Latest news with #TheWinterGarden
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
I tried the new Crieff Hydro restaurants and bars after £5m makeover
We're checking in for an overnight following a multi-million pound transformation of the resort's food and beverage offerings, which includes a new Asian small plates restaurant, a kitsch dining room for afternoon teas and a 'secret' speakeasy bar accessed only by cracking a cryptic code. Read more: Though it's my first time at the hotel, almost everyone I've told about this weekend's trip back in Glasgow has had their own fond memories of the Hydro to share. "Let me know if the giant chess set is still on the grounds," a friend ask after reminiscing over family holidays. Another urges me not to skip the Victorian Baths, "there are no kids allowed," she says, "you need a passcode from the front desk to get in, and it's so peaceful." Alice, who is accompanying me on the trip, is also no stranger to the hotel with family who hail from nearby, but as we step into the reception area, she notes that this sleek room with plush seating areas and heavy lighting fixtures suspended from the ceiling is nothing like the one she remembers. Even among the chaos of families scrabbling to make it to the desk for check-out, this newly revamped space offers a real wow-factor welcome. When it's our turn to step forward and pick up our room keys, they are handed over with a pair of maps detailing all there is to see at this historic spa hotel alongside a rundown of all the activities the team are offering today. Should the mood strike, we could take part in a spot of archery, horseback riding or even a ceilidh later on in the evening. We mull it over from the comfort of the stately armchairs in our room, perfectly positioned to make the most of views across the impossibly picturesque Strathearn Valley, and conclude that no decisions should be made on an empty stomach. Pictured: Head to The Winter Garden for a light lunch (Image: Supplied) A light lunch The first of the new restaurant offerings on our list is The Winter Garden. Led past the beautiful ornate Ballroom Bar to our seats, there's an instant sense of calm in this bright and airy space. Though there are families with young children about, at no point does it feel overcrowded or noisy. We order a pair of saintly salads, one a classic Caesar with shavings of grand pandano and anchovies, and the other a superfood extravaganza. Charred sprouting broccoli, roasted butternut squash, edamame beans and quinoa; there's so much goodness here I'm sure I'll leave the table an hour later a new person with glowing skin and boundless energy for the afternoon ahead. Well, that might have been the case were it not for the side order of truffle and parmesan-topped fries. With each bite of crunchy, oily goodness, balance is restored to the universe. Pictured: A superfood salad at The Winter Garden (Image: Supplied) There are a few hiccups with service, which appear to be the result of tablet devices used for processing orders. It will become a recurring theme throughout the trip, as the system struggles to handle simple requests like a gin martini rather than the espresso version listed on the menu, but each time, the team deals with mix-ups professionally and promptly. I wonder if a return to a trusty pen and pad might solve this problem, but in a resort as big as this with multiple food and drink outlets, it's understandable that a digital system might be the best way to keep track. It's only a month into the new menus after all, and I'm sure these kinks will be ironed out in time. Pictured: East serves a small plates menu full of Asian flavours (Image: Supplied) A few surprises in store Did I think I would come face to face with a shaggy-haired, miniature goat during our stay? No. But that's just one of the fun surprises our afternoon stroll reveals. It turns out that a number of farmyard animals, from donkeys to alpacas, call Crieff Hydro home, with guests even offered the chance to take part in trekks with their newfound furry friends. Paired with the vast play area further up the hill, I'm now coming to appreciate how brilliant this place must be for families with kids. After hopping aboard the 'Hydro Express' back to reception alongside a mix of bemused parents and awe-filled youngsters, there are more unexpected delights in store at the East restaurant. Pictured: A veggie-friendly cabbage dish from East (Image: Supplied) I'll admit to being sceptical when reading about this small plate dining concept that uses local Perthshire produce for dishes ranging from Hong Kong style whole sea bass to Filipino spatchcock chicken in Adobo spice. The sheer scope of this menu felt dangerously overambitious. Pictured: Slow-cooked Cambodian Spiced Lamb (Image: Supplied) But it's a knockout meal. The