Great Places to Stay
One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow
One Devonshire Gardens
For many years the exclusive hotel at No. 1 Devonshire Gardens has been a prestigious address in a quiet avenue at the west end of the city. Previously owned and developed by the legendary entrepreneur hotelier Ken McCulloch since 1986, the high standard of service and its distinguished reputation has long been internationally recognised.The front door, framed between the classic twin pillared entrance leads into a beautiful Victorian interior, with many original period features including stained glass windows, hand carved wood panelling, ceiling cornices and marble fireplaces. Wide staircases lead up to the 27 bedrooms and suites, individually designed and situated across the three townhouses which have been tastefully combined together.
Blending contemporary colours and design, together with old fashioned luxury, the bedrooms offer an irresistible and decadent setting - four poster beds draped in crimson brocade or mauve and cream fabrics. Subtle lighting, bowls of fresh fruit, magazines, CD and DVD player add a few important and necessary touches and comforts of the 21st century. Being away from home, the bathroom should be extra large and offer a calm, silent oasis for a little indulgence - champagne perhaps ?
"...timeless quality .. .. classic, captivating ambience, sheer luxury, unobtrusive service"
Conde Nast Traveller magazineWhich sums it up very neatly.
The world's media and hotel guides continue to heap praise on One Devonshire Gardens for its unrivaled quality and elegance. In March this year a new edition of Zagat, the American Hotel Guide, which represents the views of 12,000 frequent world travellers voting on 850 hotels worldwide, was published. Eight British hotels (seven in London) are among the 'absolutely fabulous' Great Places to Stay, with the Lanesborough scoring an excellent rating of 28 points and the Four Seasons, just one point behind. Connaught, Ritz, Claridges, Dorchester, One Aldwych - and One Devonshire Gardens - all received 26 points.
The special qualities highlighted by the reviewers included the "theatrical luxury, fresh flowers and flowing fabrics". Others commented on the "small elegant dining room serving French influenced Scottish fare".
The assistant general manager, Rodney Doig is of course thrilled with this most recent accolade: "It is fantastic for the property, for the staff for Glasgow and Scotland" he said. "It's delightful that people hold us in such high esteem. We can deliver something a lot more personal than a large hotel".
The drawing rooms at One Devonshire Gardens are charming in character and ambience with armchairs beside roaring log fires in the winter, perfect for a quiet afternoon.
There are two bars, both cosy, intimate rooms, one a traditional smoking room and the other in contrast is described as a reading room from which French windows open out onto the garden terrace where drinks and meals can be served on warm summer days.
One Devonshire Gardens recently announced they had succeeded in a major property deal, with the take over of the Devonshire Hotel just along the road. This small luxury hotel has also enjoyed prestigious acclaim with many celebrity repeat guests - Whitney Houston, Lionel Ritchie and Jon Bon Jovi have all enjoyed the Devonshire hospitality. Many guests like to take the entire 14 room hotel for a private function. This will still be possible as there is a private townhouse separating the property at no.1 from the Devonshire Hotel at no.4 Devonshire Gardens.
The amalgamation simply means valuable expansion for the Glasgow establishment which can now offer 41 bedrooms and suites; a £1 million refurbishment programme is now in progress to bring both Devonshire Gardens properties up to the impressive standard of design and comforts which owners and guests have come to expect wherever they go.
I leave the final word to a man who knows quality and standard when he sees it. Pete Irvine travels Scotland all year round to compile notes from personal experience for his book, Scotland the Best. He seeks out and finds the best places to eat and stay.
"One thing you have to do before you die is spend a night at One Devonshire Gardens."
Or return to the Index of Great Places to Stay in Scotland.
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