Hotel review: Voco Grand Central, Glasgow, Scotland - historic railway hotel celebrates city's illustrious industrial heritage

Located at the main train station, the hotel is within easy walking distance of everywhere in central Glasgow.Credit: Simon Callaghan

CHECK-IN

Arriving by train from London Euston directly into Glasgow Central Station, it's a short walk across the concourse of the heritage-listed building directly into the wood-panelled lobby of the eponymous hotel. Here you'll find a small round brass plaque stating that "Britain's first long distance television pictures were transmitted to a room in this hotel from London by John Logie Bird on May 24th 1927". The station itself opened in 1879 and was later expanded and covered by the present roof of 48,000 panes of glass with the hotel following four years later. It was most recently refurbished by the InterContinental group and rebadged as a Voco hotel in 2021.

THE LOOK

With entrances to both the street and the station concourse, evidence of the hotel's railway heritage is ubiquitous, reflected in long, wide corridors punctuated by archways that, while softened by panelling and carpet, still appear utilitarian. The corridor central ceiling panel looks like it should house railway overhead cables – and that's close to the truth as it's the solution to running modern wiring to 230 guest rooms through a heritage-listed building with thick stone walls. On the softer side, the wide wooden main staircase surrounds an extravagant 22.5 metre coloured glass chandelier that hangs five storeys from the top floor to the lobby.

THE ROOM

The first impression of our double bed premium room is one of space with a high ceiling and floor space enough to open suitcases yet still have lots of room to walk around. From the modern art above the bed to the pastel cushions and carpet and sheer drapes the recent renovation is obvious. In a distinct nod to the predominant Scottish climate there's tea and coffee making facilities but no refrigerator, however the air-conditioning is effective. The bedroom and bathroom are spotless. The three essentials of modern travel are well catered for: the free Wi-FI is rapid, the bed is comfortable and the hot water flow never falters.

FOOD + DRINK

The upstairs Champagne Central Bar and adjoining Champagne Corner are noteworthy. They have accents of Art Deco and boast bow-fronted windows looking out over the station concourse below. From the inlaid marble floor, wood panelling and central cupola the bar is beautiful – and popular with both guests and rail travellers. It serves much of Glasgow's champagne consumption and eclectic bar food (Korean chicken skewers, lamb koftas or, if you're brave, black pudding and haggis bonbons). The downstairs restaurant where breakfast only is served offers hearty helpings, good preparation for a big day in town or roaming Scotland's lochs and moors. To see how far Scottish cuisine has come, make a booking at the Michelin-plated Gannet restaurant in Finnieston that was recently rated among the top 10 UK fine dining restaurants in the UK. The dishes include excellent locally-farmed Sydney rock oysters and note indicating that "game products may contain traces of shot".

OUT + ABOUT

The hotel is within easy walking distance of everywhere in central Glasgow, including Princes Square and the Buchanan Street shopping area. Prime attractions include the imposing and many faceted Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the ornate Glasgow City Chambers that claims to have more marble than the Vatican, and Macintosh at the Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street that has been restored as a tribute to Art Nouveau and the architect who designed the rooms. Glasgow Central Tours offers 90 minute tours of the station several times each day.

THE VERDICT

With comfort and cordiality, VOCO Grand Central offers a rare chance to stay in a cornerstone of Glasgow's illustrious industrial heritage.

ESSENTIALS

Rooms from about $172 per night; 99 Gordon St, Glasgow, Scotland. Ph: [phone] See grandcentral.vocohotels.com

OUR SCORE OUT OF FIVE

★★★★

HIGHLIGHT

The pretty Champagne Bar positoned over the ticket office.

LOWLIGHT

The breakfast haggis and the limited drop-off parking.

David McGonigal stayed at the VOCO Grand Central as a guest of the hotel.