slow-cooked Cambodian Spiced Lamb is my favourite of our choices, its tender chunks of meat sliding from the bone into rich masala sauce. Elsewhere, Javanese chicken is wonderfully sticky and sweet, while veggie dishes of tempura samphire with honey Gouchujang sauce or chargrilled cabbage with crispy onions and wild mushrooms easily outshine the Duck Momos we had chosen as a 'safe bet'. More than just another concept to add to their dining portfolio, East quietly proves itself to be a real powerhouse of a restaurant. Based on my first experience, I'd be tempted back to the hotel just to sample further options of Slains Farm sticky pork belly or Cantonese chilli monkfish tails. Pictured: Take a seat at The Ballroom Bar as you crack the code to find The Hermitage (Image: Supplied) A 'secret' spot Before dinner at East had its chance to impress, our server had passed us a riddle printed on a piece of card to solve while we indulged in cocktails at the Ballroom Bar. 'Are we missing something really obvious here?' Alice asked after five minutes of back and forth as we tried to figure out the key to locating the hotel's secret speakeasy. Without offering any spoilers to those planning to visit the Hydro in the future, the answer was yes. Yes, we were. But with some gentle guidance from our host, we later made it through the hidden doorway to The Hermitage bar for a nightcap. It's dark and moody inside, with the only light sources provided by small lamps on each table and a bar heavy with spirits and liquors used for a cocktail menu that's far more advanced than the one you'll find in the hotel's other spaces. Think smoky mezcal-based numbers, local honey-infused sippers or sophisticated highballs. Perhaps the best bit of this whole experience is the fact that there is strictly no photography allowed at The Hermitage. It's a bold move in an age where social media content reigns supreme, but one that really pays off, forcing you to focus on the here and now, while appreciating every last drop of your chosen drink. Read more: When the evening is over, we're directed to leave through a door leading straight back to a hallway area of the hotel. It's a little disorientating, but there's a real kick in knowing we had walked past this same concealed exit multiple times before with no inkling of the excitement awaiting on the other side of the wall. The Hermitage will surely be the highlight of a stay for whisky and cocktail lovers. Pictured: Afternoon tea and brunch is served in the Loggia (Image: Supplied) Tea for two Following a fabulous hot stone massage and time to enjoy the heated pool, sauna and steam room at the Victorian Baths, the next day we've one more dining space to explore before we depart the Crieff Hydro. Though enjoying the same view framed by tall windows next door in the Winter Garden, there's a touch more elegance and grandeur at the Loggia, from the dainty glass chandeliers to towering flower arrangements and accents of baby pink dotted throughout. It's almost like stepping into a doll's house, and exactly the sort of place you would expect to be served platters of bite-sized savouries like Cullen Skink tarts or salmon and prawn roulade, followed by a sweet selection of scones and cakes. We have room to ourselves while finishing off pots of herbal teas, but it's easy to picture this room full on a special occasion like Mother's Day. Once again, I'll find myself impressed by the versatility of the hotel's revamped spaces. Others might have been eager to share their memories of the Crieff Hydro ahead of the trip, but I leave content to have made my own, and ready to return with tales of all the new treats in store for guests this summer. For more information on the Crieff Hydro, including the new restaurant and bar spaces, visit
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
After 10 years in storage, an iconic Banksy artwork is on view again in NYC
An iconic artwork by the elusive street artist Banksy is now on display in Lower Manhattan, and you've got until May 21 to go see it. The 7,500-pound piece, titled "Battle to Survive a Broken Heart," features a bandaged heart-shaped balloon. Banksy created the artwork during 2013 in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood. It's the only known piece that the enigmatic artist came back and retouched. Find it in the The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place at 230 Vesey Street. The tagged wall has been in a climate-controlled warehouse in Long Island City since 2014—until now. It is on public display until it is auctioned by Guernsey's on May 21, with a portion of the sale supporting The American Heart Association. The artwork has a particularly interesting origin story. In the fall of 2013, 59-year-old Vassilios Georgiadis offered helpful advice to a passing van driver. That van driver