Imagery courtesy of Virgin Hotels.

Virgin Hotels has given a sneak peek at its upcoming Glasgow development ahead of its opening in December this year.

Virgin Hotels Glasgow is the second site for the brand in the UK and will feature 240 Chambers spanning across 15 floors.

Central dining

Four dining and drinking options include the Commons Club – Virgin Hotels’ flagship restaurant and bar that acts as a modern-day social club; Highyard, for entertaining, co-working and dining; Funny Library Coffee Shop; and the elegant late-night bar, Rocks.

With a prime city centre position, the hotel has panoramic views overlooking the River Clyde to the south, and across to the heart of Glasgow in the north.

Dual rooms

Bright and airy with warm textiles and locally sourced furnishings, the chambers are designed to be a welcoming space to relax, featuring Virgin Hotels’ signature layout with two distinct spaces. The Dressing Room includes a full vanity, closet space big enough for two, makeup desk with a well-lit mirror, an extra-large shower with a built-in bench and toiletries by Arran of Scotland.

A sliding door or drapery separates it from The Lounge, which features Virgin Hotels’ patented ergonomically designed bed with a tufted headboard, a red Smeg mini-fridge stocked with a curated selection of local products, television and outlets for smartphones, laptops, or other devices.

Suite life

Virgin Hotels Glasgow will also offer a selection of curated suites. The signature suite, Sir Richard’s Flat, named after company founder, Richard Branson, features a retro-luxury design with a personal bar and games table and a velvet sofa, creating a sociable space within the suite. In a nod to Virgin’s heritage, guests of Sir Richard’s Flat will find musical references throughout, including unique pieces of record-inspired artwork.

Inspired and named after Branson’s wife, Joan, Lady B’s Flat will feature floor and wall tiling inspired by alabaster. Spread over 69 sq m, the suite provides guests with a light, airy space with exquisite furniture and a large, curved bath. Furthermore, the Moroccan-inspired Kasbah Tamadot Suite features hand-carved heritage wood panels, along with a bathroom decorated with Moroccan-style tiles – inspired by Virgin Limited Edition’s property in Morocco of the same name.

All chambers and suites have integrated tech capabilities which can control lighting, thermostats, TVs, and order room service directly via a mobile app, Lucy. Chambers are also pet friendly, with complimentary ‘pet-menities’ available, including dog beds and food and water dishes.

Local design

The hotel was developed by Silk Property Group, which selected Twenty First Architects to work on the hotel. UK-based design firm Four-By-Two was tapped to curate the hotel interiors in accordance with Virgin Hotels’ localised approach to design. Siggis Capital provided investment for the project.

Virgin Hotels’ CEO James Bermingham said: “We’re thrilled to share our second hotel in the UK in a completely different city, Glasgow. Virgin Hotels Glasgow will feature neighbourhood-driven design and various restaurant and bar offerings. We truly believe the hotel will be the ideal hub for visitors wanting to soak up this vibrant city while enjoying authentic experiences.”

The brand has at least five further developments currently ongoing around the globe, according to the TOPHOTELPROJECTS database. This includes the 250-room Virgin Hotels Center City in Philadelphia, USA; and Virgin Hotels Miami scheduled to launch in Q4 2025.

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