Credit: Unknown
WHEN you get to a certain age you’ve got enough stuff rattling around your house to last you two lifetimes.
That’s why my mum and aunt prefer experiences and events for Christmas rather than token presents that end up in the regifting pile.
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There’s lots of quirky details throughout
Lynn, her mum and great aunt loved the chic city centre hotelCredit: SCOTTISH SUN
So towards the end of the year, the three of us had a great day out together in Glasgow, instead of exchanging festive gifts.
I live 20 minutes from the city and work in the centre but it doesn’t stop me enjoying a trip to Scotland’s biggest metropolis.
In fact, I love an excuse to holiday in my own backyard — with all the convenience of knowing a place well while getting to properly enjoy it, rather than rushing about to work.
We were staying in the 4 star Sandman Signature, recently named the best city hotel in the country. And it’s not hard to see why.
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The modern venue, on West George Street, has an almost industrial feel as you head into the foyer, where there are some great nods to the city. I loved the check-in desk lamps shaped like gaudy gold and white traffic cones.
There’s a tea and coffee station as well as a pool table in the entrance area, giving the place a very cool but casual vibe.
Our family room was ideal for the three of us with a big, comfy double for my mum and aunt, while I had a sofa bed in a little alcove area.
And the Glasgow touches continued in the room with cone cushions and artwork depicting city scenes.
We were booked in to see a movie at the Glasgow Film Theatre.
Seeing a flick in this hidden gem just off Sauchiehall Street feels like a proper event, with its plush seats and bar so you can enjoy a cocktail or two enjoying a movie.
We caught the 1940s Christmas comedy The Bishop’s Wife while tucking into a mince pie and some mulled wine — it was a spectacular, seasonal afternoon.
And we continued our classic Glasgow day out with lunch at the Willow Tea Rooms.
The A-listed building, opened in 1903, was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and is the artist’s last surviving tea rooms.
A visit to the GFT made it festive funCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
The Winter Wonderland was held at Glasgow GreenCredit: Alamy Live News.
It oozes elegance and charm, and was the ideal place to warm up with a cuppa and a sandwich before we continued on our city adventure.
Next up, we headed to Glasgow Green for the Winter Wonderland, held at the city park over Christmas.
While I couldn’t persuade the pensioners to try out the ice skating or the big wheel, it was lovely to wander through the lights and stalls, soaking up the atmosphere.
We were tuckered out after our day of activities so headed back to our plush room, picking up a cocktail from the bar en route for some down time before dinner. Suitably spruced up, we were booked into the hotel’s Chop Grill.
With an illuminated sign declaring ‘gie it laldy’ as you arrive, it feels like a place for a proper occasion, while not taking itself too seriously.
Chop serves up top notch food and cocktailsCredit:
The steak was cooked to pink perfection
The menu is a mecca for meat-lovers. I opted for the house speciality — a 12oz cold smoked ribeye steak packed full of flavour and cooked to pink perfection. My mum devoured her battered fish tacos while my aunt’s bone marrow steak pie special was a total treat.
We finished the meal with a heavenly sticky toffee pudding and three spoons before we rolled up to our room for a much-needed sleep.
GO: GLASGOW
A NIGHT’S bed and breakfast for two at the Sandman Signature starts from £79.
The hotel’s ‘Banish the Winter Blues’ offer currently offers 30 per cent off the best available rates on room only and bed and breakfast stays until April 1.
See sandmansignature.co.uk to book.
Brekkie the next morning was a buffet affair with everything you could ask for, from pancakes and yoghurt to haggis and sausages.
And that fuelled us for a day of pottering round the shops before we parted company.
There may have been one less parcel under the tree when Christmas came but our night at the Sandman is definitely one present none of us would want to regift.
Sandman Signature was the ideal giftCredit: