A SCOTTISH hotel has been named the best in the UK by expert reviewers.
Consumer experts Which? send hundreds of undercover inspectors out to rate hotels and guest houses across the UK each year.
And the team have revealed that one Scots hotel has been given their coveted full five star rating – for the first time in seven years.
The Marcliffe, at Pitfodels, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, was hailed by the Which? team as ‘best in its class’ with the team saying the staff were amazing and the hotel was brilliant value for money.
Which? says the five-star rating is reserved for a property they think is truly exceptional.
The team said: “Unlike most other publications, we pay for the hotels we review, and our inspectors always stay anonymously. Between them, the inspectors have more than 50 years of experience reviewing properties.”
The five-star hotel sits on the edge of Aberdeen and is known locally for its traditional style and warm welcome.
The Which? inspector said: “From the moment you climb the sweeping drive of this Victorian manor house on the outskirts of Aberdeen, to the waistcoated staff who swing open the doors and usher you into a reception warmed by a blazing fire, every minute at the Marcliffe feels special.
“There is no bling, no gold wallpaper or cocktail-snapping influencers, not even a hot tub in the small spa. The tartan carpets, high tea in the drawing room and impeccable service feel almost old-fashioned. But it’s this elegance that appeals and keeps minor royals – who can’t fit into nearby Balmoral – coming back.”
The hotel bedrooms were praised for their wonderfully comfy, locally made mattresses while the restaurant was hailed for its tasty fare and great value.
And it’s the price point which helped the Marcliffe gain its five-star rating.
The Which team said: “It’s the value that makes this the best UK hotel we’ve stayed at in the past seven years. To be so completely swept off your feet for less than £200 (including breakfast) makes The Marcliffe remarkable.”
And while the inspector’s experience clearly couldn’t have been any better, the hotel is actually just about to undergo a major, multi-million pound revamp.
Earlier this year, Balmoral Group took ownership of the five-star hotel.
Now The Marcliffe team wants to hear from people across the region on what they’d like to see from the hotel.
As part of a #MyMarcliffe campaign, people in the north-east are being asked to share their personal experiences of the hotel as well as what they’d like to see from the revamp.
Peter Walker, General Manager at The Marcliffe, said: “I know how much The Marcliffe means to those in the community, and we want everyone to be a part of this change.
“I strongly encourage everyone to share their aspirations and hopes for the future with us. We want to ensure the investment reflects what matters most to those who have supported The Marcliffe over the years, and those who we hope will support it in the future.”
