Blythswood Square Hotel (part of the Town House Collection) occupies a Georgian building constructed in 1821, which in 1926 became the sumptuous headquarters of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club where most of Glasgow’s business community would meet. The beautiful square with its Georgian terraced symmetry was intended by the city fathers and planners to be the “new” city centre. But that was not to be, and George Square – a short walk away – remains the natural centre of the city, with its impressive municipal buildings and monuments, including that of Sir Walter Scott, whose statue is perched high on a column overlooking the square.
The hotel lies in equal proximity to Glasgow’s renowned shopping centre, and in particular Buchanan Street, with its high-end stores set within the beautiful Victorian architecture for which the centre of Glasgow has long-since been famed. The Buchanan Galleries – a modern indoor shopping centre – is a stone’s throw from the hotel. The renovation of this luxury 100 bedroom hotel was fully completed in 2010, retaining the building’s original façade and many internal features, along with the addition of new bedrooms formed around a central courtyard, seamlessly integrated into the old building.
The Classic double room, aimed primarily at the business traveller, was extremely comfortable, immaculately presented and featuring a marble clad bathroom and king size bed, bedecked with a variety of pillows and Harris Tweed cushions, along with a “pillow menu” to ensure you get a good night’s rest. If you require a more intense kind of relaxation the hotel offers a wonderful spa experience set in 10,000 square feet of its basement with 9 treatment rooms and a “thermal experience” which guests can enjoy free of charge between 6pm to 9pm. This spa, which is not rivalled by any other Glasgow hotel, was awarded the Urban Spa of the Year at the prestigious Scottish Hotel Awards 2014.
At the same ceremony the hotel also received the prestigious Bar of the Year Award for its gilded Corinthian columned bar and lounge on the first floor. This sumptuous room overlooks Blythswood Square gardens and stone fronted elegant Georgian buildings, and is where guests can partake of a whisky from an extensive display of “nippy sweeties” (or “wee drams”) and fine spirits, relaxing thereafter on a high stool or chair clad in the same range of Harris Tweed coverings ubiquitously found throughout the hotel.
The hotel’s ground floor restaurant is also dominated by tweed fringed hanging lampshades which break up the large space, although undressed dark wooden dining tables make it less welcoming. Well lit during the daytime but a tad dark at night, it is comfortable but somewhat uninspiring. Offering both an a la carte and market menu, (the latter doubling as pre-theatre), I chose from 4 starters, mains and desserts, priced at 2 courses for £18.50 and 3 courses for £22 (not including two items which came with a £5 supplement). Although not high-end cooking, the restaurant provides good honest fare, reasonably priced. They also serve a hearty “Scottish Breakfast” each day, comprising the usual offerings of bacon and eggs, alongside the welcome addition of haggis. A good range of buffet items included Serrano ham cut from the cured joint, which made a nice touch.
Combining modernity with tradition and good old-fashioned service, Blythswood Square Hotel lives up to it’s reputation as one of the city’s most enjoyable places to stay. If you’re visiting for the weekend, make the most of being within easy walking distance of Glasgow’s best attractions:
The Burrell Collection is one of the greatest art collections in the world with its 9,000 objects and containing thousands of years of history, created by Sir William Burrell over 80 years ago. The Collection is now housed in a purpose built museum in a woodland setting in Pollok Country Park a short taxi ride away.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery is the most visited (free) museum outside London, built in a Spanish Baroque style in red sandstone, and includes an entire program of architectural sculpture by George Frampton, William Shirreffs, Francis Derwent Wood and others. It also houses the famed masterpiece of Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dali and artworks including Old Masters, French Impressionists, Dutch Renaissance and Scottish Colourists together with works of the Glasgow School.
The Glasgow School of Art (a short distance away) was the creation of Charles Rennie Mackintosh built in 1897 and was been voted by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) as one of the best buildings in the UK. Unfortunately the building’s library was severely damaged by fire in May 2014 and this is he subject of a restoration project, which is under way.
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall a short walk away is the performance base of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and there are regular visits from international orchestras.
Glasgow has a long association with the theatre and comedy, with many comedians fearful of “dying” on stage. This continues in the Citizens, Kings, Pavillion and Theatre Royal which are within easy reach.
For more information on the Blythswood Square Hotel visit the website.
