More than 30 years since it opened in Scotland's largest city, Hilton Glasgow has undergone a complete renovation bringing upgraded rooms, new facilities and improved dining experiences to the property.
Inspired by the work of one of the city's most revered sons, interiors are influenced by the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
It's also the first UK Hilton outside London to feature the brand's new fitness-focused rooms where guests can enjoy in-room workouts via the installation of various fitness equipment and accessories, and an interactive screen.
New designs also champion sustainability, via the installation of bulk amenities, drinking water fountains and 14 electric vehicle charging bays.
The National checked in for a night in the hotel that has hosted several famous faces over the past three decades, including Nelson Mandela, James Brown and Mike Tyson.
The welcome
Once we navigate the underground parking situation, we ride a small lift up to the hotel where we step out into a grand lobby. Spacious with a lofty ceiling — it feels calming, with comfortable armchairs dotted across the carpet and a friendly reception team behind a spacious desk on the left hand side. Check-in is quick and efficient, and we’re soon headed up to our room near the upper-echelons of this 20-storey property.
The neighbourhood
The towering hotel has been a stalwart in Glasgow since November 1992, and its location has improved as Scotland's biggest city has grown up around it. Housed in what used to be primarily an industrial area, the hotel is within walking distance of several bars, restaurants, pubs and shops, not to mention being just a 10-minute walk to Glasgow Central railway station.
Right underneath a flyover from a busy motorway, it’s not the most picturesque location, but soundproofed rooms eliminate any traffic noise. It’s also a good choice for anyone heading to a concert or event at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and SSE Hydro entertainment arena and is on the right side of the city for access to Glasgow International Airport.
The room
We’re staying in a king room on one of the top floors of the skyscraper hotel and the first thing we notice is the natural daylight spilling in from a huge picture window that leads to fantastic city views extending all the way to the rolling Campsie Fells in the distance.
Interiors are inspired by the Glasgow Style — made famous by Scottish designer and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In keeping with that era — there’s a mix of metal, wood and ceramic materials, geometric shapes and linear elements and a palette featuring blue, teal, pink and gold highlights.
All of the amenities you need for a comfy stay are included with tea and coffee-making facilities, a minibar, large flat-screen TV, USB charging points, fluffy robes and a spacious bathroom that has an inviting high-pressure shower and refillable ZERO% toiletries.
The service
Staff are friendly and helpful, easily answering the questions we have about parking and opening times for the restaurants. And when we arrive towards the tail end of breakfast next morning and mention that some of the buffet options are looking a little slim, it is immediately replenished.
The scene
Attracting a mix of locals and tourists, the former for meals and drinks and the latter seeking out Hilton's renowned hospitality, there’s a mix of business and leisure travellers staying at Hilton Glasgow when we check in, with several guests in town for a sporting conference.
Families are well looked after in rooms that sleep up to four guests plus adjoining options, cribs and high chairs on request and children under five dining free at breakfast time.
It’s not the type of hotel where you’d go to spend days lounging at the pool or enjoying the facilities, instead it’s ideal for sightseeing, attending events or as a base before onward travel.
Unfortunately, the Health & Fitness Club was being renovated when we stayed but it is now open and has a fully-equipped 24-hour gym, a 15-metre swimming pool, sauna and steam room. Spa and beauty treatments are also on offer from PURE Spa & Beauty. Corporate facilities at the hotel include several meeting rooms and one of the largest ballrooms in Glasgow.
The food
A daily buffet breakfast is served in a beautifully designed space on the ground floor where there’re plenty of nooks, crannies and tartan print armchairs to settle into. Guests can opt for the Big Yin — a locally sourced traditional full Scottish breakfast, with the Big Vegin available for non-meat eating guests.
With rows upon rows of candy coloured tea boxes along its walls and pretty botanical-inspired decor, The Tea Lounge by Dilmah is the first of its kind in the UK and serves a delightful daily afternoon tea, with vegan and vegetarian options available.
Whisky Mist is the hotel’s bar and kitchen, located just off the lobby. Open for all-day dining, its popular for lunch and dinner and serves à la carte specialities including regional options such as prime Scottish beef fillets and battered haggis. We start with a warming tomato soup (£7.50) perfect for a winter’s day, followed by coconut panko tiger prawns (£12.50) that come with a tangy Asian coleslaw and soft miso dressing. For mains we try the seared sea bass fillet (£18) served on top of a creamy parsnip purée and a generously-sized Caesar salad topped with grilled halloumi (£18.50). Nothing disappoints.
Highs and lows
Renovated rooms are fresh and modern, and offer travellers a unique vantage over the city. The breakfast buffet is great, with many regional favourites for guests to try, and impressive vegan versions of the same. There's also a water fountain in the lobby where travellers can refill water bottles at as part of the hotel's commitment to slash its environmental footprint.
The low is that charges apply for using the swimming pool, even for in-house guests.
The Insider tip
If heading to the hotel on foot, don’t follow Google maps, which will take you via a dark underpass. Instead, use the beautifully landscaped and well-lit 39 Steps entrance from St Vincent Plaza. For some of the best Glaswegian views, request a room on as high a floor as possible.
The verdict
A stalwart property in Scotland’s biggest city has been brought bang up to date and makes for a comfortable and dependable choice for a few days of sightseeing in Glasgow
The bottom line
Rates start from £113 (Dh504) excluding taxes. Check in from 3pm, and check-out is at noon; www.hilton.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel. It reflects hotel standards during this time, services may change in the future.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
RACE CARD
4.30pm: Maiden Dh80,000 1,400m
5pm: Conditions Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Liwa Oasis Group 3 Dh300,000 1,400m
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Group 2 Dh300,000 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (30-60) Dh80,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Handicap (40-70) Dh80,000 1,600m.
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Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
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Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale
Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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