Intro

This big hotel is one of the west of Scotland’s most successful conference venues (it not only has a myriad of suite options but an auditorium), but there’s more to it than that. The staff are a real strong point: the hotel recently won a Highly Commended place in the Best Career Progression category at the well-regarded Springboard Awards for Excellence ceremony in London. Get the people right, and the rest will follow.

At the outset we must also mention the impressive cuisine from motivated chefs, and the spa - driven forward by a lady with fabulous energy. The hotel is in Clydebank, one of the world’s most famous shipbuilding centres. The QE2 slipped the chains of the yard here in 1966 and, despite the shiny new Queen Mary 2, the QE2 is still the real queen, is she not?

The hotel

The Beardmore sits on the bank of the River Clyde, which at this point in its meanderings is slow and wide. The outlook for half the bedrooms and much of the public areas is across the river to farmland and pasture – not a crane in sight. There is a walkway and a grassed area to the river side where in good weather guests sit and enjoy the peace. The route to the hotel takes in some industrial areas, to be sure, and some post industrial areas, but the hotel sits in a quiet and spaciously landscaped big area.

Built by Arab money about 10 years ago as part of a major project, the hotel is now in fact owned by the Scottish Government. The grand entrance canopy, flags and water feature hint at this wealth and the foyer is American in its feel and layout – polished floors and lots of space. Is it conveniently located?

Well, left for Loch Lomond, right for Glasgow: that’s pretty well the fortunate situation of the hotel summed up. We drove from the city centre to the Beardmore in less than 20 minutes. The same amount of time would have you light years away from the industry of the city and looking at Ben Lomond and the hills surrounding Loch Lomond. Glasgow International Airport is a 15-minute drive up and over the Erskine Bridge, and the huge new Braehead Shopping Mall is even closer.

The scenery immediately to the north of the hotel is beautiful and famous. The hotel is to the west of Glasgow so is especially handy for the University, West End, Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery & Museum and Hunterian Art Gallery (with its Mackintosh and Whistler connections). There is free car parking for up to 400 cars.

Bedrooms

The hotel has 168 bedrooms, and they come in different types. Corridors are bright and fresh – recently done up with attractive plush carpeting in pale greys and maroon. Step out of the lift and you’ll be impressed. There are 6 Suites, 10 Executive Bedrooms, 19 King Bedrooms, 110 Queen Bedrooms and 23 Twin Bedrooms.

Our room was spacious and decorated in light colours with light wood furnishings. It had a big sofa and an excellent writing desk, with good lighting throughout. All rooms have a radio, hairdryer, colour TV, direct dial telephone, mini-bar (filled on request), tea / coffee tray and 24-hour room service. Executive grade rooms also have CD players, second telephone lines (suitable for the laptop), trouser press, free newspaper, bathrobe and slipperettes.

Suites are also available, cleverly designed to allow a large sitting room to interconnect with up to 3 bedrooms. Décor is pleasant, light and in good order. Housekeeping standards are obviously high. The bathroom was well lit, unusually practical and enjoyable because of that, well heated, offering toiletries and plenty of white towels.

Dining

The former Citrus Restaurant was relatively recently renamed and re-launched as Arcoona, and we've yet to review the food - so, more soon on this, the fine dining option. Arcoona is open Tuesday to Saturday inclusive from 7.00pm until 9.30pm. The splendidly-named Agamemnon Room is available as a private dining room adjacent to Arcoona, seating a maximum of 18 people.

The contemporary, informal B-Bar Café puts together witty, enthusiastic choices offering 'rustic, wholesome, honest Scottish dishes' using smaller suppliers of products from Scotland’s natural larder.

Terrific stuff, too: Inverloch Goats Cheese an’ Tattie Pie; Warm Ayrshire Ham Hock and Storonoway Black Pudding Terrine; or Pan Fried Pheasant Breast, for starters. Followed by main courses including: Arbroath Smokies; ‘Glesgae’ Stovies; Skirlie Potatoes; Highland Gamekeepers Pie; Barley Stew; and Gillies basket selection of Fish and Shellfish. Desserts have not been left out: Hot Marmalade Pudding with Glayva Custard; Caithness Honey an’ Whisky Cheesecake; or Scotch Pancakes and Bramble Compote. ‘Wee Yin’ portions are free on selected dishes from the new menu for children under 8 years old. Regulars on the menu include Grills, Sandwiches and Vegetarian options, along with a dedicated Children’s Menu.

