Hotel Colessio in Stirling has now opened. The new venue is part of Steven McLeod’s Aurora Hotel Collection, and Susan Young caught up with him for a tour.
Hotel Colessio on Stirling’s Spittal Street had been open less than a week when I dropped in to see owner Steven McLeod. He admits to feeling a bit stressed, mainly due to a few snagging issues, but equally it is apparent that he is chuffed to bits with his new baby.
But this was one baby that took its time being delivered. Steven explains, “I first bought the building, which was formerly Stirling Royal Infirmary, in 2009, and building work started, but then the recession really hit and the contractor went bust. That left me in limbo with a building Aurora owned, but with no money, nor will, at that point, to get it opened. The banks weren’t particularly helpful, and I decided to shelve it until I felt better about the project. It wasn’t a good scenario, but I couldn’t afford to let it impact too heavily on the rest of my hotel business. So what I did was sell some of my shares in the business, which I had owned, and I brought in a silent business partner, who has been just great. It also means that we don’t have to rely on bank funding as much and that puts us in a much stronger position.”
I’m glad he said that because he then admitted he had spent £10m on Colessio – which includes the purchase and cash lost with the subsequent delay.
You can see where he has spent the money. Above the front door hangs a glass ball chandelier, and as you enter, your feet sink into the deep pile of what is obviously an expensive, bespoke carpet. Unlike many hotels this carpet is continued throughout – even in the bar. There’s not a tile or ‘god forbid’, laminate to be seen! Add to that the luxurious crushed velvet black curtains that drape the door and there is no doubt about it, glamour has arrived in Stirling.
Steven has gone to town on the décor. The black and white palette, which he decided on with interior decorator Corinne Muir of Guardian Interiors a couple of years ago, is bang on trend this year, and he also admits that all the bespoke furniture was bought then too and has been in storage.
However he didn’t just spend money on the furnishings. Says Steven, “We have taken everything out and totally rebuilt it. The whole building is now propped up on steel which has meant we could open up the space downstairs. There used to be a series of small rooms on the ground floor where the bar, foyer and restaurant are situated but it is now a large open-plan space which has a nice flow. We’ve also created 40 bedrooms and a spectacular ballroom.”
The cocktail bar lies to the left as you enter and there is a large statement bar, with LED lighting mirrored wall, and white marble bar top. It is the ideal height for me (and I’m petite), but explains Steven, “I wanted a low bar so that customers could see the theatre of the bottles, and the room reflected in the mirrored wall.”
In fact there are a lot of mirrored areas in the building, all supplied by Glassage. From antique mirrors behind the reception area, to diamond cut mirrors and special mirrors with crystals. Says Steven, “The mirrors are great for people watching.”
The chairs in this area, are substantial and despite the fact that they cost a fortune and look and feel great, it is possible that they will be replaced. Interior designer Corinne, who collaborated with Steven on the entire project explains, “They look great, but we have realised that they may be a bit big for the room. We were full to bursting last weekend and it would have been more comfortable if the chairs had been smaller.”
She continues, “We have used quality fabrics throughout but we have been quite clever with the upholstery on the chairs in the bar and the restaurant. Although we have used top-end luxury fabrics such as Zinc and fabrics from Andrew Martin on the sides and backs of the seating, we have used more practical fabrics on the seats.”
Says Corinne, “We wanted the hotel to feel and look plush but timeless and classic. We wanted people to go ‘ooh and aah’, and I’ve seen them come into the hotel and do just that. Steven had a vision and we have tried to capture it. There is nothing else like Colessio in Scotland.”
The walls in the hotel are covered with flocked wallpaper which is just off-white and no more. It has a shimmery quality to it. Says Steven, “It’s the same wallpaper that we have at the Cairn Lodge, but it’s black there.”
While the bar area is predominantly monochrome, The Grill Room restaurant is black and a soft white. The left hand wall is lined with white booths upholstered with white faux leather and studded with Swarovski crystals. In fact crystals are a real feature of Colessio. Says Steven, “My favourite area is the ballroom and we have studded the glass mirrored wall with the crystals and used them in the tie-backs. Every bedroom has a crystal studded head board. It’s a bit of bling and I do like bling.”
The restaurant also has bespoke tables and chairs – says Steven, “The chairs were expensive, they cost about £1k each.” (and there are at least 20 of them). The back wall of the restaurant also features an extensive diamond mirrored wall and cream and black drapes. The carpet here is striking, bespoke gold and black and matches the pale gold on the back of the chairs.
The ballroom, has also been lavishly decorated. Corinne explains, “We’ve used silk for the curtains and the tie-backs. In fact one guest has suggested that the curtains look like a bridal gown, and that was the effect we were aiming for. There is also a lot of crystal here as well as a couple of large chandeliers.”
The ballroom also boasts its own bar, which has LED lighting, and doors which lead out to a private outside area. Without the dance floor it can seat 250 on rounds. It also has a small stage area.
The artwork here has been created for the room. Says Corinne, “I saw the original artwork at Tambo Design but wanted it to be a different colour for the ballroom, and Tambo created it.” She continues, “I selected all of the artwork from Tambo – for instance I wanted artwork in the bar to be in chrome frames and to represent champagne bubbles, and they found the ideal artwork. In the bedrooms the artwork is bespoke but quite neutral and calming, while in the hallways we have used photography of parts of the building.”
Talking of the bedrooms they too are luxurious, from the throws on the beds to the lamps from Andrew Martin which Corinne tells me are Huxley and Carrington lamps – they have silver coloured bases and black shades, but come in various shapes. Most rooms have desks and couches, with all the cabinet work created by Leven company ‘Design-a-bar’. Says Corinne, “They have been great. They have created all the bespoke cabinet-ware – from the tables in the bar area to the desks in the rooms.”
The bathrooms are all tiled in white with Philippe Starck fittings. Says Steven, “I have a thing about bathrooms, they have to be all tiled.”
There’s no doubt Colessio has been worth waiting for. But for Steven he is not waiting around for another three years to get his next projects off the ground. He tells me, “We are building a 120 room new hotel in the grounds at Glenbervie, luxury apartments, a ballroom and restaurant. We are set to refurbish Airth Castle and build an extension at Solsgirth House.”
But for the time being he is focussing on the finishing touches to Hotel Colessio. “I like my guests to have a perfect experience, and our service needs to be spot on.” He concludes, “This wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise of Corinne, she has worked with me tirelessly, and of course my staff have been great too. I’m crabbit at the moment, but that’s because I want it to be perfect.”
Steven, relax, it is! Just smell the orchids…
Design Focus: Hotel Colessio, Stirling
