Radisson Hotel Group is delighted to announce the signing of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Perth, a landmark property that first opened in 1890 as one of the original British railway hotels, like the nearby Gleneagles hotel. Set to open its doors in Q2 2022, the hotel will once again become the crown jewel of Perth, the “Gateway to the Highlands”.
Sitting within landscaped gardens close to the River Tay, the hotel is undergoing an extensive transformation of all guest rooms and public areas to align with the Radisson Blu brand. With 75 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, lobby bar, garden bar, fitness room and treatment rooms, visitors will be well entertained. The hotel is also home to two ballrooms – the largest outside Edinburgh – and five large meeting and conference rooms.
The property is a listed building, featuring beautiful architecture and sweeping staircases. Shortly after its original opening, the then Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII inspected and approved the hotel for a visit by Queen Victoria, who became a frequent guest. She would often split her journeys to Balmoral by visiting the hotel for lunch in her private room, and a ‘royal passage’ was created, linking Perth train station with the property.
The hotel was built as one of the British Transport Hotels due to its proximity to the train station. Radisson Hotel Group will open the doors on another of the original British Transport Hotels later this year with the arrival of Radisson RED Liverpool, originally the North Western Hotel situated adjacent to Lime Street railway station.
David Littlejohn, Head of Planning and Development & Chief Planning Officer, Perth & Kinross Council, said:
“The Station Hotel is one of Perth’s most striking and best loved buildings, and I am delighted that it will become part of the Radisson Blu family of great quality hotels. This announcement could not have come at a better time. Perth city centre continues to undergo a cultural renaissance as work progresses to transform the city hall to become an important museum housing the iconic Stone of Destiny, and drawing visitors from across the UK and internationally to the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.”
Adela Cristea, Vice President, Head of Business Development UK & Ireland, Radisson Hotel Group, said:
“It is an honour to add a property with such historical significance, especially with a royal seal of approval, to our Radisson Blu portfolio in the UK. We are also very pleased to expand our Scotland presence, and Perth is the perfect location for that thanks to its fantastic offering for both business and leisure guests.”
The hotel’s general manager, Asen Panagonov, commented:
“We hope to reinstate the hotel as the crown jewel of Perth city. Following our multi-million investment we are delighted to be bringing much needed upscale hotel quality to Perth, especially under the Radisson Blu brand. It is widely acknowledged that Perth city has no sites to build large, branded hotels. We will fill that gap with our top end offering. Our partnership with Radisson Hotel Group will help to radically improve our offering in the fast-growing Perth corporate and leisure market.”
Perth is a historical city and was the capital of Scotland in the Middle Ages. Known as the “Gateway to the Highlands”, Perth is a popular destination for domestic and international travelers, as well as for Scottish weekend get-aways due to its proximity to Edinburgh and Glasgow. The city is home to historic landmarks, including the medieval church St John’s Kirk and nearby Scone Abbey, where the King of Scots was traditionally crowned. Perth is also an enterprise hub, with numerous international companies choosing the city for its headquarters, including two FTSE 100 Companies, insurance firm Aviva and energy company SSE.
Visitors can enjoy time in the city’s museums, theatres, whisky distilleries, breweries or on one of the numerous golf courses located in and around the two main parks of the city – North Inch and South Inch. South Inch Park is opposite the hotel and less than a five-minute walk away. The surrounding county of Perthshire boasts breathtaking parks and countryside, attracting many visitors in pursuit of outdoor and adventure sports.
The city centre and main shopping area are located only 700m or a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Glasgow and Edinburgh can be accessed via road or train in a little over 1 hour. Edinburgh Airport is a 45-minute drive away, offering international connections, while the regional Dundee Airport is a 20-minute drive away, providing connections to London City Airport.
