Virgin Hotels Glasgow
Having relinquished their hotel interests in Europe previously (including La Residencia, Deya, and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire) Virgin Hotels are back on the hotel trail.
Earlier this year they opened their first in Edinburgh and now they have opened in Glasgow.
The difference, so far, is their chosen locations.
Places like Deya and Oxfordshire provide a slower pace of life and may appeal to a different customer entirely.
City centre hotels will attract a wider audience; business travellers, locals, weekenders and so on.
These hotels will need to be more lively.
The new Virgin Hotels Glasgow, set upon the banks of the city’s iconic river Clyde, aims to be just that – lively.
The launch sees the opening of chambers as well as modern dining and drinking venues, including Virgin Hotels’ flagship restaurant and bar, Commons Club
Under the direction of Executive Chef Jean-Paul Giraud, formerly Head Chef at The Spanish Butcher, Commons Club restaurant’s contemporary menu draws inspiration from around the world, combining unexpected ingredients with bold flavours.
The bar at Commons Club serves a selection of playful, signature cocktails in a beautifully designed setting, as well as an impressive range of Scottish whiskies, liquors, beer and wine.
On the mezzanine level of Commons Club, Virgin Hotels Glasgow will also be opening its all-day dining and entertainment destination, Highyard, which offers breathtaking views of the river Clyde thanks to its beautiful, elevated terrace.
With its retractable roof, it is destined to become the new go-to spot for Glasgow’s buzzing social scene, allowing guests to bask in the warm sunshine whilst enjoying brunch or a cocktail under a starlit sky.
Better yet, the Highyard terrace has been fitted with two living walls, making it feel like a true urban jungle retreat.
The hotel’s Vice President Creative Director, Teddy Mayer, worked closely with developers Silk Property Group to bring to life Glasgow’s historical ties to the shipbuilding industry in the design of the hotel, infusing nautical elements with a modern twist, the hotel showcases contemporary elegance, capturing the essence of Glasgow’s vibrant spirit.
Chambers
The exquisitely decorated chambers are flooded with light and every detail has been considered.
Wood sliding doors separate the sleep and relaxation lounge from the dressing area in every room, giving guests optimal privacy.
The dressing room features a stand-alone vanity unit with a mounted illuminated mirror and the lounge itself has a Virgin Hotels’ patented ergonomically designed bed with a channel-tufted headboard; Hypnos™ mattress; a red SMEG® mini-fridge generously stocked with local products; plugs in all the convenient places; a HD TV and a yoga mat.
In collaboration with Visto Art, the hotel has been decorated with beautifully bespoke artwork by local Scottish illustrators, painters and photographers.
Each of the diverse pieces were inspired by Glasgow and its history, from the impressive street art mural in the corridor near the hotel’s reception which has been spray painted by various street artists from Glasgow to the Art Friezes in the Highyard restaurant which are an abstract depiction of Glasgow.
Next year will see the opening of two further dining and drinking spaces; Funny Library Coffee Shop and Rocks on Fox Street – a luxurious whisky bar that is set to have one of the finest whisky collections in Glasgow.