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The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The best hotels in Glasgow for boutique stays with fine heritage
Glasgow receives a fraction of Edinburgh's visitor numbers yet packs in just as much cultural capital. Its architecture spans the Gothic Glasgow Cathedral and the Art Nouveau edifices of Charles Rennie Mackintosh; its museums include the imposing Baroque of Kelvingrove Gallery and the internationally important Burrell Collection. Music fans dream of treading the sprung dancefloor of the Barrowland Ballroom, or celebrating Scotland 's folk scene at Celtic Connections festival. The food, too, is not the deep-fried fare you'd expect: these days it's less munchie box, more Michelin-starred dining. Until recently, Glasgow's accommodation reflected its status as Scotland's largest economy: sterile, multinational chain hotels meant a stay here was more business than pleasure. Thankfully, that's now changed: boutique brands and independent hoteliers have moved in, bringing new life to neglected tenements or heritage buildings. Whether your taste is for sybaritic spas, tartan-drenched Scottishness or a family-run restaurant with rooms, there's much to choose from in the Dear Green Place. Best hotels in Glasgow 2025 1. Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa What is arguably Glasgow's most luxurious five-star hotel sits in an ideal spot west of the city centre – just minutes from Kelvingrove Park, indie venue King Tut's Wah Wah Hut and several theatres. Behind the Georgian facade, you'll find Scandi-chic rooms: cool grey furnishings, marble bathrooms and tufted headboards. Restaurant Iasg (from the Gaelic for 'fish') serves up Shetland mussels and Cumbrae oysters. But the biggest draw is the Hebrides-inspired spa: there's an array of therapy pools, a frigid 'snow shower' and ice fountain to boost circulation, and treatments using seaweed skincare products from Stornoway-based brand Ishga. 2. Celentano's hotel Restaurants with rooms are usually reserved for rural areas, but Celentano's brings this intimate, inn-like experience to the big city. You'll want to eat at their Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant most nights: the smoked cod doughnuts might be the best thing you'll try in Glasgow. There are eight individually styled bedrooms, to which restaurant staff bring a breakfast of fresh sourdough, seasonal compote and more every morning. The East End location is excellent, right next to Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis, as well as the underrated Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary Museum. 3. One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel du Vin Great West End hotels are relatively rare, so this is one to bookmark if you're keen to be near the Botanic Gardens and the much-loved 111 by Modou restaurant. Although, as befits the Hotel du Vin brand, there's a highly regarded restaurant right here, supplying artful Scottish-French plates and access to an extensive wine cellar. Room decor is sensitive to the building's Victorian history; florals, vintage dark-wood furniture and original art. The number of bay windows apparently increases with each price band. Address: 1 Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow G12 0UX 4. House of Gods hotel It's not for everyone. But for a few people, it'll be perfect. Maximalist excess is this hotel's modus operandi: rooms overflow with velvet drapes, animal print, brass and leather. It's overwhelmingly pitched at couples, with packages such as 'Treat Me Like I'm Famous' adding a VIP rider with golden rose petals, balloons, Prosecco, cocktails and a mimosa breakfast. The assumption appears to be that you won't leave your room – but if you do, you'll find the peerless Merchant City cocktail scene right outside, with The Amsterdam and The Absent Ear, two of the city's best bars, just two moments away. 5. The Address hotel This four-star hotel is the address for city-centre shopping – a short hop from 'style mile' Buchanan Street, and a few minutes from both major train stations if you want to pop over to Edinburgh for the day. Befitting the fashionable location, rooms are all mid-century lines, warm tones and retro-print curtains. Complement your retail therapy with holistic therapy in the wellness suite, which has heated loungers, and a well-appointed gym and a sauna with a pink Himalayan salt wall. Casual dining restaurant NORTH serves elevated pub grub; try the haggis bonbons or black pudding sausage roll. 6. The Social Hub Glasgow hotel When Glasgow's The Social Hub opened in Merchant City in 2024, it was the first UK outpost of the B Corp hotel group, founded in the Netherlands by Edinburgh man Charlie MacGregor. It's particularly suited to solo travellers, with a full calendar of ice-breaking events: there are exercise classes, cookery workshops with Glasgow chefs, and foodie pop-ups from local spots such as El Perro Negro. Indeed, there's little reason to leave: there's a gym, a restaurant, and a coworking space, plus clean-lined rooms with dedicated workspaces. A rooftop bar is due to open later in 2025. 