Article Source: Virgin Hotels
Last Updated: 17 August 2023 10:58
Virgin Hotels, the luxury lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, has announced the opening of its second European property, Virgin Hotels Glasgow, set upon the banks of the city’s iconic river Clyde. The hotel, which pays homage to Glasgow’s rich cultural history in its design, is now accepting hotel and restaurant bookings and will be open to the public from tomorrow, Friday, 18th August 2023.
The launch sees the opening of chambers as well as modern dining and drinking venues, including Virgin Hotels’ flagship restaurant and bar, Commons Club. Under the direction of Executive Chef Jean-Paul Giraud, who previously held Head Chef at The Spanish Butcher, Commons Club restaurant’s contemporary menu draws inspiration from around the world, combining unexpected ingredients with bold flavours. The bar at Commons Club serves a selection of playful, signature cocktails in a beautifully designed setting, as well as an impressive range of Scottish whiskies, liquors, beer and wine.
On the mezzanine level of Commons Club, Virgin Hotels Glasgow will also be opening its all-day dining and entertainment destination, Highyard, which offers breathtaking views of the river Clyde thanks to its beautiful, elevated terrace. With its retractable roof, it is destined to become the new go-to spot for Glasgow’s buzzing social scene, allowing guests to bask in the warm sunshine whilst enjoying brunch or a cocktail under a starlit sky. Better yet, the Highyard terrace has been fitted with two living walls, making it feel like a true urban jungle retreat. Reservations for Commons Club and its mezzanine Highyard are now live and can be made at virginhotels.com/Glasgow/dine-and-drink. Guests can experience each of the dining spaces with an introductory offer of 25% discount off the total food bill, valid on all lunch and dinner bookings until 30th September 2023.
Virgin Hotels Glasgow also offers an array of state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces which can be seamlessly tailored to suit everything from social occasions to corporate gatherings, including the dynamic Bonnie and Clyde meeting rooms as well as the intimate Shag Room, which poses as the perfect space for private gatherings and social occasions.
The hotel’s Vice President Creative Director, Teddy Mayer, worked closely with Silk Property Group to bring to life Glasgow's historical ties to the shipbuilding industry in the design of the hotel, infusing nautical elements with a modern twist, the hotel showcases contemporary elegance, capturing the essence of Glasgow's vibrant spirit.
The exquisitely decorated chambers are flooded with light and every detail has been considered. Wood-sliding doors separate the sleep and relaxation lounge from the dressing area in every room, giving guests optimal privacy. The dressing room features a stand-alone vanity unit with a mounted illuminated mirror and the lounge itself has a Virgin Hotels’ patented ergonomically designed bed with a channel-tufted headboard; Hypnos™ mattress; a red SMEG® mini-fridge generously stocked with local products; plugs in all the convenient places; a HD TV and a yoga mat.
In collaboration with Visto Art, the hotel has been decorated with beautifully bespoke artwork by local Scottish illustrators, painters and photographers. Each of the diverse pieces were inspired by Glasgow and its history, from the impressive street art mural in the corridor near the hotel’s reception which has been spray painted by various street artists from Glasgow to the Art Friezes in the Highyard restaurant which are an abstract depiction of Glasgow.
Next year will see the opening of two further dining and drinking spaces; Funny Library Coffee Shop and Rocks on Fox Street – a luxurious whisky bar that is set to have one of the finest whisky collections in Glasgow.
Virgin Hotels Collection CEO James Bermingham, said: “Today marks a momentous occasion as we proudly unveil our Glasgow location, a remarkable addition to our growing family of hotels. At Virgin Hotels, we are driven by our passion for delivering innovative design and heartfelt service, and our latest opening is no exception. Every detail has been curated to reflect the dynamic and diverse essence of Glasgow, and we hope the property will not only be a home away from home, but a door to the incredible experiences within this exciting city.”
Tom Gibson, General Manager of Virgin Hotels Glasgow, expressed his excitement for the opening and what it means for both Virgin Hotels and the city of Glasgow. He stated: “We are thrilled to bring the Virgin Hotels experience to Glasgow, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. Virgin Hotels Glasgow will redefine the concept of luxury accommodation, offering guests an unmatched level of service, exceptional culinary experiences, and a stunning setting overlooking the Clyde. We look forward to providing a memorable stay for our guests and becoming an integral part of Glasgow's vibrant hospitality scene.”
