When you get engaged, a few flash-forwards resonate in your mind: walking down the aisle, downing shots on your hen do and standing in front of a tearful mob in a bridal boutique. Wedding dress shopping is a completely different experience to your usual whizz around town on a Saturday and it deserves to be made a major fuss of.
What starts as a few post-appointment glasses of fizz in town can quickly descend into a day-drinking session, so there’s no better way to kick things off than sitting down for 2017’s favourite mealtime: brunch. If you’re going to browse the rails at one of Glasgow top city centre’s boutiques – like Eleganza Sposa, Anne Priscilla Bridal or The Bridal Courtyard – then the swish surroundings of Hutchesons City Grill will set the tone for a day you’ll have been looking forward to since you slipped the ring on (or longer, if you’re willing to admit it).
The Merchant City venue’s Bubbles and Brunch menu is peppered with classics like eggs benedict and French toast (albeit made from brioche and jazzed up with bacon and Mull cheddar), but the real gems are mouthwatering dishes like truffle portobello florentine or crab toast, poached egg and hollandaise with coriander, lime and shallots.
More of a sweet tooth? You’ll be after the homemade pancakes with caramelised banana and chocolate & maple syrup.
We all know it’s not a proper brunch without something fizzing away next to your plate, so the package comes with prosecco as standard, or an upgrade to champagne. For £50 for two, you’ll get freshly squeezed orange juice, a basket of butter croissants, a brunch dish each and a bottle of prosecco, or Veuve Clicquot for £85.
Hutchesons also runs a series of themed Veuve Clicquot brunches than run a little bit rowdier than the weekly affair, all compered by enigmatic owner James Rusk. We attended the last of the summer events and can confirm it’d make a fantastic hen with plenty of class, at no expense of fun. Previous parties included ‘Summer of Love’ and ‘Acceptable in the 80’s’ – and free-flowing bubbly in the City Grill, before the action heads down to the newly renovated 158 Club Lounge at 4pm for games including Cham-ingo (yup, playing bingo to win champagne). We’re sold.
Brunch is available from 10am-3pm Friday to Sunday (bubbles are available from 11am onwards), and keep an eye out for upcoming Veuve Clicquot brunches on Hutchesons’ website.