7. Native Glasgow hotel Could this be the best view in Glasgow? The penthouse rooms of this marvellous heritage hotel look right onto George Square and the City Chambers, the interiors of which famously use more marble than the Vatican. Native Glasgow was formerly the headquarters of the Anchor Line Shipping Company; the Art Deco exterior retains its shell details and nautical emblems, from which the 1920s-themed interiors take inspiration. This concept reaches its peak in the Anchor Line Restaurant & Bar, which serves Scottish seafood and creative, Prohibition-inspired cocktails in a speakeasy-style space. 8. The Pipers' Tryst hotel For something a little different, book into a room above the (thankfully soundproofed) National Piping Centre. From the welcome single-malt whisky to the tartan-swaddled rooms, this is about as Scottish as you can get. The 'Pipe Major's Breakfast' uses smoked salmon and haddock from Glasgow-based fishmonger The Fish People. Plan to spend at least an hour in the museum, which narrates the long and complex history of the bagpipes in Scotland and beyond. Guided tours with a piper run on Fridays and Saturdays throughout summer and include a brief lesson on a chanter (the precursor to a full set of pipes). 9. Dakota Glasgow hotel The Dakota brand was founded by the late, great Glasgow hotelier Ken McCulloch (who also founded Malmaison), and aims to offer premium stays at an affordable price point. The Glasgow branch certainly delivers: all the vintage-inspired rooms include Sky TV and Chromecast, plus complimentary access to a nearby gym. The swish Jack's Bar serves craft cocktails inspired by notable Scottish characters, and the Grill restaurant has a crowd-pleasing pan-European menu. The location's not bad, either in the west of the city centre, near the Glasgow Film Theatre and a short walk from Kelvingrove Park. Address: 179 W Regent St, Glasgow G2 4DP 10. AC Hotel Glasgow Glasgow's Grade A-listed former Parish Hall has found new life as part of the AC by Marriott brand. 'Heritage' rooms and suites are in the old red sandstone building and are worth the extra outlay if you like period features; cheaper rooms are in the modern extension and have floor-to-ceiling windows. Either way, you'll benefit from a brilliant location just seconds from George Square. The Nordic-inspired Hazel restaurant is notable for its fantastic (and great value) afternoon tea: think parma ham and fig open sandwiches or strawberry and matcha Battenbergs.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Everyone in Australia can see Melbourne has lost its 'spark' and that it's 'haemorrhaging cultural capital'
Melbourne 'ugly' and claimed its biggest strength is its pubs in a scathing takedown. Betoota Advocate editor Clancy Overell said Victoria's capital had 'lost their spark and everyone can see it except for them'. 'Poor old Melbourne really hasn't recovered from those lockdowns have they,' he wrote on LinkedIn. 'When your city is actually that ugly, you kind of need a thriving nightlife to make up for the fact you don't have a Harbour or beach. 'Even the majestic Brown Snake that winds and sparkles its way through Brisbane city is an asset to the Queensland economy, despite the fact that it is extremely tidal and floods like every five years. 'But what's Melbourne got going for it nowadays? A comedy festival that prioritises the niche-est subcultures that ever existed on Smith Street? 'A flash casino? I don't even think they claim they have the best coffee anymore.' Overell conceded Melbourne's 'pubs are alright', but claimed this positive was 'a sign of a cultural deficit'. The editor claimed the city is full with 'for lease' signs due to hospitality owners going out of business. 'The "Most Livable City" is haemorrhaging the cultural capital that they once boasted after decades of masterfully navigating the intersection of sport, arts and dining,' he added. In the satirical post, the editor argued immigration 'from Greece or Italy' should be encouraged to help the city and stated it should focus on improving its nightlife. Overell made it clear he was only criticising Melbourne and praised regional Victoria. Victorian PR executive Felicia Coco agreed: 'As a born and raised Melbournian you pretty much nailed this and ngl it's sad. 'Idk maybe if we keep taxing small biz to death it will get better? 'But one thing we do have going for us is the burgeoning tag/s***graff movement.. it's giving halfway-house core. Vacant-and-vandalised is the new booked-and-busy.' Another added: 'Tbf, the squeeze on hospitality, live music, and culture at large is real. And I've often found myself suffering the same lament.' However, others jumped into defend Melbourne, with one commenting: 'It is sad to see non Victorians trying so hard to insult Melbourne. Even satirically, they just don't get how cool we are...' Taking aim at Sydney, one wrote: 'Funnily enough though, once or twice a year I suddenly feel rejuvenated about it all. Because I have to travel to Sydney. 'Go for a walk after 9PM and it might as well be one of those docos called "AFTER THE COLLAPSE" or something where they predict what the world will look like without humans.'
