The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen’s only five-star hotel, is set to undergo a multi-million-pound renovation, with the centrepiece being a new dining space in the hotel’s courtyard.
Designed to offer an indoor-outdoor year-round experience, the all-weather venue will feature a central bar, creating a new setting for dining and socialising at the Marcliffe. As part of the work, the hotel will also introduce a new luxury bridal suite as well as upgrade the guest rooms.
Work is scheduled to take place from April to December 2025; however, the hotel will remain open throughout the renovation period.
Sir Jim Milne CBE, Chairman of Balmoral Group, the hotel’s owners, said, “The dome-style dining space will add a completely new dimension to the Marcliffe experience, offering a unique space for Aberdeen, where guests and visitors can dine, celebrate, and experience something truly special.”
The move directly addresses guest feedback from the hotel’s #MyMarcliffe survey in October 2024, which revealed that respondents sought upgraded bedrooms, modernised facilities, and an improved dining area.
At the same time, the move forms part of the hotel’s broader strategy to establish itself as a worldclass hotel that blends Scottish heritage with modern luxury.
Milne added, “Feedback from our survey has been invaluable in helping us prioritise areas for investment. We are committed to cementing Marcliffe’s position as one of Scotland’s leading hospitality destinations. This is part of a long-term strategy of ongoing investment.”
The Marcliffe Hotel has also become the first ever to receive a full five-star rating from the consumer watchdog Which? in the seven years it has sent undercover inspectors on stays across the UK.
After a “truly exceptional stay” making it “best in class,” the Which? inspectors said that it was “the value that makes this the best hotel we’ve stayed at in the past seven years.”
The hotel was praised by inspectors for its high-quality service and staff, as well as being good value for money, with a stay being available to book for less than £200 and meals starting at only £25.
Which? wrote, “From the moment you climb the sweeping drive of this Victorian manor house on the outskirts of Aberdeen, to the waistcoat-clad staff who swing open the doors and usher you into a reception warmed by a blazing fire, every minute at the Marcliffe feels special.
