Mar Hall – A Grand Revival of Glasgow’s Luxurious Landmark

Located on the outskirts of Glasgow, close to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Mar Hall Hotel has had a storied past and boasts many a celebrity to its guest list. Following its closure last year the resort has been bought by Dubai-based Dutco Group who over the next 18 months will invest in a multi-million-pound renovation and development programme to restore the property above and beyond its former glory…. the plans are spectacular and we cannot wait to see the outcome!

The first phase of the refurbishment is complete with the new spa facilities now open; including a 20-meter swimming pool with saunas, steam rooms, and an Ishga wellness centre in addition to a new state-of-the-art gym. The Luxury Editor recently visited to stay, experience and learn more about what is certainly one of the most exciting periods in Mar Hall’s history. Read on to discover more about this incredible addition to Glasgow’s luxury hotel scene.

A Luxurious 19th Century Mansion Resort

Located within a picturesque 240-acre ancient woodland estate on the outskirts of Glasgow lies Mar Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort, a five-star grand mansion which dates back to 1828 and was designed by Sir Robert Smirke, the architect of the British Museum in London. The resort offers 70 luxurious bedrooms and suites, beautiful communal areas, a new destination restaurant and grounds all, catering to discerning guests seeking lavish accommodation steeped in history.

River Clyde Retreat

Situated on the banks of the River Clyde, this picturesque, wooded setting offers romantic views across the Clyde and Old Kilpatrick Hills. Located just 10 minutes from Glasgow Airport, 30 minutes to Loch Lomond and less than half an hour to the city centre and M8 motorway it’s the ideal location for both a leisure break exploring the West Coast of Scotland as well as a city break enjoying everything Glasgow has to offer.

Mar Hall offers a range of luxurious accommodation options with either estate garden views or views over the River Clyde.

Rooms

Classic Rooms provide a comfortable and stylish stay with elegant furnishings, luxury bedding, and modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi while Deluxe Rooms are spacious and refined, these rooms include additional amenities such as enhanced toiletries, larger beds, and picturesque views of the estate’s gardens or golf course.

Suites

Junior Suites offer separate living areas, luxurious king-sized beds, and expansive bathrooms with both bathtubs and showers, ideal for added comfort and relaxation, while Grand Suites are the epitome of luxury, featuring four-poster beds, separate lounges, standalone bathtubs, and stunning views of the River Clyde and Kilpatrick Hills. They also include premium perks like Nespresso machines and minibars.

Our Grand Suite

I stayed in Room 15 which is a corner suite looking over the River Clyde, a look at the floor plan told me this was one of the biggest suites on the property and I was also informed that this is a favourite with many a celebrity and superstar status guests….all of whom remain nameless!!

Bedroom

Enter the suite into the hall, to the left is the bathroom and to the right is the lounge, in front is the bedroom which is huge. Natural light fills the space thanks to large floor-to-ceiling windows across two sides of the room. A central coffee table and sofas are positioned next to the main windows, while a work desk sits to the right, in the centre a four-posted king-sized bed guarantees a good night’s sleep as you sink into its Egyptian cotton sheets.

Lounge

The lounge can be accessed from both the bedroom and hall and features a console table with a Nespresso machine and kettle, whilst you can kick back and relax on the sofa and watch TV on the huge flatscreen TV.

Bathroom

The suite boasts the most luxurious bathroom, complete with roll top bath, separate walk-in rain shower as well as twin sinks, wonderful views out over the River Clyde and bath amenities by Temple Spa (now one of my favourite bathroom brands, I recently tried it at the Halyyard in Liverpool)

View

From the lounge, there are uninterrupted views out to the Clyde River.

The Cristal Restaurant at Mar Hall

To elevate the culinary offerings now available, Mar Hall in April announced the appointment of Tony Tapia as the new Executive Head Chef and Louise Campbell as the new Head Pastry Chef.

Tony Tapia, who brings extensive experience from working in several 3 AA Rosette restaurants including Crossbasket Castle and with renowned chefs Rick Stein and Michel Roux Jr., joined the team to lead the culinary vision. Known for his creativity, Tony previously spearheaded menu development at Dakota Hotel Group and aims to transform the dining experience at Mar Hall with innovative new menus.

