Gleneagles unveils £5m new leisure club
The Scottish hotel, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, spent 12 months refurbishing The Club as part of its ongoing development work ahead of the Ryder Cup 2014.
The former lap pool has been transformed into an adults-only pool and relaxation area, with mood lighting, heated loungers, a sauna and steam room and a jacuzzi-style tub.
The family-friendly leisure pool has been re-modelled with a waterfall feature and bubble pool, while the old outdoor pool has been replaced with an ‘Alpine Onsen’ heated outdoor pool.
The Club also features a new reception with a waiting area, viewing gallery overlooking the pool hall and ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ stairs connecting the levels to keep swimmers and gym users separate.
Bernard Murphy, general manager of Gleneagles, said: “We are delighted with the new look of The Club, which seamlessly combines modern, luxury facilities with a real step up in terms of design.
“We’re particularly excited about the introduction of a new adults-only pool and relaxation area, and a new outdoor Alpine Onsen – they will be a fantastic asset for the resort, and provide some really beautiful new spaces for our guests to enjoy.”
Development programme
The leisure club refurbishment is the latest in a series of development work undertaken by Gleneages, which is hosting the 40th biennial Ryder Cup this September.
The hotel spent £3m on overhauling its Dormy Clubhouse and installed a new outdoor whisky and cigar bar in 2011, and invested a £1m in its PGA Centenary golf course in 2012.
Last year, it completed a £1m renovation of 36 of its 232 rooms, installing 39-inch TVs, underfloor heating, environmentally-friendly LED lighting and in-shower feature wall’s portraying scenes from the hotel’s golf courses.
Leisure investment
Gleneagles, which charges £1,015 per year for membership of The Club, is not the only luxury hotel to make serious investments in its spa and leisure facilities recently.
Last year, the Galgorm Resort & Spa in Ballymena, County Antrim, announced plans to invest £10m on expansion plans, which included the construction of a new leisure wing with a swimming pool and gym.
The multi-million pound refurbishment of the Salcome Harbour Hotel in Devon also included the construction of a spa including a pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms.
