Review of Restaurant, Prestonfield House Hotel



Prestonfield House Hotel Five Star PR added at base of page

Prestonfield House Hotel Rhubarb Review:
Tucked behind a swathe of Southside suburbia is a former Lord Provost's white-rendered house, its double gables framed by mature trees.
The house faces Arthur's Seat to the north, to the left is the Prestonfield Golf Club and to the right Duddingston Loch.


Rhubarb Restaurant by Adrian Welch

The house is fairly sedate from outside but as entry unfolds you are swept into a cosetted luxury of colour and pattern, richly-furnished rooms and exquisite service. The plan is axial, stepping up in section to the Dining Room, down again at the far end to the luxury sleeping accommodation. The palette varies but is generally rich and dark, with a theme of dark red and rhubarb with black and gold trimming; there is a wealth of wallpaper in the public rooms and in the twenty-six bedrooms. Most fabrics - especially those in Rhubarb - are woven specially for Prestonfield House Hote by Watts of Westminster (famous for the Lord Chancellor's expensive wallpaper) mainly to documents & archive designs by Bodley, Pugin though there are a few bedroom walls upholstered in printed velvets.


Rhubarb Restaurant by Adrian Welch

Prestonfield's main hall is split by a full width bank of lovely, worn wooden steps, at the bottom of which sits a baby grand, scene of an impromptu sing-along after MTV's 2003 Music Awards in Leith by various celeberities such as The Darkness. At the change in level, the hall has been opened up into a room above to bring down light and open up views. Off the lower Hall is the Yellow room on the left for pre-dinner drinks, and the Italian room on the right, complete with original Italian paintings.


Prestonfield Interior image provided by Prestonfield House Hotel

Upstairs, off a kind of Minstrels' Gallery, is a sumptuous dark-paletted room called the Tapestry Room, complete with heavy rococo ceiling and enfiladed Leather room complete with - surprise, surprise - leather panels. So no room at Prestonfield has bare walls and thus the sound quality of the Hotel is quiet, discreet, relaxing.


Prestonfield : Exterior image provided by Prestonfield House Hotel

Back down in the Hall can be seen architectural plans and sections of the House drawn in the war years by a Polish architect. We were shown into some typical suites including one slept in by Bryan Ferry. The flowers match the flock wallpaper, the seats match the curtains and luxury gadgets are discreetly concealed. Standard elements such as glass coffee tables don't exist here, instead we have richly-carved trunks overlaid with glass.


Prestonfield : Entry image provided by Prestonfield House Hotel

We are shown back to the Yellow room for pre-dinner drinks. Prestonfield House Hotel's menus and wine list are A3-sized, large 'red' canvas affairs that ooze quality. There is a good choice within courses at Rhubarb: 9 starters, 8 main and 7 pudding.


Roebuck Main Course by Adrian Welch

Starters included two seafood dishes - seared scallops on horseradish pomme puree, mustard oil and parsley juice or Lindisfarne oysters 'au natural' with traditional garnish. Fish starters were grilled yellow fin tuna 'nicoise' and Red mullet esca beche with warm carrot dressing. Alternatively you could have Crottin goats cheese ravioli with bell pepper and walnut salad or Tart tatin of cherry tomatoes with vine-ripened tomato sorbet. Rhubarb's star starter - apart from the traditional oysters of course - seemed to be the Gewurztraminer poached Foie gras 'au tronchon' with pickled cherries. Finally, a Tian of veal kidney and sweetbreads plus sweet Marsala sauce or a White onion and grain mustard soup with mull cheddar toasts made up a strong selection of starters.


Yellow Fin Tuna Starter by Adrian Welch

All this could be washed down with wine from a really phenomenal wine list, pages and pages long. I went for a Riesling Kavinett Weinght S.A. Prum 1997 to accompany my Monkfish tails. My wife chose a Enate - Tinto Crianza 1999 from Spain: 'redcurrants, brambles, mocha, capiscum, spicey and licourice flavours' to go with her Roebuck main course. Both suited, both had complex flavours, especially the Riesling despite the Crianza's list of flavours.


Rhubarb Assiette by Adrian Welch

Service was easily the best received at any top establishment in Edinburgh - see the dining page for other reviewed restaurants. It was slick, balanced, but not too friendly or too serious. Nothing let it down like dull cutlery or pedestrian tableware. The bread served was delicious, the water and wine delivery polished.


