Harden's says
The all-day restaurant at the the city outpost of the "iconic sporting and country estate" opened in late June 2022.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“You’d have to travel a long way to find another dining room as grand” as this sumptuous cupola-topped venue – the eye-catching old Bank of Scotland above Waverley station – which is now part of the first city hotel spin-off from the storied Perthshire hotel (replete with “beautiful” bedrooms, rooftop bar and members’ club). Some 98 years younger than that grand icon, which celebrated its centenary in 2024, the all-day restaurant, which turns out upscale brasserie fare from sharing dishes to a decadent dessert trolley, failed this year to elicit huge amounts of feedback: brunch, previously a highlight, is now once-monthly only, while the other victuals can seem “good but not exciting”, thus “not up to the elevated surroundings”.
Summary
“A stunning setting in a former banking hall” – the former HQ of the Bank of Scotland, complete with eye-catching cupola – provides a hard-to-beat setting for this year-old spin-off from the world-famous sporting estate: the first-ever extension of the brand (a property with 33 bedrooms). The focus of the (less reviewed) à la carte is on posh brasserie fare – the dedicated brunch menu is the most commented-on feature here (“amazing crab omelette”). Prices could be much worse given the level of grandeur. It’s also tipped for a “good business venue”.
Summary
With 33 bedrooms, the first-ever spin-off from the world famous sporting estate finally opened in June 2022 (it was originally scheduled for 2021) in the former HQ of the Bank of Scotland, complete with an all-day restaurant under the cupola of the former banking hall that’s relatively casual for this grand address. In July 2022, Gaby Soutar of the Scotsman paid it a visit, declaring the food offering as “casual, but with luxurious tweaks. Birthday food”. All seemed generally very satisfactory, although the review stops short of being an out-and-out rave.
Summary
The iconic sporting estate is launching its first ever city spinoff in Autumn 2021, taking over the old Bank of Scotland headquarters in New Town, and offering 33 bedrooms, a private members’ club and an all-day restaurant. This last is located in the former banking hall – from the visuals shared the look will be one of august, traditional beauty but, in a sign of modernism. the food offering is focused more on brunch than it is on afternoon tea, apparently.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Spence at Gleneagles Townhouse?
39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1AF
Restaurant details
39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1AF
Opening hours
| Monday | 7 am‑9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am‑9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Friday | 7 am‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am‑9:30 pm |
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