Crossbasket Castle

Fancy living like a king or queen in a castle for a night, walk in manicured gardens with a waterfall for a backdrop, dine on a menu created by Michelin Star chefs then relax into the evening with a loved one in truly palatial surroundings! Well you can have this experience when you stay at the beautiful Crossbasket Castle located on the outskirts of Glasgow and we were privileged and delighted to recently experience this wonderful castle for a night of luxury.

Background & Concept

Crossbasket Castle is stunning, truly stunning, the property looks like it has always been this beautiful hotel, but it has only been open for a year. Rescued from near demolition with a £9m restoration by local businessman and art collector Steve Timoney and his wife Alison Reid-Timoney.

The property is steeped in history and has undergone many changes and owners over its long legacy, you could be hanging your clothes in the Duke of Cambridge’s wardrobe, or sitting in the same spot that owner Charles Macintosh (Macintosh coats) once sat. The restoration has left nothing to chance and has brought the property back to its former glory using traditional craftsmanship and materials interwoven with all the latest luxury conveniences you expect at a 5-star hotel now.

Dining at Crossbasket is entrusted by culinary geniuses Albert and Michel Roux Junior so you know you are in for something extra special at the hotel’s destination restaurant.

Style

The hotel has  9 rooms/suites making it petit in size, however, this size gives it more of a feel of staying at a very rich aunt’s house than a hotel as you have the place to yourself at some points. Service is on point but not over-the-top stuffy and the property is absolutely ideal for couples as it oozes romance.

Approaching the Castle through the private gated entrance you will make an ‘ooh’ sound, (I had looked at the website beforehand to get a feel for the property, but the hotel is so so much better in reality). Driving down the driveway you pass lush manicured gardens with the castle on one side and fountain on the other, it’s breathtaking and you know you are in for something special!

Location

The hotel is conveniently close to Glasgow (Being from Glasgow myself I had to do a double take on the map when I first looked I couldn’t believe there was a castle so close to the city). It’s just a 15-minute drive to Glasgow making it an ideal base for exploring the cities, museums, restaurants and shopping, or if you want to head off to the countryside you have some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery a short drive away. Whilst you are close to the city, you are a million miles away from everything once you set foot on the castle grounds. Surrounded by 14 acres of lawn, landscaped gardens and the river Calder running through the estate makes this an oasis of calm and tranquility.

The Rooms

The hotel has nine rooms in total starting with small and large doubles, then junior suites and larger suites and finishing with the Lindsay Tower Suite. Rooms include clawfoot baths and marble-finished bathrooms, old fireplaces, antiques and rich fabrics that add character to the rooms and the super soft king-size beds guarantee a good night’s sleep!

The Lindsay Tower Suite

In true TLE style, we stayed in the best suite in the property the Lindsey Tower Suite. Located in the original 16th century tower the suite is spread across four floors that can be accessed through the hotel but also by its own entrance for complete privacy.

Access between floors in the suite is via its stone spiral staircase.

Ground Floor

The ground floor which has access to the hotel and gardens is where you start the suite experience, this floor is a dressing room where you can prepare for your evening of food and drink in the hotel’s restaurant and bar.

First Floor – Bedroom

The bedroom is on the first floor, complete with the four-poster bed as any castle should have! There is a small lounge area to the right and a cleverly concealed TV in an antique cabinet keeps it hidden out of sight till you need it. A main window lets the light flood into the room and offers a beautiful view out into the grounds.

Period paintings and mirrors add warmth and character to the room

The view out of the second bedroom window

There is an iPhone doc and speaker system next to the bed and a turn-down service prepares the bed (complete with chocolates and freshwater) when you arrive back after dinner.

The bedroom also has a small bathroom

Second Floor – Bathroom

Moving up a floor you arrive in the bathroom and what a bathroom it is, taking up the entire floor it is gigantic. A clawfoot bath sits inset to the right of the room that can take two people, while twin marble top sinks draw your eye to the middle. A large glass-enclosed rain shower sits across from there. The space is dotted with chairs and stools and it is beautifully warm for such a large open space.

The robes were so fluffy and luxurious.

Amenities by Arran Aromatics in the shower and beside the bath, I like the fact they are refillable, I am all for cutting down plastic waste.

Third Floor – Lounge

Tucked away in the top floor is the suites lounge, which we found ideal to relax after dinner.

Food and Drink

Restaurants’ names don’t get much better than being run by the multi-Michelin Star-winning Albert & Michel Roux Jr. Albert Roux. This is the second restaurant for the pair in the UK. The head chef is Mike Matieson who, having worked alongside the family for years, has set the bar very high at the outset with a set taster menu that changes frequently (an A La Carte Menu is also available). The seven-course journey opens with canapés and drinks in the bar and ends with petits fours and coffee in the drawing room.

Bar/Library

I would say that coming to Crossbasket Castle cannot be complete without dinner and drinks in the hotel, it’s an integral part of the hotel’s offering and is such a beautiful experience. I love the fact they have set dinner times with pre-dinner drinks served in the library beforehand, it harks back to a bygone era.

The bar and connecting library open out into the hotels wedding extension which has a bar seating area that looks out to the river at the back of hotel and a great place to start your evenings culinary experience.

Restaurant

Once you have finished your drinks you are taken through to the hotel’s restaurant, gentle harp music fills the lobby and restaurant and is played by a live harpist.

We chose the tasting menu which you can also pair up with matching wines (a must in my opinion!) The menu changes frequently with dishes coming in and out of the menu based on seasonality and availability of ingredients. The menu is a meat eaters domain heavily influenced by fish, game and red meat, but vegetarian options can be created by booking in advance.

We had a table next to the window at the front, we were the first to be seated so the room was quiet but soon filled with the sounds of other guests’ chatter. Service is formal but not stuffy, drinks and wine are brought to your table; with dishes, ingredients and wine notes dutifully explained to you as each course arrives.

 

I LOVE cheese and a cheese trolly is the ultimate indulgence!

The Drawing Room

After 6 courses you will feel full, so somewhere comfortable to relax is essential and the drawing room provides the solution, so move through for a coffee and petit fours. If you are looking for somewhere fun for Afternoon Tea, the drawing room serves Afternoon Tea daily from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Final Thoughts & Prices

I loved, loved, loved Crossbasket Castle, it was everything I was hoping for and more. It’s luxurious, opulent and oh-so romantic! Staff are friendly and attentive and the property has an amazing food and drink experience. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a castle and be treated like a prince!