Style and Substance
A captivating view over North Berwick’s West Links and the Firth of Forth catches us off guard when we step inside the Marine Hotel on a pleasant Friday afternoon.
Affectionately christened the “Grand Old Lady”, the hotel underwent a major renovation to “restore her to her former glory” in 2021 after it was acquired by Marine & Lawn.
Today, the five-star luxury hotel feels both opulent and approachable with nods to the golf coast dotted throughout the interiors.
Sleeping Matters
I’m delighted to find our Marine Deluxe Sea View King room has the same incredible view over the golf course and the estuary.
It was spacious and elegant with rich green wall-to-wall carpeting, floral-inspired wallpaper and a doughy four-poster bed.
The bathroom feels dated next to the room, but it was squeaky clean and kitted out with luxe Floris toiletries.
Food For Thought
We dined at The Lawn which boasts an extensive A La Carte menu showcasing the best of Scottish beef, game and seafood. Cumbrae oysters, haggis bon bons and a smoked ham hock terrine quickly disappeared as we scoffed each moreish plate.
The mains that followed didn’t inspire the same zeal. The sea trout, while perfectly cooked, was lost in a confusion of smoked buttermilk, mussels, trout roe and Japanese seasoning. Hay smoked duck breast was also cooked well but missing the wow factor.
Bass Rock Bar, also in-house, has a more relaxed atmosphere with an all-day menu featuring comforting classics and an extensive drink selection.
Drink In The Sights
Picturesque sea views over the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock make The Marine feel worlds away from city life. You can take in the sights with a walk to the Scottish Seabird Centre where you can hop on a boat trip to Bass Rock and see the incredible gannet colony (late March to early October).
Back at the hotel, unwind at the leisure and wellness centre complete with an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool, steam room and saunas and fitness studio. For added relaxation, The Spa has a curated menu of treatments with Ishga products.
Nice Touch
Staff are pleasant and accommodating, especially within the bar and restaurant.
The complimentary breakfast is one of the best with fresh pastries, toast, cereals and hot options like a full breakfast (veggie option available), pancakes or smoked salmon.
The hotel is also dog friendly with special “pup packages” available.
About The Area
North Berwick is home to some of the oldest golf courses in the world and the hotel is adjacent to the Western Links.
One of Scotland’s most treasured seaside towns, The Marine is within walking distance of an eclectic mix of cafes, shops, chippies, bars and restaurants. If you’re in the mood for a longer walk you can stroll to the top of North Berwick Law and check out the landmark whale’s jawbone.
If driving, the National Museum of Flight is about 6.5 miles away.
Getting There
The hotel is a short walk from North Berwick station. We took a 1 hour 40 minute journey by train from Glasgow Queen Street. From Edinburgh the train journey is about 33 minutes.
Travel Information: Rooms start at £379/night. Set a Course for Summer packages are available for guests booking up to July 31 and include a £50 voucher for the bar and restaurant.
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