Glasgow experienced a hotel boom before COP26 and the Courtyard by Marriott is one of those newly-built hotels that was constructed just before the famous climate conference in 2021. The hotel is situated next to the SEC, so attracts plenty of business clients, however, with the popularity of Glasgow’s OVO Hydro with world-renowned musicians such as The Killers and Simple Minds performing, the hotel is also popular with leisure guests.
Hotel
The hotel is conveniently located within a five-minute drive from Glasgow Central Station or a 12-minute drive from Glasgow Airport. At first glance, you might think there isn’t much around the hotel apart from meeting spaces and concert venues, however, it is only a short stroll to the trendy Finnieston area, where you will discover hip bars and the hottest restaurants in town.
The reception area has a clean, business-friendly design, unlike the boutique cosiness of their neighbouring sister hotel, Moxy Glasgow SEC. However, it is just as welcoming with open shelving displaying potted plants and aesthetically pleasing artwork. The colour scheme is a mixture of navy blue and grey, which adds a sense of sophistication to the hotel. If you have time to visit both hotels, you’ll notice each Marriott group hotel has its scent, which exudes a sense of homecoming as you go through the revolving doors.
Room
The majority of their 216 rooms are king rooms at 178 with 22 twin rooms and 16 family rooms, and almost all the rooms have iconic views whether you are peering at OVO Hydro or The Finnieston Crane. Much like the reception area, the colour scheme is an upscale mixture of blue and grey and there is an occasional nod to their famous neighbours in the form of a guitar print artwork on the walls.
The rooms range from the entry-level 21sqm to the 29sqm for their family rooms. All the mod cons you will need are present from a Chromecast TV to super fast wireless internet to countless charging points for your numerous modern-day devices. Complimentary bottled water is particularly appreciated, even though the hotel offers a marketplace next to reception that sells snacks and drinks 24 hours. I was also pleased to see Nirvae Botanicals shower gel, shampoo and body lotions in large, refillable bottles, which is better for the environment.
Food and drink
The resident restaurant, Hopscotch is all about offering international fare with a Scottish accent. You won’t be surprised to see the likes of haggis bon bons and locally sourced ribs with a plethora of sauces, from homemade smoky barbecue sauce to honey and soy. Vegetarians are also catered for, as they can savour corn ribs and hoisin-glazed vegetable spring rolls.
If you are enjoying an aperitif beforehand, do check out Glaswegin. This local gin created in 2018 is bottled and distilled within walking distance to the hotel. Their botanicals include using local milk thistle, which makes for a splendid gin and tonic concoction, and their popularity has grown considerably in recent years, including the introduction of flavoured gins such as raspberry and rhubarb.
To do
A short walk from the hotel is one of the most famous Indian restaurants in Glasgow, Mother India. The retro-colonial style décor makes the restaurant stand out amongst a crowded market. However, it is their food that has been drawing in the crowds. The marriage of sourcing top-quality ingredients with traditional home cooking means they’ve only gone from strength to strength and they now have four other venues. Don’t be surprised to find ultra-fresh local seafood like monkfish and king prawns served in their curry dishes.
Close by is the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The stunning architecture rivals the best of the museums in London, including a show-piece organ, that is played at 1pm daily. You do have your Rembrandts and Dalis but the local artists are what you should be looking out for, in particular works from the Glasgow Boys.
Other Glaswegian institutions to visit include the university café for their Italian homemade ice cream served as an ‘oyster’. The Willow Tea Rooms for afternoon tea is a must and links back neatly with the Glasgow Boys, as the room is filled with designer pieces courtesy of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Finally, if you want to understand the Glaswegian psyche, you really should take a Tennent’s brewery tour, after all, it is the second most popular drink in Scotland after Irn-Bru.
Getting there
For those who prefer trains to flying, especially for environmental reasons, you can consider travelling from London to Glasgow via the Caledonian Sleeper. This overnight train transports guests every night apart from Saturdays to most of Scotland’s biggest cities and some rural destinations.
Their clubroom includes a private en-suite with shower and the bedding uses Glencraft mattresses along with plush bedding. They even provide earplugs and eye masks to guarantee an undisturbed night’s sleep. Their Club Car serves up hearty Scottish fare including the likes of haggis and tatties. They’ve recently opened a guest lounge in Euston to make sure your journey starts the right way.
In a nutshell
Glasgow isn’t often spoken of as a great weekend staycation option, but with hotels like Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow SEC and the plethora of activities on offer in the city, this is one option you should be considering.
Factbox
Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow SEC offers rooms from £109 per night.
Address: 16 Stobcross Rd, Glasgow G3 8GS
Phone: +44 141-4738748
Website: marriott.com
