AN ICONIC Glasgow hotel has undergone a £200,000 facelift.

 

Celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, George Clooney and Gwyneth Paltrow have stayed at trendy One Devonshire Gardens.

The hotel, set in a grand Victorian Terrace in the city's fashionable West End, has been redecorated in Farrow & Ball and Glasgow-based Curious Design paints and wallpaper.

"The interior design is in tune with the gorgeous period features, while also being contemporary, welcoming and comfortable," said Arlene Mitchell, Sales and Events Manager for Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, owned by American hotel group KSL.

The 49 bedrooms and suites, named after whiskies, champagnes and fine wines, with their Victorian fireplaces, cornices, roll-top baths, plasma TVs and drench showers remain untouched.

But the public rooms, including the lounge, the whisky bar and bistro, have been redecorated in tasteful neutrals and the lighting and soft-furnishings updated.

One Devonshire Gardens became the choice for celebrities after Glasgow hotelier Ken McCulloch opened the UK's first boutique hotel in 1986. It has since expanded to occupy five B-listed town houses, including the former home of art collector Sir William Burrell.

The shipping magnate's house, Number Four, had been turned into student bedsits and was fire-damaged when the hotel bought it in 2006 and restored it, including Burrell's specially commissioned stained glass windows.

Stars such as Robbie Williams, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Jon Bon Jovi have all enjoyed stays in the luxurious hotel, which also has a cigar bar and hut located in a heated outdoor courtyard. And a duplex suite is named for artist Jack Vettriano after he hosted an exhibition of his work at the hotel.

"Celebrities adore One Devonshire Gardens because it's more like a beautiful home than a hotel," added Mitchell. "Since The Hydro opened we've seen an increase in business, which has benefited us and the whole of the West End. We recently had Madness and The Osbournes to stay.

"But we are not just here for celebrities and extend a warm welcome to all visitors who want to pop in for a dram or a cocktail, or stay for afternoon tea, a bar snack or dinner. And One Devonshire Gardens is a wonderful, unique venue for weddings."

The hotel was acquired in 2006 by the Hotel du Vin chain, which also operates Malmaison hotels. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay ran the hotel's restaurant, Amaryllis, until 2004.

Other high-flying head chefs at the hotel over the years include Andrew Fairlie, Scotland's only two-star Michelin chef, now at Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles Hotel, Paul Tamburrini, now executive chef at Martin Wishart's The Honours in Edinburgh, Michelin-starred Darin Campbell, now at tennis star Andy Murray's Cromlix Hotel in Perthshire, and Jim Kerr, now general manager of Glasgow restaurant Gamba.