turned out to be Banksy, who returned in the middle of the night to create the floating Mylar balloon mural on Georgiadis' warehouse wall. Shortly after its creation, rival artist "Omar NYC" defaced the piece by spray-painting over the heart and scrawling his own name in front of a live crowd. Countering that—and the only time he has ever been known to re-work his art—Banksy revisited the wall at the corner of King and Van Brunt streets and embellished it further. Eventually, the art-covered section of the wall was excised from the warehouse and kept in storage. It's the only known piece that the enigmatic artist came back and retouched. Georgiadis sadly passed away from heart disease just a few years later. Honoring his memory, his family is generously donating a significant portion of the auction's proceeds to the American Heart Association. "This piece is obviously an iconic representation of the battle to survive a broken heart. It's an uplifting visual poem to that most fragile of human emotions that seem to move within us as if on a soft breeze," an audio guide at explains. It's an uplifting visual poem to that most fragile of human emotions that seem to move within us. If you want to watch the auction—or bid in it—add it to your calendar: it'll be held live on location in The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place and online via and Proceeds will be divided between the Greek American family that owned the warehouse and the American Heart Association. "To me this powerful artwork is more than just street art—it's a symbol of the millions of lives impacted by heart disease, our nation's leading cause of death," Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, said in an official statement. "As we continue our diligent and dedicated work to improve health for everyone, everywhere we appreciate the support and generosity of the Georgiadis family. This donation will fund life-saving research, help us advocate for healthier communities and improve patient care."
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
In Pictures: Crieff Hydro unveils new restaurants and bars after £5 million dining transformation
One of the largest single investments ever made by Scotland's oldest registered trading company, it heralds a new era for the company, with the sixth generation of the Leckie family having steered the project. By positioning itself as one of the most exciting dining destinations in Scotland, the hotel aims to meet the needs of new and younger generations with its new restaurant lineup, whilst remaining focussed on retaining its long-established family market. The Ballroom Bar: "This totally reimagined space is a nod to Crieff Hydro's heritage while offering a relaxed, elegant and contemporary experience. Settle into your velvety booth and linger with a mocktail, cocktail or a glass of champagne." | Crieff Hydro New venues include EAST, an Asian small plates concept; The Ballroom Bar, an elegant, relaxed, contemporary day-to-night bar; and The Winter Garden, an airy Victorian heritage space which has been modernised and offers all-day dining. A new panoramic brunch and afternoon tea destination with sweeping views over Strathearn Valley, Loggia has been introduced. Menus across all the new restaurants champion the very best of Scottish provenance, with Crieff Hydro's team of chefs working closely with the long-standing local suppliers to bring as much local and regional produce to the heart of the menus. The new collection of dining experiences brings together bold, global flavours, timeless classics and exquisitely styled, contemporary interiors with a gentle nod to the hotel's 157-year-old heritage. 1 . EAST EAST is the hotel's signature restaurant, an Asian-inspired dining spot, offering sizzling sharers and a menu made for mixing and matching with dishes bursting with aromatic flavours, such as Javanese sticky chicken with a sweet sauce, Korean fried chicken, spicy gochujang sauce, slow cooked Cambodian spiced lamb shoulder with a masala sauce and a Hong Kong-style whole pan-fried seabass. "The place to go for date nights, child-free catch-ups, family get-togethers and grown-up feasts." | Crieff Hydro Photo Sales 2 . The Winter Garden The Winter Garden: "It retains all the elements of a traditional Victorian Winter Garden - airy, elegant and full of charm with Crieff Hydro's glass-house space reimagined to flow effortlessly from day to night. Guests can enjoy coffee and pastries in the morning, light lunches and soups and drinks into the evening. Menu highlights include mix and match tacos with spicy pork, refried beans, mushroom and tarragon or Mexican ground chicken, salad bowls, the Highland wagyu burger, classic club sandwich, battered fish and chips, loaded tattie skins and wild mushroom ravioli. | Crieff Hydro Photo Sales 3 . Loggia The sun-streamed Loggia, with its uninterrupted views across Strathearn Valley, has a packed menu of brunch classics, many with an innovative twist, including croissant burgers, haggis Benedict, steak and eggs, waffles, pancakes and bagels. The drinks menu features a range of smoothies, lattes and cocktails including mimosas, espresso martinis and bloody Marys. | Crieff Hydro Photo Sales 4 . The Ballroom Bar The Ballroom Bar was pivotal to the whole layout, with an oak stained, glass and metal work gantry. The bookcase wall with the hidden door leading to the adults-only speakeasy bar is a completely new concept for the hotel. | Crieff Hydro Photo Sales Related topics: HotelScotlandVictorianRestaurants
