lay for me.”
After Kellow and his Kiwi wife decided to raise their young family in New Zealand, he joined Capstone Hotel Management and was approached to lead on the setup, launch and continued operational delivery of the Clements Hotel.
Since coming on board, he has worked closely with Clements’ owners Gerry Westenberg and Jo Pannell. He shares their enthusiasm and admires the hotel’s blend of restored Edwardian charm and boutique luxury. He also teased two exciting additions: a soon-to-open speakeasy — a first for the Waikato — and three new suites in the transformed horse stables.
Either manager Cameron Kellow, left, or hotel owner Gerry Westenberg are happy to tell the story of these recovered front posts – lost and then returned by a local farmer. Photo: Viv Posselt
The hotel had been busy since opening on August 1, hosting numerous private dinners, around seven conferences and some 15 meetings in just its first eight weeks. The dining spaces and lawned outdoor area have been continuously packed.
He enjoys sharing stories from the hotel’s past — like the preserved staircase, and the tale of a local farmer who returned the missing posts from the front of the building.
Kellow knows this industry through and through. He was a kitchen hand during his teens before going to Glasgow Caledonian University where he got a BA (Hons) in entertainment and events management. He has played the accordion from the age of seven and spent years as a session musician with his own band, running and performing in traditional Celtic music events across Scotland, among them a charity ceilidh for sick children.
Cameron Pellow relaxing in the hotel’s outdoor area. Photo: Viv Posselt
His work experience has included the planning and implementation of major events across the United Kingdom. It was during a spell based in London that he met his wife; the pair moved back to Scotland in 2017 where Kellow contracted to the Cultural Trust in Perthshire before joining the Scone estate.
Now settled in sunnier climes than the Highlands, Kellow is grateful for the support he has enjoyed from a community curious about his soft Scottish burr.
“The people here are wonderful, and realistically, there is nothing in the region quite like the Clements. I’m delighted to be a part of it. This is not just a hotel, it’s a real community.”
Manager Cameron Kellow and Clements Hotel owner Gerry Westenberg at the base of the grand wooden staircase retained as part of the hotel’s historical past. Photo: Viv Posselt
