12/4/2007
Inspection Tour Update: Jonathan back from England and Scotland

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Jonathan Epstein has just returned from a whirlwind inspection tour of properties in Northern Wales, the North of England, and Scotland. Over 1400 miles were traveled and nearly 50 hotels inspected.

Here’s Jonathan’s report:

Scotland

The Celebrated Hotels in Edinburgh look terrific. I had the pleasure of staying at Channings, a lovely hotel in a quiet residential area just minutes from Princes Street. This is actually the former home of Shackleton, one of the world’s great explorers and the top floor rooms pay homage to this adventurer (they also have great bathrooms). I was excited to see how the newly redone rooms looked at The Bonham. This townhouse hotel had always been one of the trendier hotels in the city. The design is definitely more contemporary in style than its sister properties, The Howard and Edinburgh Residence, but they were not over the top at all, very stylish and comfortable, and I would have no problem recommending the hotel to a wider audience than I would have in the past.

Rufflets, a lovely country house in St. Andrews, looked very good, especially the turret rooms, always a treat. People just love those rooms and the gardens. I also stopped off at the Old Course Hotel and will have exciting news about our relationship with The Old Course and Scottish golf in general in the next few weeks so check back.

Ballathie House in Perthshire continues to shine in a region with so much to see and do from exploring Glamis Castle to fishing the world famous river Tay. I had the pleasure of staying the night at Killiecrankie, a small country house that was purchased earlier this year by a dear friend of Celebrated, Henrietta FerguSson. Formerly with Skibo Castle and Bovey Castle, Henrietta is working hard to put her stamp on this small inn. More news to come in regard to Killiecrankie in the next few weeks.

The next day was a challenge as I was on a search for a new hotel in Speyside, the heart of Whisky Country. After inspecting a few hotels, we found a great new partner. More news on that in coming weeks. Before inspecting the hotels in Speyside, I visited Fiona Franks at Darroch Learg, 50% of the lovely husband and wife team that own and run the hotel. This was our first full year working with this lovely property, minutes from Balmoral Castle in Royal Deeside overlooking the intimate town of Ballater. Guests are raving about this small country house. The hotel is so relaxed and warm, nice log fires, delicious food and nice views. It was a lovely break.

I also had the pleasure of visiting Culloden House. This has been an exciting year at this property on the edge of Inverness. They have redone the dining room, drawing room and suites. The refurbishment maintains the traditional style for which the hotel is famous, while the suites have added amenities such as laptops.

Exciting news at Isle of Eriska on the West Coast near Oban as two new Garden Spa Suites are now available. These comfortable options are huge, with their own patios, Jacuzzis, and complete privacy. A few of the main house bedrooms are also being refurbished and there are new chairs and sofas throughout the public areas. It really looked great. Beppo treated me to a lovely lunch of great Scottish seafood.

Airds, a country house minutes away, also was a highlight. One of the newest members of Relais and Chateaux, Airds is known for its fine food and amazing views. In the off season they will continue updating the rooms, a process which began last year.

Friday night, and I was off to Glasgow, one of my favorite cities. Such a great energy and so friendly. Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens was recently awarded the most stylish hotel in Scotland . . . not hard to see why as everything just looked gorgeous. Dinner was outstanding (really good whiskys and wines), but more important the service was simply exceptional. The team at One Devonshire is simply top-notch.

Glenapp Castle and Inverlochy Castle are both better than ever. These castles each have 5 Red Stars and are known for their dining and the plethora of activities to do on the grounds. Glenapp just joined Inverlochy as a winner of a much deserved Michelin Star for their exceptional food. Each hotel sits in distinct and special settings, Inverlochy is bordered by mountains and a loch on Scotland’s popular West Coast, while Glenapp is off the beaten path in Ayrshire with spectacular views to the sea. On my way to Glenapp I ventured through Galloway Forest Park, a majestic place . . . I saw no other cars on the road and had the whole national park to myself, if only I was not in a race to see the next hotel.

North of England

I truly wish more Americans ventured to England’s North Country. Besides the scenery being spectacular from mountains to dales to moors, the small towns are so charming, exactly what Americans are looking for when they visit Europe. The hotels in this area keep improving and are busier than ever.

In Yorkshire, there were a few highlights. We work with four hotels in this area, all completely different and all with unique strengths. The Grange Hotel in York has an exceptional location, a short stroll from the city’s historic walls and attractions. It is also quite a value. Outside of town, lies one of England’s great stately homes, Middlethorpe Hall. It maintains its very traditional style, but there have been nice updates and the gardens looked lovely, even in winter. Devonshire Arms is located in Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire Dales National Park. With a lovely spa, pool, Michelin Star restaurant, and exceptional works of art wherever you turn, this is a great option, especially for people looking to walk or relax. Finally, I was really impressed by Swinton Park, a castle north of York on a massive estate. This resort style hotel has just added a cookery school to its already long list of things to do. When I visited, a group of Americans were there for a pheasant shoot – really enjoying themselves. Swinton Park is central to 3 National Parks (Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales, and The Lake District) as well as the walled city of York . . . a nice base for longer stays.

Our Lake District Celebrated Hotels are also in the midst of exciting changes. I had the pleasure of visiting Linthwiate House on owner Mike Bevans’s birthday, and he and his wife Jean were in great form. The hotel was buzzing with a packed dining room on a Monday night. The food was a delight and my stay very comfortable. I also had the fortune of spending a lot of time with Barney Cunliffe, owner of Gilpin Lodge. This Relais and Chateaux hotel is a wonderful deluxe country house with a Michelin Star and some incredible plans for the future . . . check back for more on that. Ever hear of Wigeon? I had it for lunch at Gilpin Lodge . . . a cross between pigeon and duck I am told. It was delicious. They really have a great passion for food, and the bedrooms were large with many options. Finally, Rothay Manor continues to be a fine way to go for families looking for more moderate accommodation in the Lake District.

On the way into Wales I stopped in Chester and saw another 5 Red Star hotel, Chester Grosvenor, such a smart and sophisticated city hotel in the perfect location for exploring this historic walled city. Chester is just a magical place that is guaranteed to impress.

Wales

Two more stops before returning home. I v