Kimpton Blythswood Square

Kimpton Blythswood Square, Glasgow: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Kimpton Blythswood Square, Glasgow, stands as a landmark five-star hotel, recognized by Michelin Key, blending Georgian grandeur with contemporary luxury in the heart of Scotland's largest city. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century building that once served as the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the hotel offers an elegant and welcoming retreat celebrated for its superior service and impressive amenities.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Kimpton Blythswood Square is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as superb, exceptional, and a "lovely treat." Review scores often hover around 9.0 out of 10, with particularly high marks for staff, location, cleanliness, and comfort. While some minor criticisms regarding outdated amenities or specific service points exist, the overall sentiment highlights a highly enjoyable and luxurious experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise several aspects of the hotel, making their stays memorable:

• Service & Staff: The staff are frequently described as "exceptional," "friendly," "helpful," and going "out of their way to help." Many guests highlight the "superb customer service" and the genuine Glaswegian charm.
• Location: The hotel boasts an excellent, quiet location on a Georgian garden square, yet is only a 10-15 minute walk from Glasgow's city center, major train stations, and main shopping areas like Buchanan Street.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's interior is described as grand, regal, and classy, featuring a beautiful wrought-iron grand staircase, Doric columns, designer sofas, and contemporary artworks. The ambiance is often noted for its elegant and sophisticated feel.
• Spa at Blythswood Square: The recently refurbished spa is a significant draw, often cited as "amazing" and "tremendous." It offers a unique and relaxing experience with facilities like a Himalayan salt room, crystal steam room, hydrotherapy pool, and Scotland's first snow shower.
• Amenities: Guests appreciate the complimentary "social hour" with free wine in the lobby every evening, free bicycles, and the "Stay Well" wellness program, which offers complimentary in-room tools like foam rollers and sound therapy. Premium rooms also often include a complimentary mini-bar with soft drinks.

3. Room Quality

The hotel offers 113 "light and bright" rooms, including essential, premium, and suite categories, with sizes ranging from 27 to over 45 square meters for suites.

• Comfort: Beds are consistently lauded as "heavenly" and "super comfortable" with high-quality linens, ensuring a restful night's sleep.
• Design & Features: Rooms feature sophisticated grey-themed furniture, marble bathrooms, edgy artwork, and natural light. Many rooms include a proper sofa, a large flat-screen television, a dressing table, and ample bedside sockets. Marble-clad bathrooms typically have an elegant bathtub and a standalone shower, often stocked with quality aromatic toiletries. Some premium rooms also boast top-floor views and a complimentary mini-bar. While generally well-received, some reviews mention rooms appearing "a bit dated" in parts, despite recent refurbishments.

4. Dining Experience

• iasg Restaurant: The in-house restaurant, iasg (Gaelic for fish), specializes in sustainable seafood sourced from Scottish waters. Dishes like Blackened Shetland cod and BBQ monkfish are highly recommended, alongside vegetarian options. The restaurant is praised for its high ceilings, lush sea-green decor, and stunning environment, making it suitable for special occasion dining.
• Breakfast: Breakfast is served in iasg and is a highlight for many guests. It typically includes a hearty self-service buffet with hot and continental options (eggs, cereals, fruits, smoothies) and the choice to order freshly made à la carte dishes. Guests have described it as "fantastic" and "delicious."
• Bar Service: While the restaurant food generally receives positive feedback, some guests have noted that the evening bar service can be "incredibly slow," though the cocktails are decent. The evening menu in the restaurant has also received mixed reviews, with one guest finding fish dishes to have "a lot of oil."

5. Service & Staff

The service at Kimpton Blythswood Square is consistently highlighted as a major strength. Doormen are helpful with luggage and taxis, and reception staff are friendly and efficient during check-in, providing information about hotel facilities. Many guests commend the staff's attentiveness, professionalism, and willingness to cater to guest whims, creating a truly 5-star experience. The "Forgot It? We Got It!" program, offering essentials and even luxury items like handbags to borrow, further exemplifies the hotel's guest-focused approach.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel is ideally situated in Blythswood Square, a quiet area of Georgian buildings, offering a peaceful environment. Despite its tranquility, it is highly accessible, being a 10-15 minute walk from Glasgow's city center, main attractions, and both central train stations. While Glasgow can be hilly, the central location makes exploring convenient.

7. Value & Pricing

Kimpton Blythswood Square is considered a high-end property, and its pricing reflects its five-star status and amenities. Room rates can start from around £150-£190 a night, but can reach £483 for two nights, particularly on weekends. Guests often find the hotel to be "worth the money" for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. Perks like complimentary breakfast (often included with certain bookings or loyalty status), free mini-bar items in premium rooms, and access to the spa and wellness programs add to the perceived value.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Noise: A few guests have experienced significant external noise, particularly from events or traffic, even in garden-view rooms, leading to disrupted sleep.
• Spa Access: Some reviewers have noted limited spa access hours, especially during certain periods.
• Outdated Amenities: Despite refurbishments, a few guests feel certain aspects of the rooms or the hotel facilities could still benefit from updates.
• Slow Bar Service: As mentioned, service at the bar in the evening has been criticized for being slow.
• Breakfast Quality: While generally highly praised, one older review mentioned breakfast as being "far from 5 star quality," though this seems to be an outlier.
• Lost and Found Issues: One guest reported a disappointing experience with a lost item not being found after checkout.

Sources

1. luxurylifestylemag.co.uk
2. kimptonblythswoodsquare.com
3. booking.com
4. booking.com
5. booking.com
6. kayak.com
7. turningleftforless.com
8. express.co.uk
9. thenational.scot
10. kimptonblythswoodsquare.com
11. mirror.co.uk
12. kimptonblythswoodsquare.com
13. verylvke.com
14. reddit.com
15. boardingarea.com