Louise Campbell, originally from Manchester, returns to Mar Hall after working in Scotland for 30 years with notable chefs like Michael Mizzen at Hilton Glasgow. She is excited to elevate the afternoon tea and banqueting offerings at the resort, focusing on seasonal ingredients and meticulous skill.

The Cristal Restaurant at Mar Hall offers a refined dining experience with menus that change seasonally, inspired by international dishes and showcasing the finest Scottish produce. Afternoon Tea in the Grand Hall features an array of delicate pastries, homemade cakes, and scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, complemented by a selection of champagnes and a wide range of teas from around the world.

Lunch

Tasting Menu

During my stay, I enjoyed one of the latest food offerings, the seven-course tasting menu bursting with flavour and packed full of local ingredients, including Crab, Isle of Gigha Halibut and Angus Beef.

Great Hall

To finish the evening off we enjoyed live music with a piano playing in the Great Hall with a nightcap (or two) – make sure you try a cocktail they are delicious!

Bar

The resort’s bar provides a variety of beers, champagnes, cocktails, and premium spirits, including exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies for pre-dinner drinks. A new restaurant at the Clubhouse is also under development as part of the ongoing renovations.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in Cristal, where the room is laid out with buffet options and eggs are cooked to order.

Experiences

Mar Hall has introduced a suite of local experiences which can be booked while staying at the property, during my stay I experienced off-road driving with 4×4 Adventures Scotland.

Guided by experienced and charismatic kilted ‘Adventure Guides,’ both private and corporate groups can enjoy exclusive, door-to-door tours of the remarkable 45,000-acre Luss estate, located between Loch Lomond and Loch Long, in an iconic Land Rover Defender.

Whisky Tasting

I was also lucky enough to experience a truly unique whisky tasting on the top of a mountain overlooking Loch Lomond with Bladnoch Distillery.

Bladnoch Distillery, founded in 1817, is the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery and the southernmost in Scotland, earning it the nickname ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’ The distillery crafts its single malts using British-grown malt and pure water from the nearby River Bladnoch, ensuring authentic flavours through non-chill filtration. Revitalised by Australian businessman David Prior, who bought the distillery in 2015, Bladnoch has seen significant developments. In June 2019, a new state-of-the-art visitor centre was opened, welcoming whisky enthusiasts. That same year, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, joined as Master Distiller.

Bladnoch’s signature spirit, characterised by its grassy, floral notes typical of the Lowlands, is crafted using unique copper stills that produce a lighter spirit. This allows the distillery to prioritise flavour and embrace diversity in its whisky production. Rooted in Galloway, one of the few working Lowlands distilleries, Bladnoch prides itself on its bold Galloway spirit. The Bladnoch Classic Collection includes four core whiskies: Vinaya, Liora, Samsara, and Alinta. These whiskies are natural in colour and non-chill filtered to ensure authentic flavours.

A recent example of Bladnoch’s innovation is the Waterfall Series, a five-year exploration of whisky maturation that highlights the evolution of Bladnoch’s bold Galloway spirit. Released annually since 2020, each edition showcases the distillery’s taste-first approach by demonstrating how the same aged Bladnoch single malt can be further matured to create unique flavour profiles, resulting in a cascade of distinct tastes.

Spa, Gym and Ishga Wellness Centre

As part of the first phase of Mar Hall’s refurbishment, a comprehensive overhaul of the gym and leisure facilities has been completed which is now open to guests. The gym boasts state-of-the-art cardio and functional equipment from leading strength and fitness brand PRIMAL, along with a revamped 20-metre swimming pool, sauna, and steam rooms designed by Curveline Design.

Golf

Significant investments and improvements to the golf course are currently underway, including the addition of new golf buggies and bunker sand.

Final Thoughts

Mar Hall always has been famous, to Glaswegians like myself, as the place to stay when visiting the city and this new chapter in the estate’s history is going to place the hotel firmly on Scotland’s luxury hospitality map. We can’t wait to follow the progress over the next 18 months as the transformation unfolds……….

This property is included in our guide to the best hotels in Glasgow