Glenapp Castle
/ About
Glenapp Castle stands above the Ayrshire coast near Ballantrae, looking out over the Firth of Clyde to Ailsa Craig. David Bryce designed it in the Scottish Baronial style for the industrialist James Hunter, and it was finished in 1870. In 1917 it passed to James Lyle Mackay, later the first Earl of Inchcape and chairman of P&O. His daughter Elsie, an actress and aviator, lived here until she was lost attempting an Atlantic crossing in 1928.
The McMillan family bought the house in 1994, by then in disrepair, and spent six years restoring the castle and its Gertrude Jekyll gardens before it opened as a hotel. It has been a Relais & Châteaux member since 2001, and Paul and Poppy Szkiler have owned it since 2015. The estate runs to 110 acres behind an electronic gate almost a mile from the castle, with a walled garden, a Victorian glasshouse and 21 bedroom suites.
On exclusive use the castle closes to other guests and the whole team, the suites and the grounds are yours. The Drawing Room seats 60 with a dining room off each side, the Glasshouse and the Bothy take a long-table dinner, and the library suits something smaller. Beyond 100 guests a marquee goes up on the lawns for up to 250. The licence runs to 1am, and one guest who took the castle for a week wrote that they danced a layer of stone off the Bothy floor.
/ Rooms Available
The Marquee on the Castle Lawns
Exclusive HireFor gatherings above 100 guests the castle raises marquees on its grounds. The sides open to the sea and Ailsa Craig, and a transparent roof section looks up at the turrets.
Exclusive Use of Glenapp Castle
Exclusive HireThe whole castle, its team, all 21 bedroom suites and 110 acres of gardens and grounds, with the doors closed to other guests. The castle sleeps up to 42, and indoor events run to 100 guests before a marquee is needed.
The Castle Drawing Room
PrivateThe main drawing room at the heart of the castle, with dining rooms opening off each side. It seats up to 60 cabaret-style and 75 theatre-style.
The Bothy
Exclusive HireA stone garden building beside the Glasshouse with log burners, a long table and views over the Azalea Pond. It can be hired on its own or with the Glasshouse.
The Castle Dining Rooms
PrivateThe dining rooms either side of the Drawing Room: red damask walls, chandeliers and tall sash windows onto the gardens. They serve as additional space when the Drawing Room is in use.
The Castle Library
PrivateA panelled library with an open fire and a round table, used for intimate ceremonies and private dinners.
The Italian Gardens
Exclusive HireGertrude Jekyll's formal garden below the castle terrace, looking across the sea to Ailsa Craig. Used for ceremonies and drinks receptions.
The Victorian Glasshouse
Exclusive HireThe Azalea restaurant, set in a Moncur & McKenzie glasshouse in the Walled Gardens. Five compartments, among them the Vine Room with its 100-year-old vines and the Atrium, can be taken exclusively, with sliding doors to a patio over the Azalea Pond.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
- – Bespoke Menus
- – Sommelier Service
- – Canape Service
Licensing
- – Late Licence until 1am
- – Full Alcohol Licence
Venue Specs
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Valet Parking
- – Outdoor Terrace
/ Getting Here
/ You May Also Consider
