From the light fittings and crockery … we will be entrenched in its development from start to finish

- Wayner Gardner-Young

Victoria’s nightclub, one of Scotland’s most iconic venues, is set to welcome a stylish new neighbour with the opening of a £6 million luxury hotel.

Sprawling five storeys and boasting 70 bedrooms, the hotel development is being launched by Victoria’s owner Wayne Gardner Young with the aim of dramatically improving the appeal of the area, positioning Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow as an upmarket location to work, rest and play.

Featuring a nautical design theme inspired by the city’s shipbuilding heritage, the as-yet-unnamed hotel and entertainment complex at 98 Sauchiehall Street promises to be the place to be when it opens next year.

Wayne said: “I really want this hotel to be something special, which is why myself and my business partner Volker Steinemann are going to personally handpick every aspect of the interior ourselves.

“From the light fittings and crockery to the signature nautical pieces of artwork placed around the hotel, we will be entrenched in its development from start to finish.

“When you think boutique hotel, you automatically picture retro inspired bedrooms and a similar themed restaurant.  We want to move away from that particular trend, and focus on the city’s culturally specific heritage, and that’s its industrial maritime association.

“On visiting Glasgow and studying the architecture, you notice that many of the city’s oldest buildings have great ships set in stone above their grand entranceways.  New building designs tend not to have this which I think is a real shame, and it’s something I am keen to remedy.”

All 70 bedrooms will be unique in their own right.  Every space will be carefully styled to take guests on a nautical journey.  From floor to ceiling windows to superior quality bedroom and bathroom furniture, nothing will be left to chance in order to transform this dream hotel into a solid reality.

The hotel, which adjoins Victoria’s nightclub, will also boast a distinctive rooftop ‘Sky Bar’.  This totally unique feature will allow patrons to take in views of the entire city from a bird’s eye perspective, much like seeing Glasgow from the top of a ship’s bridge.

At the ‘Sky Bar’ guests will be able to enjoy coffee, drinks and dinner and have full access to Victoria’s itself, which has boldly moved away from being a typical dance venue, and now sees itself as a chilled style suite, attracting Glasgow’s ‘trendy set’, rivalling venues in Merchant City.

Wayne added: “When we bought Victoria’s back in 2008, we saw great potential in the location itself.  It is a short walk from the city’s main shopping thoroughfare and business district and is within quick access to main motorway links. That’s why we were so quick off the mark to submit plans for the hotel.

“At the beginning, we knew we would have a tough job on our hands to turn Victoria’s into a profitable operation.  But we were determined and it’s really paid off.

“Victoria’s continues to do very well, and I expect our new hotel to welcome a similar response.”

Victoria’s umbrella brand name, VW Leisure Ltd, has welcomed a group turnover of over £4.2m since 2009.   The company’s healthy growth is thanks to well executed business acquisitions in an uneasy market place.

In addition to his nightclub and the upcoming hotel at 98 Sauchiehall Street, entrepreneur Wayne Gardner Young boasts a business portfolio which includes Kaim Park Hotel in Bathgate and the award winning Best Western Buchanan Arms Hotel and Spa in Drymen.

Only last month, the businessman was granted planning approval for a £22million eco friendly theme park in West Lothian, with work scheduled to begin early 2011.  The development of the park will provide 100 jobs in the building sector over 18 months, with the view of creating 250 full and part-time positions when the activity centre opens its doors in Easter 2013.

VW Hotels has successfully outperformed similar Scottish based businesses in recent years and Wayne believes it’s all down to investing in people.

Wayne added: “The economic climate, especially in the hospitality industry, has been tough.  But I’m a firm believer in taking care of your own people, and as a result, business takes care of itself.  I am fortunate to have a great team behind me.  By opening a new hotel, I am in a position to add to that team, which is a part of the job I really do enjoy.”

With plans now approved by Glasgow City Council, Wayne plans to start recruiting for expert staff immediately, ahead of the hotel welcoming its first guests in 18 months’ time.

Guests will be able to enjoy a lavish night’s stay at the hotel for just £75 per room.

The eco-friendly facility will include a Trojan Horse slide, wooden forts, a 100ft sailing ship, overhead climbing frames, 500m zip lines, dry toboggan runs and various other activities.

The park will also include a lodge, situated on the edge of two lochs to the north of Couston Castle off the A801, which will be available for wedding receptions and private functions, with a “top-quality” restaurant on the first floor.

Developers also aim to use the lochs themselves as a Royal Yachting Association approved sailing school, where children and adults can learn how to kayak, sail, wind-surf and water-ski.

The Park Plans (View larger image)

Proposed accommodation includes 40 New England style log cabins, which can be hired or part-owned.

Polbeth-based entrepreneur Wayne Gardner-Young was given the green light for the scheme by West Lothian Council this week.

With full plans now approved, work is scheduled to begin in early 2011, providing 100 jobs in the building sector over 18 months, with the view of creating 250 full and part-time positions when the activity centre opens its doors at Easter 2013.

Mr Gardner-Young said: “A scheme of this undertaking will provide a welcomed boost to Scotland’s economy, particularly at a time when we are facing challenging conditions across a range of industry sectors.

