Glasgow, my beloved hometown has fast become one of the art, shopping and business capitals of the UK. The city has seen new hotels popping up everywhere to fill the demand for beds in the city and some of my old favourite hotels have just been getting even better and better.
This month it was the turn of the now iconic Raddison Blu to receive the TLE treatment as we stayed in the hotel for a night on well earned recent shopping trip!
What To Expect
The Raddison Blu hotel is a 250 room and suite hotel designed by Glasgow architects Murray and Dunlop and it’s now famous green copper wing across the entrance has turned the building into an iconic landmark in the city.
Located in one of the most convenient areas of the city if you are arriving by train – a 30 second walk from Central station into the town’s business district and you have arrived. A few minutes to Buchanan street – the shopping and food district, make it ideal for exploring the city on foot and within walking distance of the underground and Central station low level (which takes you to exhibition centre) makes it a great base if you are coming here for a concert too.
Check In and Welcome
I checked in around 5pm, was offered a complementary paper and was off to explore my room and the rest of the hotel in a matter of minutes.
The Room
The hotel has 5 room types, standard, business, junior suite, corner suite and one apartment. My room for the evening was a standard room with an excellent view out into the city.
The room comes with mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, there was no Nespresso boo (I am a coffee snob…) but Nespresso are in the business class rooms. The room is 27sqm, so it is nice and spacious and the floor to ceiling windows let in lots of light. (note not all rooms have a city view – some are built around a central atrium)
Some little finishing touches to the room that I liked were;
Amenities are from This Works and smelt delicious! I liked the Tunnocks caramel wafer you get in the mini bar freebies – you could only really get away with this in Glasgow.
I also love good lighting and a big fan of Italian lighting company Artemide, so pleased to see an Artemide lamp on each side of the bedside table – their lamps are worth every penny!
Some of the sensible stuff I loved was;
The room has an extra long desk, virtually the length of the room – which is great to lay everything out and also have space to setup the laptop on.
Free wifi – you do need a room number and surname, but I only had to login once.
There is a plug on one side of the bed very handy for charging your phone.. if you are in a couple, choose your side carefully 😉
The Rest of the Hotel
The hotel offers a range of amenities. Collage Corner Bar is a cosy little bar which serves amazing cocktails, head up to their mezzanine level and drink into the evening.
For food head to Collage restaurant on the ground floor. Serving Mediterranean and Scottish influenced food, this is also where breakfast is served.
Breakfast
Breakfast is the usual buffet setup – overeating is the name of the game and I completely agree with this approach… I have a big appetite… 🙂 All cooked breakfast combinations are covered, certain items you need to get cooked separately as they don’t have them in the buffet section.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is popular in the city and Grahamston in the atrium (named after the village that once stood where Central station is built) offers a nice afternoon tea package – they also have a huge selection of drinks and bar snacks too and are open late into the night.
The gym is owned by another company – I love using the gym when I am away so checked it out – whilst not up to the standard of the rest of the hotel, it did the job.
The Finances
Rooms start at £169 per night (including breakfast).
Would I Recommend it
The hotel has a very nice finish and is centrally located – I would have no hesitation recommending it to anyone coming to the city for business or fun.
Address: 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8DL
Phone: 0141 204 3333
Web: www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-glasgow
Glasgow, Glasgow City G2 8DL, UK
