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My First Impression: The Glasgow you’ve never seen
Outsiders might think of Glasgow as a gritty, working-class city. However, a visit to One Devonshire Gardens will rectify this common misconception. The striking Victorian architecture is very much part of the fabric of the city of Glasgow. The hotel occupies a collection of five majestic, tree-lined townhouses. The buildings have been meticulously restored to preserve various charismatic period features.
These period details include the original woodwork, such as sweeping staircases and distinct oak panelling. Intricate historic stained-glass windows add further character to the hotel, while decorative corniced ceilings and cosy fireplaces create a welcoming, homely atmosphere for guests. This sense of history sets the stage for the blend of heritage and artistry found throughout the property.
One Devonshire Gardens: Where history and art combine
The Victorian townhouses were built between 1870 and 1886. They were constructed originally to house wealthy shipping merchants and industrialists. This was at a time when Glasgow was known as the “Second City of the British Empire”; such was the city’s immense wealth from shipbuilding, engineering, and finance.
Shipping magnate and art collector Sir William Burrell famously resided in House 4 during the 1890s. He commissioned several of the stunning stained-glass windows still found on site. The world-renowned The Burrell Collection is located 10 miles away in Pollok Country Park.
In addition to its historical significance, the hotel also features a luxury suite, The Vettriano Suite, which contains original paintings from celebrated contemporary Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. Throughout the building, you will discover limited-edition landscape prints by Scottish artists such as Jim Simpson, reflecting the hotel’s commitment to art as well as heritage.
Rooms: How does a no-number hotel room system work
Hotel du Vin is famous for operating hotels with no room numbers. The boutique hotel’s rooms and suites are uniquely named after winemakers, historic figures, or prominent wine regions. You will find distinguished names such as Peter Lehmann and Willi Opitz. With only 49 stylish rooms and suites, this is about a personalised experience, rather than a mass-market hotel offering. To help you navigate around the property, you can remember which townhouse number you are at and whether you are directly above the hotel reception or their distinguished restaurant.
One Devonshire Gardens Food & Drink: Prime steaks and fine wines to savour
The Hotel du Vin restaurant was only recently awarded 3 Rosettes. It is a refined experience the moment you step into the beautiful settings of the restaurant. You have dark oak-panelled walls, lush draped curtains and a statement chandelier that adds to the ambience of the restaurant. You won’t be surprised to discover Scottish produce plays a prominent part on their menu, whether it is Shetland hand-dived scallops or poached North Sea halibut.
It is also a restaurant for prime steaks and fine wine lovers. All their meats are supplied by Campbells Prime Meat, from their Gold Range. They are dry-aged and locally sourced from Scottish farms. You won’t struggle to find a wine to pair with your steak as they have up to 400 wines in their cellar from the world’s top producers.
One Devonshire Gardens Location: Discovering the fashionable West End of Glasgow
Whilst the hotel isn’t in downtown Glasgow, it is conveniently located 5km from Glasgow Airport. It is only 30 minutes from Loch Lomond, so you can enjoy the convenience of city life but also escape to the picturesque Scottish countryside with relative ease. It is a great base for discovering the leafy West End of Glasgow. This includes Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove Park and the University of Glasgow. The latter is a Gothic masterpiece that is said to have been the inspiration for Hogwarts. The area also includes countless trendy restaurants and bars, frequently offering diverse cuisines you might not discover in other parts of the city.
Visit Highlight: It’s all about the stylish decor
The decor, in particular of the rooms and suites, is what makes staying at this hotel a truly magical experience. You will notice the accommodation has a distinct flora and fauna theme, which is meant to represent the wildlife from nearby botanical gardens. The colourful flower and leaf prints help bring the room to life. You will also find classic wine and Champagne motifs. No two rooms look the same. Some rooms have kept their traditional aesthetics, whilst others have a more contemporary and modern finish.
Final Thoughts: Discover the luxury side of Glasgow
For those who think high-end hotels in Scotland are the sole preserve of Edinburgh, they’ve clearly not visited the West End of Glasgow before. Once they’ve visited One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel du Vin, they will appreciate that Glasgow is a multi-faceted city and can compete with the very best in terms of luxury offerings.
Book your stay at One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel du Vin and experience it for yourself.
Looking for more 5-star hotel content? Why not check out my article reviewing Fairmont Monte Carlo here.