“Having lived in Scotland all my adult life I have witnessed the closure of many big manufacturing companies, resulting in skilled people being left out of work. This is why I am keen to extend my commitment to investing in Scotland’s skills base, and this new leisure park is the best place to start.”

The former sand and gravel quarry has been restored over a period of five years in preparation for the redevelopment, and underwent a feasibility study by RGA Associates, the company behind large projects including the Falkirk Wheel and Scottish Parliament.

Mr Gardner-Young expects his leisure park to attract visitors from all over Europe.

He said: “With the Scottish Government having set a target of 35,000 new homes per year by 2015 to meet the current housing shortage, there will be a need and a demand for places of leisure for residents to enjoy. “That’s what we’re looking to deliver, a place where families can spend time together, within easy access across the central belt.”

The park’s eco-friendly credentials will be provided by a wind-powered electricity supply and a geo-thermal heating system.

West Lothian Council’s development leader Martyn Day said: “We welcome this significant investment in tourism in West Lothian, which will generate a number of new jobs for the area.”

Credit: MARK McLAUGHLIN, edinburghnews.com

The 52-room hotel sits within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, which attracts around 3.5 million visitors each year.

Wayne Gardner-Young, who also owns the Kaim Park Hotel in Bathgate, bought the hotel from joint administrators KPMG, and embarked on a £1m refurbishment, which is due to be completed before Easter 2010.

Clydesdale Bank provided total funding worth £3.68m, enabling the refinancing of the Kaim Park Hotel and the acquisition and refurbishment of the Buchanan Arms.

Gardner-Young also owns ­Victoria’s nightclub on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street and is applying to convert the adjacent building into a hotel.

Gardner-Young said: “The support by Clydesdale Bank has extended beyond financial assistance and the team continues to provide expert advice.

“The Buchanan Arms Hotel is in a prime location close to Loch Lomond. While it continues to be popular with tourists, the hotel, and particularly the bar and restaurant, were in need of a refurbishment fitting the quality of the rest of the hotel. The Bank’s support has allowed us to do that.”

Credit: Herald Scotland http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/corporate-sme/hotelier-buys-buchanan-arms-1.1004284#have-your-say#have-your-say

SCOTTISH BASED ENTREPRENEUR GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR £22M LEISURE PARK

Scottish based entrepreneur, Wayne Gardner-Young, today [Wednesday 25 August 2010] was given the ‘green light’ from West Lothian Council to build Scotland’s very first large-scale, eco-friendly leisure park, which will see the businessman invest approximately £22 million in to the country’s tourism industry.

With full plans now approved, work is scheduled to begin early 2011, providing 100 jobs in the building sector over 18 months, with the view of creating 250 full and part-time positions when the activity centre opens its doors in easter 2013.

Wayne says:  “A scheme of this undertaking will provide a welcomed boost to Scotland’s economy, particularly at a time when we are facing challenging conditions across a range of industry sectors.  Having lived in Scotland all my adult life I have witnessed the closure of many big manufacturing companies, resulting in skilled people being left out of work.  This is why I am keen to extend my commitment to investing in Scotland’s skills base, and this new leisure park is the best place to start.”

Spanning over 78 acres, and resting on the edge of the A801, the site is perfectly placed for quick access from major cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling.

A former sand and gravel quarry, the land has been restored over a period of five years in preparation for this major redevelopment, seeing the site undergoing an   intense feasibility study conducted by RGA Associates, the company behind large structural designs including the Falkirk Wheel and Scottish Parliament.

Currently in the process of devising a succinct marketing strategy, the shrewd entrepreneur expects his leisure park to attract visitors from all over Scotland, the rest of the UK and even Europe, with the view of grossing a healthy estimated £8million in its first year.

Every space will be used to its full potential.  For example, lochs will become an RYA approved sailing school’s playground, where children and adults can learn how to kayak, sail, wind-surf and water-ski.

*An outdoor kids’ activity park is set to become the focal point for many younger visitors.  Consisting large-scale wooden objects including a Trojan Horse slide, wooden forts, a 100ft sailing ship, overhead climbing frames,500m zip lines. “dry “ toboggan runs and numerous other activities.

Designed to incorporate the park’s natural nautical theme, a stunning lodge, situated on the water’s edge, will be the ideal setting for  wedding reception’s, a lavish private function, and a top-quality Scottish restaurant is planned for the first floor. Additionally, the lodge will provide access to a jetty in the middle of the lake, designed to accommodate 150 people for civil ceremonies.

Proposed accommodation includes 40 New England style log cabins, which can be hired or part-owned.

Wayne adds: “With the Scottish Government having set a target of 35,000 new homes per year by 2015 to meet the current housing shortage, there will be a need and a demand for places of leisure for residents to enjoy.  That’s what we’re looking to deliver, a place where families can spend time together, within easy access across the central belt.”

Utterly eco-friendly, the park will benefit from a wind powered electricity supply and a geo-thermal heating system.  Children will also be encouraged to visit an area within the development, designed specifically to recycle the park’s waste material.