A famed London hotel brand just opened its first property in Scotland
Red Carnation Hotels is making a splash in Scotland.
The popular, luxe British hotel group officially opened its first hotel in Scotland this week at 100 Princes Street in Edinburgh. The boutique hotel features 30 rooms and suites in a townhouse-style enclave facing Edinburgh Castle. Tartan-lined walls, incredible views and a private members club vibe await those who book a stay here looking for a heavy lean into Scottish culture and aesthetics.
"It's a niche market [with] 30 keys, but I think anyone would struggle, certainly in Edinburgh and probably anywhere in the world, to get this level of comfort and detail," said Red Carnation Hotels CEO Jonathan Raggett in an interview with TPG.
Red Carnation has a hefty portfolio of London hotels in popular areas like Kensington, Mayfair and Westminster, but the brand is particularly popular with American travelers heading to Europe, especially those looking for a country retreat at the sprawling Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford Castle hotels in Ireland. Red Carnation also has several hotels in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Africa and Botswana.
100 Princes Street in Edinburgh joins a growing roster of new hotels in the Scottish capital, which has seen new arrivals from brands like Marriott's W Edinburgh and Virgin Hotels in the last few years. Gleneagles Townhouse, an urban offshoot of Ennismore's ultra-luxury Gleneagles golf resort, opened just blocks away from 100 Princes Street in 2022 and is likely to be the newer hotel's biggest direct competitor on the vibe front alongside Rocco Forte Hotels' iconic Balmoral.
But there's plenty of room in the Edinburgh ultra-luxury hotel sandbox for everyone, Raggett indicated. 100 Princes Street has the advantage of being a smaller property, so hotel staff can offer more individualized service and attention to guests.
"Edinburgh is a city where you can get just about everything," Raggett said. "I want to make sure we give it to you."
Rates at 100 Princes Street start at 450 British pounds (about $565) per night for an en-suite double room, which includes a Scottish breakfast for two. That's about on par with starting rates at The Balmoral.
It's all in the details
Within the ornate stone facade of 100 Princes Street is The Wallace, the hotel's chic restaurant, bar and lounge that's perfect for kicking back with a glass of scotch at the end of the day or for afternoon tea between errands in Auld Reekie. The black-and-bronze-accented Ghillie's Pantry is a more intimate, elegant private dining room for those wanting to have a gathering with close friends and family ... or, at least, the close friends and family members you don't mind sharing a rare bottle of Glenlivet with.
The design team, who also oversaw the decor at Ashford Castle as well as Red Carnation's Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana, emphasizes the importance of details at 100 Princes Street. That means keep your eyes peeled for things like an astrological ceiling mural at Ghillie's Pantry and a hand-painted mural paying homage to Scottish exploration running the expanse of the hotel's five-story staircase.
Local artisans were behind the custom furnishings, fabrics and art throughout the hotel, including five tartans by Scottish designer Araminta Campbell. The artistic nod to exploration celebrates the fact that the building once housed the headquarters of the Royal Over-Seas League, a nonprofit exploration and diplomatic organization.
"We very much got on the side of the fact that it was a hotel where explorers used to stay," Raggett said.
Who is staying at 100 Princes Street?
We've been keeping an eye on the Edinburgh hotel scene amid all the new entrants to the city over the last few years. But the city has also stood out for remaining the European city with the highest advanced hotel occupancy for any dates on Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" stops this upcoming summer.
Should we take that as a sign that there aren't enough hotel rooms in the city? Maybe don't go that far, but Raggett said there is room for another player like 100 Princes Street in the ultra-luxury space.
The Balmoral, also on Princes Street, might be the dominant force here, thanks to its imposing architecture and grip on pop culture. (J.K. Rowling finished writing the "Harry Potter" series of books in a suite at the hotel.)
But who's to say the next great author won't decide to go a few blocks west and finish writing their opus at 100 Princes Street, instead?
Related reading:
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- Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
Thereās a lot to love about the Amex Gold. Itās a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If youāre hitting the skies soon, youāll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkinā credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, thereās no reason that foodies shouldnāt add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership RewardsĀ® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if youāre approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount ā all with no credit score impact. If youāre approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership RewardsĀ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. Thatās up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.