Scottish heritage hotel Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort is set to undergo a £15m renovation, reopening its doors in Spring 2025. 

Nestled within 240-acres of woodland with views of the River Clyde, Mar Hall was originally designed in 1828 by Sir Robert Smirke, and first opened as a hotel and golf resort in 2004. 

The forthcoming renovation – led by investment and asset management firm, Align Partners – follows the 2024 acquisition of the property by Dubai-based Dutco Group. 

Design studio Graven is behind the overhaul of the hotel’s guestrooms, suites and apartments, as well as all public spaces, including the main entrance and reception, members’ lounge, Long Gallery, bar, restaurant and private events areas. New additions meanwhile are set to include a 24-person private cinema, gaming room and billiards room. 

For the interior design, art curation and bespoke furnishings, Graven is collaborating with Glasgow-based studios Timorous Beasties, Art Pistol and Elegant Clutter. 

“We approached Mar Hall’s renovation with a deep respect for the building’s storied past, while reimagining its spaces to meet the expectations of today’s luxury travellers,” says Lisa King, Design Director, Align Partners. “The transformed Mar Hall blends timeless elegance with a standout contemporary design, allowing guests to experience the hotel’s legacy and surroundings in new, inspiring ways.” 

Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed through the original porte cochère, a unique architectural feature that leads through to a grand new reception. Paying homage to the property’s Victorian heritage, the spaces feature black and white marble floors, a commanding central chandelier and rich accents of brushed bronze and textured velvets. 

Accommodation will include guestrooms, ranging in size from 25m² to 115m². Smaller suites are cosy and inviting, featuring botanical wallpaper, curving contours, soft textures and warm-toned colour palettes, complete with new ensuite bathrooms. 

The Long Gallery will act as a central hub of the hotel, showcasing vistas of the surrounding gardens, with a central bar, inviting sofas and armchairs and walls featuring an eclectic gallery of artwork. Located at the end of the gallery, a newly refurbished restaurant offers an intimate dining experience in a Victorian-inspired setting, while a new private dining room offers an additional touch of theatre. Elsewhere, a newly designed private enclave exclusively for Mar Hall members, the members’ lounge evokes the charm of a traditional manor house library, with bold blue walls and warmly illuminated shelves.  

Finally, housed in the most recently developed wing of the hotel is the spa, which comprises a 20m indoor swimming pool, gym, steam rooms and saunas. 

The property’s expansive grounds are also set to be reimagined by Head Landscaper, Wayne Simon Page, with themed landscaping introduced to compliment the estate’s rich history. 56 acres of ancient woodland and three original fountain pools have been restored, featuring alongside two new maze gardens, a sunken seating and fire-pit area and an al fresco reading room.

The extensive planting of new trees and shrub species meanwhile enhances woodland biodiversity, and new bee gardens and wildlife viewing stations have been established as part of the hotel’s ongoing eco-friendly initiatives.