Assiette by Adrian Welch

We enjoyed Rhubarb immensely, we were pampered and the Hotel proved that it could really look after its guests. The Hotel is still young in its new colours so we hope that it can maintain its standard over the years, it certainly seems to be a place we can take our favourite guests from abroad for a quality evening of discreet luxury. Well done to the chef, and well done to James Thomson, Mark Gardner, designer/PR man Mark Rowley, and all the team at Prestonfield and Rhubarb!


Dining at Rhubarb by Adrian Welch

Rhubarb restaurant opening times
Mon - Sun 12pm – 3pm; 6pm – 11pm
Review from May 2004


Rhubarb Restaurant : image from Prestonfield House Hotel



Prestonfield House Hotel PR

PRESTONFIELD NAMED AS SCOTLAND’S MOST ROMANTIC HOTEL

Following an extensive programme of restoration and refurbishment, Prestonfield House has been named as Scotland’s Most Romantic Hotel in the recent Hotel of the Year Awards. This follows Prestonfield’s accolade as one of Tatler Magazines Top 20 Hotels for its Divine Decadence and confirms Prestonfield as Edinburgh’s most indulgent retreat.
Opulence, theatre and luxury are combined in James Thomson’s quirky and stylish reworking of this A-listed seventeenth century mansion where minimalism is banished and maximalism rules! In addition to the dramatic rooms and indulgent suites, there is his new destination restaurant – Rhubarb alongside a collection of stunning private diningrooms and romantic salons.
James Thomson, owner of the capital’s celebrated Witchery by the Castle and
rooftop Tower restaurants, recently acquired this historic 17th century mansion, which had been a hotel for fifty years. The purchase realised a long-held ambition, as when still a student Thomson had worked as a waiter at Prestonfield House, he fell in love with the magical place, and dreamt of one day becoming its owner.

Now, as one might expect from the team responsible for creating some of the
most unique and exciting hospitality destinations in the country, this marvellous old house has been distinctively re-styled to provide the ultimate retort to minimalism. The patina of age has been gently brushed away, its long forgotten splendours re-gilded and walls have been upholstered in opulent velvets or brocades. In addition to Prestonfield’s existing collection of fine art and antique furnishings, Thomson has added a wealth of suitably grand, precious and quixotic finds culled from the auction rooms of Europe.

Now, as the lights dim of an evening, log fires roar once more in the original hearths, and Diptyque’s tuberose fragrance fills the air, the atmosphere becomes gloriously decadent – possibly dissolute.
Individually designed bedrooms and suites at Prestonfield have state-of-the-art technology discreetly located amid their opulently furnished splendours. All are
air-conditioned, with high-speed internet access, Bose sound systems, DVD
players and 32” plasma televisions. Bed linens by Frette, luxurious bathrobes, fresh flowers and exclusive toiletries complete the pampering experience.
James Thomson says: “I am delighted to see Prestonfield recognised as the
opulent, indulgent and totally romantic place that it is. I wanted to restore the house to the glories of its heyday and to create an alternative to today’s plethora of bland, dull hotels – the perfect romantic retreat. The décor is every bit as rich and colourful as the history of the house itself – we hope our guests will be as colourful too.”
Peter Lederer CBE, Chairman, VisitScotland said "It is fitting that the achievements of those at the front line of the industry who are doing a great job should be recognised through the Scottish Hotel of the Year Awards”.
Prestonfield is situated only five minutes from Edinburgh’s finest shopping streets and the historic attractions of the Royal Mile. Yet, as the house is surrounded by twenty acres of parkland (which is home to a herd of highland cattle plus eighteen peacocks), it provides all the privacy of a country estate.
For further info on Prestonfield House Hotel or Rhubarb Restaurant please contact Mark Rowley in the Prestonfield Press Office on 0131 225 0976


Dining at Rhubarb Restaurant by Adrian Welch

If you are interested in developments at Prestonfield:
Visit James Thomson's Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh's most indulgent retreat at www.prestonfield.com or enjoy a taste of Rhubarb at his latest highly-acclaimed restaurant at www.rhubarb-restaurant.com


Pudding at Rhubarb by Adrian Welch

The Witchery by the Castle, Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh & Prestonfield House, Priestfield Road, Edinburgh

Prestonfield Direct line: +44 (0) 131 668 3403
Prestonfield Direct fax: +44 (0) 131 668 3976

Other James Thomson restaurants:-

The Witchery Restaurant
The Secret Garden Restaurant
The Tower Restaurant

Prestonfield House Hotel - PR 2004:

PRESTONFIELD - EDINBURGH'S STAR-STRUCK HOTEL WELCOMES 5 MORE STARS!!