Virgin Hotels Glasgow marks the group’s second destination to open in Europe, following the success of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh which officially opened in March this year. It joins the esteemed roster of Virgin Hotels worldwide, which includes iconic locations in New York, Las Vegas, and Chicago, each renowned for their unique blend of style, innovation, and unparalleled guest experiences.
To make stays at Virgin Hotels even more rewarding, Virgin Red and Virgin Hotels’ The Know members can now link their profiles to directly earn Virgin Points when booking their next stay at one of Virgin’s stylish, luxury lifestyle hotels – including Glasgow.
For more information, please visit: virginhotels.com
For Commons Club and Highyard reservations, please visit: www.commonsclub.com
Scotland's first openly gay professional footballer is set to headline Pride events at The Social Hub Glasgow.
READ MOREArtwork to celebrate the centre's 20th anniversary was officially unveiled at Glasgow Fort last week.
READ MOREGlaschu, one of Glasgow's most established fine dining restaurants, will join forces once again with acclaimed chef, Brian Maule for two nights in August.
READ MORECineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MOREThis Sunday sees the arrival of a brand-new community event for 2025: The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way!
READ MOREThree powerful performances by internationally acclaimed artists Dan Daw, Cherish Menzo and collective MEXA are revealed, in anticipation of full festival announcement on Tuesday 29th July.
READ MOREFirst Bus offers free travel to all current serving members, veterans and cadets for Armed Forces Day celebrations across its network.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MORETopgolf Glasgow is dialling up the fun with a fresh range of value offers launching throughout the summer, helping players maximise their experience by giving them more for less!
READ MOREAspiring young buskers are invited to step into the spotlight and perform to hundreds of shoppers this summer in a safe and welcoming indoor space.
READ MOREThe Citizens Theatre has revealed the full cast for Small Acts of Love, the first production to be performed on the theatre's home stage in more than seven years when it reopens later this year.
READ MOREEl Perro Negro is bringing back its cult-favourite Breakfast Club menu. And this time, it's popping up once a month at the award-winning Woodlands Road restaurant - starting 29th June!
READ MOREThe curtain has closed on the 39th edition of Glasgow Jazz Festival, reaffirming its place as one of the UK's premier and much-loved jazz events.
READ MOREParalympicsGB athlete Stephen Clegg made a special appearance at Cadder Primary School to help deliver an exciting workshop on the importance of energy saving in partnership with British Gas.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MOREGuts UK and Colin the Colon, a giant, walk-through inflatable replica of a colon will be in Glasgow to raise vital awareness of digestive health conditions.
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MORECritically acclaimed chef Modou Diagne, known for his innovative approach and celebrated success at 111 by Nico, is set to open his second Glasgow restaurant this summer.
READ MOREAn inspiring event celebrating togetherness, diversity and human connection is set to be staged in Glasgow this week as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2025.
READ MOREThe 39th edition of Glasgow Jazz Festival gets off to a soulful start today as it opens at venues across the city, officially kicking off five extraordinary days of music.
READ MOREAldi Scotland’s Supermarket Sweep challenge is back again for another year, giving customers in Glasgow the chance to raise funds for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
READ MOREToday, the producers of the 2025/26 UK and Ireland tour of FRIENDS! The Musical Parody are delighted to announce casting for the side-splitting musical comedy.
READ MOREBuchanan Galleries is opening its doors to the world of opera, hosting Scotland's first-ever 'shopera' – a student-created bold and original production staged in a shopping centre.
READ MOREScotland's hospitality industry and customers have spoken, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 has listened!
READ MOREOver 1,000 yoga enthusiasts will be namaste-ing at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow this Saturday as part of a World Yoga Day event with renowned PYPT practitioner, Sadhvi Devaditi.
READ MORELeading retail and leisure destination Silverburn has announced that global fashion retailer Hollister has opened its doors today, joining its line-up of leading fashion brands this summer.
READ MORERefugee Festival Scotland gets underway today, kick-starting nine days of dance performances, film screenings, visual art and photography exhibitions and community events across the country.
READ MOREAs part of the Glasgow 850 programme, two special displays celebrating Glasgow's development through the centuries and rich social history are about to go on a citywide tour.
READ MORE