A name famous in the world of hospitality, The Gleneagles Hotel has enjoyed a recent renovation which includes the creation of the elegant new Birnam Brasserie, designed in classic Parisian style. Naturally, the design team were keen to choose the most chic and authentic furnishing for the restaurant, including a full complement of iconic Thonet chairs.
Susanna Kingston, head designer on the project, took inspiration from the traditions of the great Parisian brasseries, renowned for offering both relaxed informality together with highest standards of service and culinary expertise.
“Every element of the design is a nostalgic nod to the buzzy and stylish glamour of these brasseries,” says Susanna, “while the scheme is also conscious of the location’s Scottish heritage and Gleneagles’ own traditions. We selected suppliers of the finest quality and luxury, the name Thonet being intrinsic to the traditional ‘cult’ of furniture makers that are famous within the restaurant industry. The new space is a warm and atmospheric setting, including features such as a Winter Garden and vaulted ceiling emporium.”
The Thonet chairs chosen for The Birnam Brasserie include sixty of the famous 214 chairs, in a walnut finish with caned seats and open hooped backs, plus forty-three of the 215, the version of this chair with a caned insert at back. A further twenty-six of the classically elegant 210 Thonet bentwood chairs with their distinctive curving arms (a favourite of architect Le Corbusier) also grace the new restaurant.
The Birnam Brasserie offers all-day dining, serving delicious French-American dishes using seasonal and locally-sourced Scottish produce. The Gleneagles Hotel first opened its doors in 1924 and continues to offer all the luxury of a five-star hotel, plus three championship golf courses, an award-winning spa, and the only restaurant in Scotland to hold two Michelin stars.