Fairmont

It is not hard to see what attracted Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to take on the management contract for the St Andrews Bay Hotel. It enjoys a spectacular location on a clifftop on the Fife coastline, with views over the North Sea in one direction, and the historic town of St Andrews in the other. Two golf courses, one designed by Sam Torrance, the other by Bruce Devlin, occupy the surrounding grounds. 

The hotel was originally launched as the St Andrews Bay hotel by US pharmaceuticals-to-motor-racing tycoon Don Panoz, the man widely credited with bringing the nicotine patch to market. Panoz had already launched golf resorts in his native US with the Chateau Elan and Diablo Grande Winery & Resort complexes in Georgia and California respectively, before creating the Scottish hotel through his St Andrews Bay Development Company in 2001.

Apollo European Real Estate Fund II, L.P. purchased the resort from Panoz’s company Château Élan Hotels & Resorts in 2006, with Fairmont signing a management agreement and reflagging the hotel shortly afterwards.

The £13.5m refurbishment of the five-star hotel, completed in Summer 2008, has seen RPW Design bring the earthy tones, colours and textures of the surrounding countryside into its new interiors, whilst ensuring it meets Fairmont’s brand standards.

All public areas, including the lobby, atrium and Squire Restaurant, have been refurbished as have 115 of the hotel’s bedrooms and 17 of the suites.

The elegant, newly designed reception area consists of warm colours, striking paintings, a roaring fireplace and plush carpets.
The spacious guestrooms have been furnished with a modern twist on the tweed and tartan theme, while the suites have elegant finishes including cashmere throws and designer sofas, again combining tradition with contemporary styling. The new suites also have sitting and dining rooms with personal butler and chef services available.

The hotel also has a variety of bars and restaurants, including the fine dining Esperante restaurant, and the Clubhouse with its sensational views across the North Sea. The Kittocks Den lobby bar has been refurbished with stylish sofas and rich interior furnishings and has been joined by the recent addition of The Rock and Spindle sports themed bar, with pool table, darts and LCD televisions.

RPW Design were also responsible for the design of the newly introduced Fairmont Spa. Here, pebble floors, contemporary driftwood sculptures and fabrics reflecting the surrounding countryside reference the local landscape. There are twelve treatment rooms offering exclusive Kerstin Florian treatments, a dedicated pedicure and manicure suite, a couple’s room, and a room exclusively for men’s treatments.

Throughout the hotel, new carpet designs incorporating tartans and thistles have been created by Ulster Carpets. Commenting on the refurbishment, Charles Head, general manager of Fairmont St Andrews, said: “We are delighted with the results of these activities and we are looking forward to offering guests a new and unparalleled experience of Fairmont St Andrews. We have taken care with every aspect of the guest experience to ensure that we remain one of the ultimate places to stay in Scotland.”

On Sleeper’s visit the Torrance golf course was being extensively overhauled in anticipation of 2010, when it will be one of four local final qualifying courses for The Open proper at the Old Course at St Andrews.

FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS
St Andrews  Scotland,
KY16 8PN
Tel: +44 (0)1334 837000
www.fairmont.com/stAndrews

209 guestrooms & suites
Food: Esperante; The Atrium; The Clubhouse; The Squire
Drinks:Kittocks Den; Rock & Spindle
Health: Fairmont Spa
Leisure / Facilities: Conference, banqueting & meeting facilities