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘What's Melbourne got going for it nowadays?': Betoota Advocate editor roasts Victorian capital
Australia's 'most liveable city' has become a shell of its former self that is 'haemorrhaging cultural capital' — and 'everyone can see it except for them', one commentator claims. Betoota Advocate editor Clancy Overell shared a harsh take-down of Melbourne on LinkedIn on Monday, mocking the Victorian capital's 'unwarranted sense of national importance'. 'Poor old Melbourne really hasn't recovered from those lockdowns have they,' Overell wrote. 'When your city is actually that ugly, you kind of need a thriving night-life to make up for the fact you don't have a harbour or beach. Even the majestic Brown Snake that winds and sparkles its way through Brisbane city is an asset to the Queensland economy, despite the fact that it is extremely tidal and floods like every five years. 'But what's Melbourne got going for it nowadays? A comedy festival that prioritises the niche-est subcultures that ever existed on Smith Street? A flash casino? I don't even think they claim they have the best coffee anymore. 'One thing I will give them is that their pubs are all right. But if that's your biggest strength, it's usually a sign of a cultural deficit. 'The AFL is a hell of an experience, but it's better at the Gabba or SCG anyway. Polo in Portsea? I dunno. A car race for rich Europeans? 'The fact remains, the city is covered in 'For Lease' signs because their once world-renowned hospitality operators have been driven into bankruptcy by a manipulated commercial real estate market that relies on unsustainably high rental yields (Ponzi scheme). 'The 'Most Livable City' is haemorrhaging the cultural capital that they once boasted after decades of masterfully navigating the intersection of sport, arts and dining. 'At this point, all that Channel 9/CFMEU drama is the most interesting thing about the place. 'A Toronto-style 'Vacant Properties Tax' would be a good place to begin. Maybe they need to encourage more immigration from Greece or Italy again. Maybe they need to stop mythologising their schizophrenic weather patterns and focus on the night-life. 'They've lost their spark. And everyone can see it except for them. 'This is not a criticism of regional Victoria. This unwarranted sense of national importance is purely a Melbourne phenomena. The Goulburn Valley's canned fruit industry plays a far bigger role in the lives of non-Victorians. 'Melbourne really needs to get it's act together before they start measuring their d***s in a federal cabinet reshuffle. 'This isn't 'Power Without Glory' — it's more like 'Power without Relevance'. What do you people really have to offer? Maybe focus on that.' A number of locals agreed with the sentiment. 'As a born and raised Melburnian you pretty much nailed this and ngl it's sad,' PR executive Felicia Coco wrote. 'Idk maybe if we keep taxing small biz to death it will get better? But one thing we do have going for us is the burgeoning tag/s**tgraff movement … it's giving halfway-house core. Vacant-and-vandalised is the new booked-and-busy.' Another added, 'Ooof this hits hard.' It comes after business leaders and politicians gathered at a symposium last week to discuss how to prepare for an influx of another 3.5 million people into Melbourne over the next three decades, as the population swells to nine million. '[2050 Melbourne] is one where a nurse can afford to live close to work,' Premier Jacinta Allan told the gathering. 'Where a student from overseas can feel part of our society, where people starting a business can connect with the world around them.' Among the 'big ideas' put forward were 'green bridges' full of plants and shrubs connecting skyrise buildings to keep people off the street, and 'chatty benches' around the city where people can sit and talk to strangers, the Herald Sun reported. But experts have warned that the city is already struggling to cope with the roughly two million extra residents added this century, leaving doubts about how it will manage the millions more coming. 'The huge challenges of population growth aren't in the distance,' said Bob Birrell, president of The Australian Population Research Institute (TAPRI). 'They are here with us.' More congestion, a greater strain on infrastructure, higher demand for housing, an increase in cost-of-living and a decline in liveability are all on the cards, Dr Birrell warned. The nation's capital cities grew by a combined 427,800 people in the 2024 financial year, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, marking a 2.4 per cent increase. Melbourne led the charge, adding 142,600 people to its population in just 12 months, followed by Sydney at 107,500 people. Net overseas migration accounted for the overwhelming majority of growth. While economists largely welcome Australia's booming population, which contributes strongly to the country's fiscal stability, it comes at a cost. 'A rapidly growing population requires a huge infrastructure build,' Dr Birrell said. 'Unfortunately, Victoria doesn't have a great track record when it comes to infrastructure.' The state is already facing an uphill battle in delivering the needs of Melburnians today, spending hundreds of billions of dollars on crucial projects. Some of them are either delayed or over budget — or both. The state is forking out about $26 million a day in interest repayments on a staggering $188 billion worth of debt. MacroBusiness chief economist Leith van Onselen said Melbourne was quickly transforming into 'Hellbourne'. 'All Melburnians have felt the negative consequences of this population explosion,' he wrote. 'Infrastructure has become overburdened, congestion has increased, and housing quality has deteriorated as Melburnians have been squeezed into shoebox apartments or postage-stamp-sized lots on the urban fringe. 'What planet are these dills living on? There are no plans to develop the necessary infrastructure and services to cope with the projected 3.5 million population influx. 'Policymakers merely want to cram more people in and turn Melbourne into the megacity, Hellbourne.'
