TTKS visits: Brisbane House Hotel, a luxury seaside escape

I know I'm not alone in enjoying a trip out of the city to relax by the seaside. But while that famous old song about the joys of a day at the beach doesn’t exactly conjure up images of luxury, Brisbane House, a very swish hotel on the Clyde coast, certainly does.

Part of the Manorview group of hotels which have a great reputation for stylish weddings across Scotland, Brisbane House has been thoroughly refurbished in recent months and is now open for celebrations.

I was invited along to see it for myself and to check out the stunning new Caledonian Suite. That’s the hotel’s honeymoon suite, and it is truly fabulous. I’d taken my partner, Isaac, with me and the two of us felt like total celebrities when we walked through the door.

Before we could indulge ourselves completely, though, we had a full tour of this exclusive-use venue to look forward to, and I couldn’t wait to see all it had to offer.

If you’re marrying at Brisbane House, your wedding morning starts in the Wallace Suite. This is the hotel’s custom-built ‘getting ready’ space, and is kitted out with everything you and your bridal party could possibly need to get prepped for the big day.

There are dressing tables, loads of mirrors, great lighting and plenty of space for everyone. Oh, and there’s a huge bathroom, a cosy couch and a bar. Getting ready here, I reckon, must be a lot of fun.

Ceremonies and receptions are held in the spacious Brisbane Suite. The standout feature is a wall of glass looking out to sea that has doors leading out to the terrace – a sublime backdrop as you say ‘I do’. There’s plenty of room for tables and dancing once the suite has been transformed for the evening. With a dedicated dancefloor, a disco ball and a bar all in the one room, it’s a great set-up for a night of celebrating.

Just across the lobby is the Cochrane Suite, which has its own bar and plenty of seating. This is where your guests will mingle while the Brisbane Suite is being transformed from ceremony to reception; it’s another space that’s exclusively yours for the duration. 

As well as the photogenic interiors, you’ll get fab pictures outside too. The hotel is just a stone’s throw from the beach, and there’s a palm-tree-lined walkway leading down to the water. Your photographer will love the beach and the colourful ice-cream shops and funfair rides along the front – there’s so much scope for quirky snaps.

Our visit was in mid-March, so it was no surprise that the weather gave us a taste of every season. But although the wind and rain made themselves known throughout our trip, the sun did manage to fight its way through the clouds, transforming the views from scenic to genuinely breathtaking.

After our grand tour of the hotel, Isaac and I made our way back to the Caledonian Suite. What an incredible place. Four regular bedrooms were knocked together to make it – it’s definitely the biggest hotel room I’ve ever been in. It spans two floors – with a spiral staircase! – and has everything you could possibly need for a relaxing night in. No detail was spared in the design and furnishings to give a welcoming and lavish feel. The bed is a super-king with a built-in TV and the bathroom facilities include a shower/steam room and large spa bath in the middle of the room, positioned with a view of the sea on one side and a TV set into the wall on the other.

One of the very best things about the suite, though, is its private balcony. You couldn’t ask for a more serene evening than watching the sun set over the water as the waves lap the shore – which is exactly what we did. With two loungers perfectly positioned on the spacious enclosed balcony (which has overhead heaters), it felt the perfect place to unwind.

Did I mention you also have your own little bar, stocked with snacks and drinks, including a couple of complimentary cocktails? To round off the day, we picked some favourites from the sweetie selection, poured ourselves a passionfruit martini and clinked our glasses as we settled in to watch a film.

Breakfast in the Cochrane Suite the next morning set us up for the day ahead. You can take your pick from tasty pastries, cereals, the full Scottish and eggs every which way.

So, other than amazing spaces in which to celebrate, what can you expect from a Brisbane House wedding? Well, the team will roll out the red carpet, literally. They’ll take away some of the stress of planning, too, looking after many of the little details such as the cake stand, menus and table plans as well as the catering and accommodation. All that’s left to do is choose your outfits, invite the guests and start getting excited for your big day.