Karen Peattie gets an exclusive tour of Boclair House Hotel from Manorview Hotels’ managing director, Steve Graham
WITH nearly 70 weddings booked at Boclair House Hotel in Bearsden before it had even opened, you might think that Manorview Hotels can afford to rest on its laurels.
On the contrary, the independent Scottish hotel group, which opened Boclair at the end of March, knows only too well that this early spike in business – while a welcome boost following such a significant investment – doesn’t signal any intention to let things slip in the marketing department.
Steve Graham
Apologising for wearing Lycra, managing director Steve Graham – an accomplished and competitive cyclist who often cycles between Manorview’s venues – is understandably excited about his firm’s latest venture. “It’s great that we’ve got all these weddings and other events booked up until the end of 2017,” says. “But it means we have to be even more on top of our game.
“We’re a new venue, an unknown venue with no track record, so while we might be getting some business based on recommendations from people who have held weddings or attended events at some or our other venues, we need to make sure we get it absolutely right here.”
Positioning Boclair predominately as a wedding venue follows the same strategy as that of Manorview’s other venues. “I think it gives us a strong point of different,” Graham suggests. “You have to make the most of your location and your building. With Boclair, we’re not without our challenges – we’ve a 24-hour ASDA right next door – but we included sympathetic landscaping in the renovations which in time will block it off.
“We’re also on the corner of a busy thoroughfare with lots of traffic so it’s not providing the same level of privacy that our other venues do but there are ways you can compensate for that.”
Situated at the foot of Boclair Hill and set in two acres of gardens, Boclair House Hotel is a Grade B-listed building and very much a local landmark in Bearsden – for many years it was offices for East Dunbartonshire Council. Tudor Gothic in style with a castellated tower and a series of impressive archways creating a covered walkway reminiscent of Italian cloisters, it’s been brought back to life by Manorview.
“It was a challenge, there’s no about that,” says Graham. “We specialise in reviving properties that need a bit of TLC and Boclair was crying out for it. It had fallen into disrepair and when I saw its potential I was really excited and we’ve gone through a pretty painstaking process to bring its character back.
“We stripped it back and started again,” he explains. “Floors were replaced, walls knocked down, gutters replaced, gas and water supplies brought in from the other side of the street, damp-proofing was required and the roof needed a lot of work. It was a massive undertaking. We were 25% over budget but with these neglected buildings you don’t always know what you’re going to find until refurbishment work starts – you learn from each job.”
Steve Graham’s story has been well documented, moving into the industry in 2002 having worked in his family’s fairground business and also building a successful property development business which fits in well with Manorview’s strategy of purchasing distressed properties.
With Bolclair and the recently acquired Cornhill Castle in Biggar joining the Manorview stable, the firm boasts a formidable portfolio of luxury boutique hotels across the central belt: The Bowfield Hotel & Country Club, Howwood; The Busby Hotel, Clarkston; The Commercial, Wishaw; The Lynnhurst Hotel, Johnstone; The Redhurst Hotel, Giffnock; and The Torrance Hotel, East Kilbride.
It’s all very much a family affair and while Graham is a “reluctant” figurehead for the company he credits his fellow directors – husband-and-wife team Anthony Cowley, property development director and operations director Fallon Cowley (his niece) – with being instrumental in the growth and direction of the group. His son, Carlton, 22, also works for the company.
“We have a great team with everyone doing what they do best and all of us coming together in the middle,” says Graham. “Lots of talented and committed people are involved in our journey, from our HR and PR staff to accounts, and Space ID, our architects and interior designers who are based in Sunderland. There’s also Linda Burns, our financial controller, who has been a huge asset to the business.”
Graham is keen to go on record to thank Barclays for its support, the company having restructured its debt with the bank last year. “Our relationship is going from strength to strength and it’s one both of us have nurtured because it’s taken time to become comfortable with each other’s culture – we’ve worked shoulder to shoulder on the Boclair project and it’s helped us understand each other.”
Boclair is also available for exclusive-use weddings as well as special occasion dining, celebrations, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. It offers 12 individually-styled suites, a standalone restaurant serving fresh, locally-sourced Scottish produce, and a stunning grand ballroom which can cater for weddings parties of up to 160 daytime guests and 200 evening guests.
“As a group we are continually growing our portfolio,” says Graham. “We are a customer-focused business, with customer service and attention to detail at its heart. Training and staff development is a key component of our strategy – we want to retain people so they can develop their careers with us.
“It’s great to see someone join us in a fairly junior position and watch them grow in confidence – we want to promote from within. My ambition is for us to be known as an industry leader, and a company that people aspire to work for.
“We’re a company with 400 staff now and bonus schemes in place so our people can share in our success. Staff retention is good. We’re in a good place but our journey is far from over.”