Fashion comes into play for those staying in The Glamis Suite at Rocco Forte’s THE BALMORAL in Edinburgh. Suite guests are entertained in their room by Louise Marshall, above. Louise is sometimes called ‘Scotland’s National Piper’ but Girlahead thinks Scotland’s hairdressers and stylists would be appalled by that (her father was official piper at Gretna Green for 44 years).
Girlahead does love the Glamis Suite, however, which comes with a £5,000 Shinola DTT turntable and dozens of vinyls. It’s 44 stairs up from the lobby, so you get a wee bit of exercise before sipping on the VIP welcome, Baile Mhoreil – bally-vo-reel – gin, herb-infused, and the label signed by GM Richard Cooke. After such a cocktail, why bother to go out to dine? The hotel’s Brasserie is great. Don’t miss its superfood salads and its enormous big chips (fries). Also, under no circumstances pass on breakfast. The buffet has three different already-sliced whole smoked salmon, plain, with treacle and with Hendrick’s (Editor, you have mentioned two GINS in this, the homeland of whisky).
For the perfect whisky tasting, head to the Johnnie Walker House, ten minutes’ west along Princes Street. For other really good ideas, head concierge David Musk has dozens of suggestions, including Blair Street Underground Vaults in the Old Town, six minutes from the hotel.
Sometimes you do not have to leave a hotel to find superior experiences. At Belmond’s COPACABANA PALACE, for instance, trend-setter in the community are flocking to the hotel’s newly-restored integral three-tier theare, which holds 332. Currenly playing through 23rd October 2022 is 3 Mulheres Altas, Edward Albee’s celebrated depiction of three women at different stages of life: youth, maturity, and old age. It stars Suely Franco, Deborah Evelyn and Nathalia Dill.
In The Netherlands, THE CONSERVATORIUM, Set Collection, also integrates with the community. Amsterdamers live its stylish shopping arcade, and local members cam=n bring their own personal trainers into the superb Workshop gym. Work with othes should be a universal industry resolce.
Let’s listen, now, to Charles Forte, grandson of his mentor and son of Sir Rocco Forte:
