
Luxury Scots hotel in popular seaside spot crowned best spa & golf destination
A LUXURY hotel located in a popular Scottish seaside spot has been crowned the best spa and golf destination.
The Gailes Hotel scooped the top gong at this year's highly-valued Innis and Gunn Prestige Hotel Awards.
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The Gailes hotel in Irvine has been crowned the best spa and golf destination
Credit: SimpsInns
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The on-site restaurant serves up some tasty meals for guests
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An overnight spa break includes a hot tub
The Oscars of the hotel world were dished out at a swanky ceremony in Glasgow last week.
Finalists from all over Scotland attended the event which was hosted by Des Clarke at Doubletree By Hilton.
And the Gailes Hotel on Marine Drive in Irvine, Ayrshire, scooped the award for the best spa and golf hotel.
The hotel and spa is owned by Irvine-based Simpson family, who are the driving force behind SimpsInns.
They own and operate a collection of award- winning hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, golf and leisure activities along the Ayrshire coast, including The Loans at Troon.
Located just 40 minutes from Glasgow, The Gailes Hotel & Spa has a reputation as one of Ayrshire's leading luxury wellness destinations, offering a collection of over 50 personalised treatments, day spa packages and overnight chill-out breaks.
It's surrounded by some of Scotland's world famous links courses plus there's a full range of facilities on site at Gailes Golf.
Western Gailes, Dundonald Links and Gailes Links are on their doorstep, while Open Championship venues such as Royal Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick are all within easy reach.
On site, golf fanatics can enjoy Ayrshire's only Toptracer driving range, PGA teaching studio and much more.
SimpsInns' Waterside Hotel at West Kilbride was also Highly Recommended in the Four Star Hotel category.
Inside the invite-only superyacht 'sea hotel' with four-story penthouse - & another $450m 'twin' ship is on the way
Malcolm Simpson from SimpsInns, said: "We're extremely proud to have been recognised once again as an industry leader and for offering some of the best hotel, spa and golf experiences in Scotland.
"This latest award success for two of our hotels is testament to the hard work of our amazing team, who continually go above and beyond to ensure every guest enjoys a fantastic experience with us and keep coming back."
Malcolm added: "Continued investment has been a key strategy for the growth of Simpsinns over the last three years, with over £4 million invested across the group. We're committed to enhancing the quality of the guest experience across the group, including our newly refurbished restaurant at Loans Inn and the addition of 17 new bedrooms and sea view spa at The Waterside later this year."
Awards Director Warren Paul said: "It's worth saying the calibre of the people here tonight is quite incredible – it's fantastic for us to see very senior bosses from hotels across the country here in person introducing their future generations to us, and demonstrating just how important and impactful these awards can be.
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The venue has a reputation as one of Ayrshire's leading luxury wellness destinations
"They're all the very best operators in Scotland, delivering amazing service and much- needed escape from the rigours of modern life.
"We all need time out to rest, recover, recharge – especially right now – so our world-class, in fact world-beating hospitality industry should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops.
"I really wish the powers that be would support and help the hard-working people who give up their weekends, days and nights to offer the rest of us all sorts of amazing breaks and escapes.
"Whatever you want to do, you can find it in Scotland – and here tonight.
Full list of Prestige 2025 winners
BEST 3* Hotel - Brander Lodge Hotel
BEST 4* Hotel (CENTRAL( - The Parklands Hotel, Perth
BEST 4* Hotel (EAST) - The Scholar Hotel
BEST 4* Hotel (NORTH) - The Glenesk Country House Hotel and Spa
BEST 4* Hotel (WEST) - Glasgow Marriott Hotel
BEST 5* Hotel - Rusacks St. Andrews
BEST B&B / GUESTHOUSE - The Auld Kirk B&B
BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL - Cromlix
BEST CITY HOTEL - Sandman Signature Glasgow Hotel
BEST CONCIERGE - Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow – John Leese
BEST COUNTRY HOTEL - Kingshouse Hotel, Glencoe
BEST ECO/SUSTAINABLE HOTEL - Voco Haymarket Edinburgh
BEST EVENTS AND CONFERENCE HOTEL - Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
BEST GENERAL MANAGER - Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central – Andrew Diegan
BEST HISTORIC/HERITAGE HOTEL - Cromlix
BEST HOLIDAY RENTAL ACCOMDATION - Harris Hideaway
BEST HOTEL BAR - Radisson RED Glasgow
BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT - Rusacks St. Andrews
BEST INDEPENDENTLY OWNED HOTEL - Glynhill Hotel & Spa
BEST ISLAND HOTEL - Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa
BEST PET FRIENDLY HOTEL - The Riverside Lodge Hotel
BEST SPA/GOLF HOTEL - The Gailes Hotel & Spa
BEST TEAM - The Scholar Hotel
BEST VALUE HOTEL - Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen
BEST WEDDING HOTEL - Lochside House Hotel RAD
"From the perfect wedding hotel to the most incredible hotel bar in the heart of Glasgow's music city, country retreats, island hotels, bustling city breaks, cosy retreats for private rental, all of it.
"We have it all, Scotland really is special and the offerings in this trade are stellar. That's why we are here – to showcase the results of the hard work by so many people, and to recognise and thank them."
Elsewhere at the awards, Andy Murray's luxury five-star Cromlix resort served up a double win at the Hotel Oscars.
And the Best Value award went to the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Aberdeen.
Other standouts including Rusacks St Andrews, Edinburgh's Voco Haymarket and Radisson RED Glasgow picked up key honours.
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