Chef said, “Food fashions come and go and I believe diners have been missing out on enjoying good Scottish based recipes. We are also conscious that guests enjoy experiencing a range of dining styles and themes and our new fine dining menu for Arcoona and ‘Dine with Wine’ evenings have been created with this in mind. For our conference guests, the new menus give them choice in dining style with dishes that use excellent quality fresh ingredients that are used creatively and cooked well. No longer can they predict the standard fayre on offer when they are away from home.”

Well done, we say, and congrats to the team for making it into the Good Food Guide, for not many big hotels manage that trick.

Leisure / Spa

The hotel has a good Fitness Centre with all the latest cardiovascular and resistant equipment. Enough to scare the pants off your reviewer, so we had a good explore. The 15-meter pool is augmented by a sauna and steam room, plus a whirlpool tub. The Beardmore Spa is notable in many ways. With a clear and bold emphasis on health, wellbeing and relaxation (rather than superficial beauty) the spa offers a truly holistic approach. Health, peace, pleasure, life affirming, giving: these words spring to mind.

We had a one-hour treatment which involved the use of the Italian-made Comfort Zone products selected by the spa (non testado sur animalli, et cetera). A back treatment employed fruity peel exfoliation and revitalising mud – algae based with essential oils such as lavender and mint providing wonderful sensations and sensual pleasures. Holistic touch oil with grapefruit and lemon essential oils was combined with gentle massage on the legs, using the smooth and deep benefit of hot rocks. Wonderful.

The atmosphere that has been created by renowned spa expert Rita Sharkey is incredibly relaxing and entirely free of attitude. The kindest of staff, all properly trained and qualified, offer a huge range of treatments, suitable for men and women equally. If you get a chance, do have a chat with Rita. It is a privilege to meet her.

Links

We hope that you find these local links helpful:

Glasgow: Scotland with style™

DestinationScotland.com: Glasgow

Glasgow Science Centre one of the newer city attractions

University of Glasgow official site

The Willow Tearooms Charles Rennie Mackintosh / links

Loch Lomond Shores a major attraction about 20 mins from hotel

Receptions / Events

The hotel is popular for weddings and, of course, is awarded for conference and business use. In 2005 new audio visual technology and equipment brings greater flexibility for presentations in the hotel’s 170 seater tiered auditorium.

In particular, new wireless technology allows conference speakers to control the front projection screen, colour camera and digital audio system from anywhere in the room. Similarly, the addition of a 42” plasma screen within the auditorium foyer provides continuity for delegates while they are out of the main room.

The adjacent Waverley Suite also has an independent audio visual system including front projection screen and full sound facilities. This system can link in to the main auditorium when additional capacity is required. The hotel offers a unique conference venue with a 170 seater tiered auditorium, conference and break-out rooms, specially designed training rooms, teambuilding packages, bedrooms with PC and printer, fax and modem facilities and a business suite.

The Reviewer’s View Gary McLean

“This hotel appeals to many, and for many different reasons. It isn’t in a first-choice holiday location itself but is perfectly placed for access to all the best bits of the west of Scotland. You get big hotel advantages, combined with truly friendly service, unusually good food, and a well-priced spa that we defy you to leave without feeling not only deeply relaxed but highly impressed. For businesspeople and conference managers this combination of plus points makes this hotel a great success. We know that manager Eileen Newman, her chefs and team have plans to further develop this big hotel. We will keep you up to date with news for 2007.”

Note This hotel was awarded a listing by HotelReview™ | Scotland and has been fully reviewed by the Guide; this includes a full overnight stay followed up by quarterly quality control checks and ongoing feedback from readers. As a reviewed hotel, its Look & Book Box™ features are ONLINE and any awards made by the Guide are published above. The star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board, VisitScotland.

Your opinion? There’s a link to a Reader’s Review form at the top and left side of this page. It only takes a moment to send the Guide your views via the small panel that will pop-up. You can be as brief or as fulsome as you wish! Your views go to the Editor, who will acknowledge your response within a few days. He may edit feedback. Reports do not go directly online. You can be named or remain anonymous. At Scotland’s most-read hotel guide we greatly value the tremendous feedback we have from our readers. Thanks!

Disability Information: This new hotel is fully wheelchair-friendly and has several adapted bedrooms. Few hotels are this well set up for the disabled guest. Access is good and staff are helpful.

Ghàidhlig Bidh Ghàidhlig ri fhaighinn an seo a dh’aithghearr! Tapa leibh.

GDS: Sabre BW20789; Galileo BW95045; AmadeusBW GLA460; WordspanBW 83640

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