Are you torn between the convenience of a centrally located city hotel and the peaceful luxury of a country house hotel? Norton House would be the perfect destination.
Stepping into Norton House you are met by welcoming reception staff and a cosy yet grand sitting area at the base of what looks to be the original staircase. After a smooth check-in I was shown to my room.
My room was situated in the newer west wing of the hotel, so after climbing the impressive staircase (for anyone who know me, they know I was enjoying all the original woodwork of the bannisters and moudings) and wending through some original corridors into the extension building I got to see where I would be staying.
The Junior Suite is an impressive room. Entering into the suite you pass a large bathroom before the room opens up to the bedroom with a large bed and floor-to-ceiling patio doors that lead onto a balcony.
The extra bonuses for this room lay upstairs – yes this room is over two floors. Upstairs there is a living space with sofa, armchair and TV, plus a mini-fridge and your kettle. You also have a massive desk that is perfect for working, I may have spent some time set up here writing within close proximity to the kettle.
The lounge area sofa is also a sofa bed, perfectly turning this suite into a two-bedroom – just be aware that it is mezzanine overlooking the bedroom below – while there is also a wet room up here that even has a large shower with a body jet system.
After a quick freshen up shower with Noble Isle toiletries it was time for dinner in the brasserie. The restaurant staff were all extremely friendly and knowledgeable, I even took one of the waitress’s recommendations for my main dish and I am glad I did (thank you!).
The fresh and vibrant pea and leek cannelloni was to start, and it was definitely vibrant in both colour and taste. The pea and leek paired very well with the creamy mozzarella.
The star of the meal was the main: slow cooked pork belly. The pork was full of flavour and melted in the mouth but had a perfectly crispy top that contrasted beautifully. This was served with salt-baked celeriac, Yorkshire rhubarb, spring greens, smoked ham hock and a rich pork jus. There were a lot of meaty, rich and savoury flavours in this dish and the fresh bite of the rhubarb cut through this beautifully.
After dinner I enjoyed an espresso martini in the Conservatory Lounge while peacefully reading my book. While it was busy, guests were conscious of each other and the atmosphere was peaceful with a gentle buzz. The perfect end to an evening before heading back to my room. Remember to pop your little Clyde the Highland Coo outside your door, he acts as your do not disturb sign at Norton House.
I slept like a log. The bed was extremely comfortable and there was no noise from other rooms or outside due to the countryside setting. My morning coffee was enjoyed on the balcony before heading downstairs for breakfast. I was shown to my table and walked through the breakfast options. The made-to-order menu had many delicious sounding options, but I opted for the self-serve breakfast as the options seemed plentiful and it looked so good.
Breakfast started with a mini smoothie shot and a fresh apple juice before grabbing a latte and the usual suspects for a full Scottish breakfast, perhaps with a cheeky extra tattie scone. Everything was fresh, hot and not dry. It may sound odd because that is what you expect your breakfast food to be, but often in self-serve situations one of these often fails in favour of the others. Not in this case. A blueberry oats and pain-au-chocolat later and the delicious breakfast was over.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints on my stay I couldn’t visit the spa, however I was given a tour of the facilities and they do look fantastic with many different things on offer, including pool, treatments and classes.
Norton House is a short drive from Edinburgh city centre – even shorter to the airport – and is perfectly located on the city limits as a base to explore the wider area. If you have a car and don’t want to drive all the way into the city centre, Islington Park & Ride is nearby with tram links to the centre.
I could spend a lot of time at Norton House, the Junior Suite is complete with many amenities and indulgences to make a stay here extremely comfortable, relaxing and convenient, and the staff across the hotel could not have been more pleasant and helpful.
Norton House also boasts many spaces perfect for private hire, corporate events and weddings.
To find out more about Norton House’s hotel and spa facilities, visit the website.
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