Scottish Sun
21-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Inside new £5m restaurants and bars at iconic Scots family hotel, including a hidden speakeasy
Interesting artefacts from the archive have been used in the design. AN ICONIC family hotel has had a massive £5m makeover. Now bosses say the big budget transformation will really put the destination 'on the map' for food and drink in Scotland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Bosses wanted to bring the hotel up to date for a new generation 5 The Winter Garden is an airy Victorian heritage space 5 EAST is a new Asian small plates concept And guests can now discover a hidden speakeasy behind a bookcase as part of the major revamp. Crieff Hydro has completed its bumper dining refurb project, which sees the creation of six new bars and restaurants and refreshed menus for its existing eating spots. New venues include EAST, an Asian small plates concept, The Ballroom Bar, an elegant day-to-night bar, and The Winter Garden, an airy Victorian heritage space which has been modernised and offers all-day dining. A new panoramic brunch and afternoon tea destination with views over Strathearn Valley, Loggia has also been introduced. Menus across all the new restaurants focus on the very best of Scottish produce, with Crieff Hydro's team of chefs working with the long-standing suppliers to bring as much local and regional food to the heart of the menus. The Ballroom Bar has an impressive oak stained, glass and metal work gantry while a bookcase wall has a hidden door leading to an adults-only speakeasy bar - a completely new concept for the hotel. And inspiration from some of the new venue designs came from the Crieff Hydro archives, with curios dotted around the new spaces, including historical documents, such as one penny payment stamps, wax seals and old share certificates. Richard and Charlie Leckie - the sixth generation of the family to be involved at Crieff Hydro - worked alongside Fiona Leckie, the longstanding Head of Interiors, to complete the massive project. Stephen Leckie, CEO Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: "This is our single biggest project in decades and opens another significant chapter in Crieff Hydro's 157-year history. "For us, investment large and small is always about creating something better for our guests and for our team here. This is no exception, but the scale of the transformation I believe will really put us on the map for food and drink in Scotland. W Edinburgh Crowned Scotland's Hotel of the Year 2025 "We're incredibly excited to share these new spaces with our loyal guests and those discovering Crieff Hydro for the first time and we're confident that the variety and style of the new venues will broaden our appeal and create even more memorable experiences for guests staying or dining with us. "It's fitting that as we look to fulfil the needs of a new generation of Crieff Hydro customers, that this project has been driven by the next generation of my own family. "We know that our guests are looking for unique experiences, not just any standard hotel restaurant and bar. As an independent business we have more freedom and flexibility to create something really unique.' Meanwhile, Charlie Leckie, Associate Director Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said refurbishing the restaurants and bars was a chance to bring the hotel right up to date. He added: "Like many of our guests, we enjoy the variety of interesting places to eat and drink around Scotland or further afield. So, we wanted to bring some of the best of that to Crieff Hydro. "We really believe that a wide choice of food and drink is such an important part of a guest's experience and shouldn't just be 'ok' – it needs to be right up there with what people expect of their favourite West End eateries whether that's in Edinburgh, Glasgow or even London. "So, we've tried to take the best of all that but deliver it in a way that is uniquely Crieff Hydro and fits in with all the history and tradition we're both so proud of.' 5 Loggia is an afternoon tea destination with stunning views
