Barony Castle opens under Mercure brand

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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Following a £400,000 refurbishment programme which has transformed the hotel, Barony Castle will open in late October as the four star Mercure Eddleston Barony Castle Hotel and Spa.Located only 17 miles south of Edinburgh, in 25 acres of gardens and mature woodland, the 78-bed hotel, which features an original 16th century stone altar, is an outstanding venue steeped in history.

The hotel will be managed by Prestige Hotel Management, who invested £400,000 in the hotel earlier this year, adding new bedroom suites and additional leisure facilities. The hotel boasts an indoor swimming pool, mini-gym, spa, sauna, 5-a-side football pitch and rope course.

It is the perfect venue for weddings, including ample room for marquees, has conference facilities and is surrounded by outdoor activities for the more adventure minded – archery, quad biking, laser pigeon shooting, and mountain biking in the beautiful Scottish landscape.

John Shevlin, Operations Director Prestige Hotel Management at Barony Castle, explains: “We have worked hard to refurbish the hotel, keeping its traditional Scottish Baronial features but incorporating a modern, contemporary design and additional facilities. We are really excited about the new look for the hotel. I have previously managed a Mercure hotel in Aberdeen so I know the brand extremely well and we are looking forward to being part of the Mercure network.”

Last month, the hotel was awarded B-listed status by Historic Scotland, a project set up with the charity Mapa Scotland, to restore the great 3D Polish map of Scotland which is a dimensional outdoor 1:10,000 scale model of Scotland, complete with mountains, landscape, flowing rivers, estuaries, coasts and seas. £70,000 is being used to update and bring the map to its former glory.

Jonathan Sheard, Managing Director of Operations, MGallery and Mercure Hotels UK and Ireland, said: “We believe that Mercure Eddleston Barony Castle Hotel and Spa has the quality and ethos to thrive as part of the Mercure brand. All the people involved are passionate about the hotel and the local area. The castle has kept its traditional feel whilst the refurbishment brings it up to date with all the modern facilities guests need. We are very pleased to add this hotel to our fast growing network of midscale hotels.”

Daniel Fountain / 31.10.2012

Editor, Hotel Designs

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