BBC chef with 2 Michelin stars unveils plans for £20m hotel & restaurant inside luxury castle ahead of launch next year
A BBC chef with two Michelin stars has unveiled plans for a £20million hotel and restaurant inside a luxury castle – set to launch next year.
Trocadero’s Restaurant and Cocktail Bar will be the second restaurant run by former MasterChef judge Michel Roux Junior within the grounds of Crossbasket Castle, Glasgow.
Set top open on March 16 2025, it will feature fine dining food, speciality cocktails and live entertainment.
The new joint is part of a wider £20million development by owners Alison and Steve Timoney, which includes the huge expansion of their current hotel.
The 40 new bedrooms will include two grand suites, four junior suites, eight deluxe rooms and 26 classic double/twin rooms.
Two private cottages and a luxury spa are also being added to the facilities.
The development is expected to accommodate 35,000 additional guests a year and create 50 jobs in the local area.
English-French Michel already runs the aptly named Michel Roux Jr Restaurant at Crossbasket Castle – which was originally overseen by his dad Albert Roux.
It serves a dinner menu of French dishes made from Scottish ingredients – as well as traditional afternoon tea.
The 17th-century Crossbasket Castle was acquired by Alison and Steve in 2011.
The hotel and restaurant were relaunched in 2016, following a thorough £10million restoration.
Alison said: “We are very excited to be announcing an opening date of 16 March 2025 for the new 40-bed hotel and Trocadero’s.
“A tribute to the elegance and allure of a bygone era, we wanted to create a destination where guests could escape the ordinary and immerse themselves in a world of glamour and sophistication, whilst enjoying the full experience that only the finest live music and entertainment can provide.
“We have an incredibly talented team, who have worked in some of the most respected five-star venues in the world and have been hand chosen to bring this unrivalled experience to us here in Scotland.”
Michel, originally from Kent, started his career at the age of 16 with various apprenticeships in Paris.
He took over La Gavroche in 1991, which currently boasts two Michelin stars.
He appeared as a head judge on Masterchef: The Professionals between 2008 and 2013 along with Gregg Wallace and Monica Galetti, before being replaced by Marcus Wareing.
He later went on to present Netflix’s Five Star Chef in 2023.
As well as dad Albert, Michel’s uncle, Michel Roux Senior, was also an icon in the industry.
News of the Crossbasket Castle development comes after another Michelin-starred chef, Nacho Manzano announced the closure of three restaurants.
The Leeds, Canary Wharf and Marylebone restaurants are shutting their doors after Nacho’s Spanish chain Ibérica entered administration earlier this month.
Gordon Thomson, RSM UK Restructuring Advisory Partner and Joint Administrator, said: “Following a challenging trading environment post-pandemic, hospitality, particularly casual dining, has been hit with staff shortages, increased costs, and lower spending per cover, which all contributed to Ibérica entering administration.
“We worked with the Ibérica management to find a solution for the Farringdon site and the associated staff; and we are working with the remaining staff to seek redundancy support.”
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter.
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived. Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.