Balmoral Hotel

The Balmoral, Edinburgh’s leading luxury hotel is delighted to announce the launch of “The Balmoral Bar” on 8 November 2007. Formerly NB’s, the stylish new bar, whose transformation was overseen by Olga Polizzi, The Rocco Forte Collection’s Director of Design, will offer a wide range of champagnes and premium spirits, plus a mixture of classic and innovative cocktails and is ultimately set to be the most stylish bar in Edinburgh.

The new look Olga Polizzi has gone for is chic and modern. The plush purple velvet and vibrant moss-green leather chairs and banquettes are complemented by her signature style natural fabrics such as linen and tweed in warm Scottish tones. The walls are a cool, simple and elegant stone colour designed by leading wall covering experts The Paint and Paper Library and are warmly illuminated by the standard lamps dotted throughout the bar. The contemporary cantilever bar is the ultimate in bespoke bar design and provides a stunning focus with backlit acetates individually designed by Austrian artist Hubertus Hohenlohe creating a striking sense of theatre. The funky, but chilled-out background music, perfect for lounge lizards, is delivered through a state of the art Bose sound system. The overall effect is relaxed and luxurious; while the decor suggests modernity, a sense of opulent tradition is still conveyed through the impeccable service and impressive drinks list.

The focus of the new bar menu is on the classics, with a twist - cocktails shaken and stirred to perfection, luxury and vintage champagnes and malt whiskies exclusive to The Balmoral. The menu will also feature a collection of innovative “signature” cocktails which will change regularly, using fresh and seasonal ingredients such as the Citrus Cosmopolitan with Blueberry Juice and the Apple and Pear Mojito. The Balmoral Bar is being launched in conjunction with Moet Hennessey’s luxury single malt whisky, Glenmorangie and will be one of the first outlets in the world to feature their new range which includes The Extra Matured, The 18 Year Old and The Quarter Century single malts. In addition The Balmoral Bar will feature a unique Tasting Table in the bar for Glenmorangie’s bespoke sensorial tasting experiences.

The exquisite table service is provided by The Balmoral Bar’s glamorous hostess, Rowan and friendly and welcoming waiters headed up by Bar Manager, Fredrick Laseen. Straight from Hollywood’s favourite celebrity hot-spot, The Windows Lounge at The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, LA, Fred is looking forward to injecting some serious glamour into the Edinburgh bar scene. His team will be dressed in ultra chic Italian tailoring designed by Sergio Castagnino in warm brown and green tones to complement Olga Polizzi’s interior design.

Ivan Artolli, General Manager of The Balmoral is very excited to be opening a brand new bar during his inaugural year at The Rocco Forte Collection hotel and has said: “Since The Balmoral first opened in 1902 it has been the most glamorous hotel in the city - the place to see and be seen in and with the launch of the new bar we look forward to continuing this tradition. The Balmoral Bar will be unrivalled in the city for glamour and style and looks to be one of the coolest places to hang out in 2008.”

The Balmoral Bar seats 70 and is open daily from 12noon until 12midnight for both hotel guests and non-residents.

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For more information:

Jessica Trotter
PR and Marketing Executive
Direct line: 0131 622 8825    
Email: jtrotter@roccofortecollection.com  

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Rocco Forte Collection was established in 1996 to create a group of luxury hotels in Europe. The hotels have individual styles, with each hotel reflecting its nationality and location. The properties are linked together under The Rocco Forte Collection, which guarantees attention to detail, quality and service delivery.

The company is celebrating its ten year anniversary this year.  The Rocco Forte Collection took control of The Balmoral in Edinburgh on March 1 1997. 

The Rocco Forte Collection includes:
- Hotel de Russie, Rome
- Hotel Savoy, Florence
- The Balmoral, Edinburgh
- The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
- Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg
- Hotel Amigo, Brussels
- Brown’s Hotel, London
- Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt
- Hotel de Rome, Berlin
- Le Richemond, Geneva
- The Charles Hotel, Munich (opening 4 October)

Future openings: 
Prague - 2008
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily – 2009
Marrakech - 2009

For further information and online reservations, please visit The Rocco Forte Collection website: www.roccofortecollection.com.

Angleterre Hotel, St Petersburg, is a deluxe four-star sister to Hotel Astoria.  For information and reservations, please visit www.angleterrehotel.com.