Gleneagles name to be used for luxury clubs

Perthshire hotel owner plans London and Edinburgh clubs

The Gleneagles name will be used for clubs in London and Edinburgh under new plans from the luxury Perthshire hotel’s owner.

Ennismore, which purchased the iconic hotel and sporting estate in 2015, has applied for planning permission on a listed townhouse in the Mayfair area of London to create a mix of restaurants, bars and lounges.

The firm has also acquired the former Bank of Scotland branch in St Andrews Square in Edinburgh where it is planning a similar development, with the addition of some bedrooms.

A spokeswoman for Ennismore said: “The Gleneagles club in London will comprise of a mix of bars, lounges, restaurants, retail and events spaces that will host a rich programme of events and celebrate the traditions and glamour of country life.

“We’re still in planning stages at present but our ambition is to open the doors late 2019 early 2020.

“Ennismore have acquired the former Bank of Scotland flagship branch in St Andrews Square, an architecturally stunning building in the heart of Edinburgh, with the intent of transforming it into a Gleneagles Club.

“Similar to the Mayfair site the development will comprise of a mix of bars, lounges, restaurants, retail and events spaces. The Edinburgh club will also have a handful of bedrooms.

“We are currently shaping our plans but we intend to bring this building back to life whilst, like Gleneagles, respecting its incredible history and original features. It’s still very early days but we hope to open the doors in 2020.”

The London venture will take place in a Grade 1 listed building on Grafton Street which was designed by Sir Robert Taylor in 1772.

Ennismore, which also owns the small Hoxton chain of boutique hotels, said it intended for the developments to strengthen rather than dilute the Gleneagles brand.

“Ennismore acquired Gleneagles with the aim of re-establishing its place in luxury hospitality,” the spokeswoman added.

“Gleneagles will always be the heart of the brand.

“Rather than diluting it, we see this expansion as strengthening the Gleneagles offering and bringing a taste of the Glorious Playground to London and Edinburgh for the first time.”

Ennismore is thought to have paid around £150 million to Diageo to purchase Gleneagles Hotel and golf resort.

Gleneagles’ most recent full year accounts showed a turnover of £46.7m and a pre-tax profit of £3.7m.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. People could soon be visiting Gleneagles clubs in London and Edinburgh but Ennismore has stated the Perthshire hotel, spa and golf resort will always be the “heart of the brand”.