Hotel Review: Gleneagles
A couple of weeks ago in August, Oliver and I set off with my parents to Gleneagles hotel in Scotland for three nights. I’d been wanting to visit this iconic property for a while - since its acquisition and makeover by Ennismore in 2015 (the same brains behind The Hoxton), Gleneagles has become a design destination for hotel lovers globally, whilst still maintaining its luxurious grandeur and historic reputation as the home of Scotland’s finest golf course. This was my first time visiting Scotland (can you believe it?), and I absolutely loved it - read on for my full review of the hotel below.
First impressions: 4/5
Arriving at Gleneagles you’ll find a sweeping drive with impressive views over the extensive golf course, at the end of which sits the hotel, imposing and striking with its jagged turret poking the sky, and Scottish flags flapping in the wind. Kilt-wearing staff will help you unload your luggage, before you step through the revolving glass doors and inside the lobby, where the atmosphere is almost reminiscent of a busy train station. We arrived on a Friday afternoon (along with hoards of other families), and thanks to socially distant measures throughout the hotel, there seemed to be an endless queue to check in.
A brief tour of the property confirmed that one could easily get lost here: velvet-carpeted staircases will lead you through an endless maze of corridors before reaching your bedroom. Rooms are each individually and uniquely designed: we had booked Estate Rooms in the main house, which are the largest available, and feature masculine bedsteads made of dark wood, plump cushions and velvet armchairs, and marble bathrooms with separate showers and baths. Bedrooms all feature endless movie libraries on the flat-screen TVs, as well as shortbread to nibble on, and tea and coffee facilities. The Ennismore design team’s signature touches run throughout the property, with each area in the hotel featuring its own distinct look: expect lots of velvet fabrics and striking colours palettes, from the hot-pink ladies bathroom to the chintzy blue Strathearn restaurant.
Meanwhile, the modern Braid House extension offers bedrooms in a more contemporary style, although still featuring plush textiles and warm tones. The most lavish bedroom of all is the Royal Lochnagar Suite in the main house, which we were lucky enough to get a peek of: with its own dining room and seating area, impressive four poster bed, and freestanding bathtub with unrivalled views over the estate, this is easily one of the most magnificent bedrooms I’ve stepped inside.
Food and drink: 4.5/5
The hotel has an incredible variety of restaurants, housing nine individual locations to eat and drink - the most notable of these is Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, the only 2 Michelin-starred restaurant in the entirety of Scotland. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a table here during our stay although we were waitlisted for all nights - my recommendation when visiting Gleneagles is to book all of your meals well in advance!
However, we did manage to eat at five of the different restaurants during our stay. The most impressive of these was the Strathearn restaurant, which is a stunning ballroom-like space with a bright and elegant Orangery - you’ll find Scottish-British fine dining here, including a three-course menu in the evening (expect the best Scottish smoked salmon, plus delicious desserts, ending your meal with homemade fudge and coffee). This is also where breakfast is served in the morning: regulars such as avocado toast and eggs Royale sit on the menu next to more inventive options, including Gleneagles’ famous smoked salmon and cream cheese homemade croissant - you can order as many dishes as you like!
Another restaurant we loved was The Dormy, which is located in the Clubhouse, and offers a varied menu of classics: pizzas, burgers, as well as tasty Indian favourites (you’ll find tandoor meats, curries, and homemade naan). Given that Ennismore also owns Tandoor Chop House, it was no surprise that the Indian dishes here were all addictively tasty. Come here for a homely, family-friendly atmosphere, and cosy sofas nestled around the fireplace.
The Birnam Brasserie is yet another restaurant we tried: featuring glass-panelled ceilings, plenty of plants, and marble tables, this is a sleek and modern space. The menu here is Italian - of all the restaurants we sampled, this was our least favourite. We ate here on our first night and unfortunately encountered a couple of hiccups (my dad found a hair in his dish, my mum's pork was overcooked), but the manager kindly granted the entire meal complimentary as a makegood. However, I would personally give this restaurant a miss when visiting next time - other than on this occasion, we enjoyed every single one of our meals at Gleneagles.
Aside from our dinners, we also ate at The Garden Cafe, (a casual all-day cafe serving home baked goods and featuring an ice cream bar), and the beautiful Glendevon, which offers sweeping views over the grounds and is reserved specifically for afternoon tea - you’ll find visitors scattered across the plush sofas here from 12pm every day, sipping on tea and nibbling scones. Three additional bars are located across the property: Auchterarder 70, the casual pub-like bar located in the Clubhouse, the moody American Bar with its speakeasy, intimate atmosphere, and The Century Bar, which offers an all-day menu in the main house.
To do: 5/5
Gleneagles has an incredible range of activities to enjoy whilst you’re on the estate. From tennis lessons on the courts and Pashley bicycles to cycle around the grounds, to playing croquet on the lawns or nine-hole pitch and putt, there’s so much to take part in - of course, for more serious golfers, there are the famed Gleneagles golf pitches located by the Clubhouse.
For those looking for a more pampering experience, the hotel also boasts an impressive spa in the Braid House- unfortunately, whilst we were visiting, this was still closed thanks to Covid, but I did manage to fit in a manicure at Bob and Cloche, which is the chic hair and nail salon.
Gleneagles also features a boutique shopping arcade linking the main hotel to the Braid House extension: you’ll find a range of sleek shops here, such as cashmere specialists, a delicatessen offering jams and delicacies to take home as a reminder of your trip, and even diamond jewellery boutiques - there’s also a small shop selling books, newspapers, and small amenities to pick up in case you might have forgotten to pack something.
Comfort and service: 3.5/5
Staff throughout the property are incredibly polite, efficient and welcoming. Despite the hundreds of guests, they will also go out of their way to remember your name and accommodate your requests - for instance, I wanted to sit in The Orangery every morning for breakfast, and we forgot to book afternoon tea on Sunday until very last minute - but the staff happily made room for us. This is something that stuck with us throughout our stay, and would definitely encourage us to return.
However, our stay wasn’t without a few hiccups - my parents were unhappy with the bedroom that they were given upon arrival, and discovered that the shortbread in their bedroom had already been nibbled by a previous guest. On both of these counts, the staff were quick to apologise and rectify any problems; for instance, they were able to move my parents to a different bedroom after their first night.
I would also note that there are hundreds of guests on the property at any given time, and this can feel a little overwhelming if you’re planning a relaxing stay. There are over 250 bedrooms in the hotel, and you’ll find additional day guests popping in for afternoon tea, or golf members visiting the Clubhouse. At times, wandering around the property can feel disorienting due to the number of guests milling around - and aside from the bustling lobby, there aren’t any nooks and crannies to just kick back and relax if you’re craving a quiet place to read a book. Even the more casual Garden Cafe and Century Bar don’t offer opportunity for this, thanks to the number of guests always waiting for a table. My recommendation would also be to book everything well in advance to avoid disappointment, including spa visits, activities, and all of your meals, including breakfast.
Overall we loved our stay at Gleneagles, and would certainly return: it’s an incredible hotel, offering an unrivalled number of activities, and food and drink options. It would be hard for someone to feel bored when visiting, and every corner of the magnificent estate is beautifully maintained and designed. If you’re looking for an intimate and more laidback couple’s experience, I would perhaps recommend retreating elsewhere for a peaceful escape - but if you’re of the adventurous, active type, or you’re travelling with a large family, Gleneagles certainly provides a glamorous location to cater to all of your needs.
