The Marcliffe, Aberdeen's only AA 5-star hotel, has made a substantial investment in new facilities while the city awaits Prime Minister Andy Burnham's decision on the Jackdaw gas field. The hotel opened a £5.5 million glass-domed Skylark Brasserie and completed a £1.1 million refurbishment of 13 luxury bedrooms, each named after a regional castle.
City on Standby Over Jackdaw Decision
Aberdeen is in a state of anxious anticipation as Burnham weighs up whether to sanction new North Sea drilling. Donald Trump, whose second golf course in Aberdeenshire opened last year, has joined the speculation, declaring on Truth Social that the city's residents are “dancing in the streets” at the prospect of a drilling revival.
For Scotland's third-largest city, the stakes are considerable: thousands of energy jobs, future investment and the fortunes of businesses far beyond the oil industry, including its hotels and restaurants. The Marcliffe's owners have made a substantial bet on the prospect of a new boom.
A Stay at the Marcliffe
Jason Cranwell stayed in the spacious Fyvie Suite, which featured a glittering chandelier, a vanity desk and an oversized tartan headboard. The room overlooked the hotel's narrow south lawn stretching towards a wooden pergola where weddings take place.
The visit began with an afternoon tea of Marie Rose prawns and John Ross Jr smoked salmon, followed by scones with homemade raspberry jam and clotted cream. A 30-minute massage in the hotel's spa eased tension from the author's back, neck and shoulders.
A cocktail masterclass with head barman Ross Cunningham included mixing a fruity Feathered Fizz, made with vodka, Passoa, pineapple juice and prosecco, and a Jungle Bird, combining rum, Campari, pineapple and lime. The showstopper was the Orkney Ember, served beneath a theatrical swirl of smoke.
Exploring Aberdeenshire
Dinner at the Skylark Brasserie featured the crying tiger main course, with slender cuts of beef marinated in honey, ginger and soy. The next day brought a visit to Crathes Castle near Banchory, where tour guide Tane led the group through low-ceilinged chambers and up five floors of winding staircases. The author noted that Margaret Arbuthnott, a former co-owner of the 16th-century castle, had 21 children in 23 years, yet no picture of her is on display, while her husband's portrait gets prominent wall space.
A further hour west with Luxe Scot led to the Royal Lochnagar Distillery in Royal Deeside, a mile from Balmoral Castle. Guide Moira revealed that whisky was another industry facing uncertainty, with demand slowing enough for the distillery to pause production for several weeks. The smallest of Diageo's 30 distilleries, Royal Lochnagar sends 90% of its output into Johnnie Walker Blue Label, and its records are kept with pencil and paper rather than on a computer.
A Fine-Dining Finale
The stay concluded with a tasting menu at Falls by Orry Shand restaurant in Banchory, opened in July. The meal included scallops pairing smoky char with curried spice, crab with delicate tanginess, and lamb beneath a rich, peppery sauce poured at the table. There is no advance menu, and Orry Shand himself brought out most of the courses with a brief introduction.
Superior Rooms at the Marcliffe start from £219 per night.