Prestonfield House - Edinburgh's most indulgent retreat, has just been awarded
rare and coveted 5-star hotel status. This confirms Prestonfield's position as one of the most luxurious and pampering places to stay in the world.
The city's most glamorous and stylish hotel, which opened its doors late last year to welcome the entire cast and stars of the MTV awards, including Dido, Minnie Driver and the Darkness for an exclusive eve-of-award gala dinner, has since developed a strong celebrity following with stars such as Joan Collins calling it "fabulous" and regular fan Shirley Manson thinking it "incredible!". Conde Nast Traveller Magazine recently described it as "so extravagant it's like walking onto the set of some extravagant costume drama"
Prestonfield House, the latest in a collection of unique places to eat or stay owned by Scottish hotelier and restaurateur James Thomson, has had an incredible year already, being dubbed "Edinburgh's most indulgent retreat" by Elle, as one of the 20 Hottest Hotels by Tatler and as the "Most Romantic Hotel in Scotland" in the Hotel of the Year Awards. Now, following a series of anonymous inspections, VisitScotland have conferred the ultimate accolade of 5 stars on the city's most talked-about hotel, Prestonfield House.
James Thomson, Prestonfield's owner said 'It has been a huge achievement by
all involved to turn this faded gem of an hotel into one of the world's most desirable places to stay and a major attraction for visitors to Scotland. Prestonfield has true star quality and we very much welcome seeing this reflected in the awarding of the maximum five stars from VisitScotland. Prestonfield Hotel and its restaurant Rhubarb are already developing a passionate following and we look forward to welcoming guests for many years to come in true five-star style.'
Jack Munro, Chief Executive of Edinburgh & Lothian's Tourist Board, commented: "This is a considerable achievement in the short space of time
since James Thomson acquired the hotel and is testament to his ability and
flair. To have another 5-star property in the city clearly enhances our reputation as a leading city break destination. We're delighted that the hard work of the new team at Prestonfield House has paid off with this award."
Susan Watson, SE Edinburgh and Lothian's tourism team leader, said:
"Prestonfield joins the elite of Scotland's hospitality sector with its five star rating. It is a well deserved accolade for Prestonfield's management and staff who have invested enormous effort in providing a quality experience for their guests that enhances Edinburgh and Scotland's reputation as a world class destination."
Prestonfield House Hotel - Rhubarb Restaurant: Five Star PR Aug 1 2004

James Thomson bought Prestonfield late last year in a private deal before
embarking on an ambitious £3m restoration of this A-listed mansion, now the city's most indulgent retreat.
Prestonfield House was built in 1687 as the grand home of a seventeenth-century Lord Provost of Edinburgh and a place for entertaining the glitterati of the day including David Hume, Benjamin Franklin, Dr Samuel Johnson, and his biographer, Boswell. Later Sandie Shaw walked barefoot across the marble floor of the front hall. Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher each dined at Prestonfield under the watchful eyes of early Dick-Cunyngham family portraits. Sean Connery, Elton John and Catherine Zeta Jones all partied the night away. And Oliver Reed raised the hell for which he was so very well known.
Now opulence, romance, theatre and luxury are combined in this stylish reworking of the hotel that now features every modern convenience - from plasma TV's to air-conditioning - all hidden behind the velvet-lined walls of its ultra-luxurious rooms and suites.
Rhubarb Restaurant, Thomson's latest destination restaurant occupies two sensationally grand Regency rooms central to Prestonfield Hotel that have variously been described as 'decadent' and the 'ultimate retort to minimalism.'
James Thomson also owns and runs Edinburgh's first and finest rooftop Tower
Restaurant above the Museum of Scotland and the city's best-known
restaurant, the Witchery by the Castle. The Witchery celebrates its 25th
Anniversary later this year, an event which Thomson intends to mark with a
celebrity-packed gala dinner on Halloween that will raise funds for charitable initiative.



Scottish Architecture

Edinburgh Restaurants

Review of Rhubarb Restaurant received Apr 05
'Fantastic - food and service excellent. The interior design is fabulous.
An amazing dining experience - so good we went back for the Hogmanay Ball
and were just as impressed!!'

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Rhubarb Restaurant - Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website: www.rhubarb-restaurant.com