From Glasgow International Airport, the M8 Motorway wends its way towards Edinburgh or Stirling but by about junction 19, roadworks slow you down to a snail’s pace as you cross the bridge over the river Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland’s second city, and as it happens, that wasn’t an entirely bad thing for once. We’d booked two nights at the Glasgow Hilton and this 20-storey monolith is situated right by the aforementioned roadworks and junction. We saw it coming. We were impressed. We found our way there with ease. We parked in the upper floor of the underground car park and made our way into reception.

I approached reception and was swiftly greeted by a friendly and very helpful member of staff, who told me that I couldn’t check in there. As a Hilton Hhonors Gold VIP member, I’d been upgraded to the executive floor and would have to check in on the 19th floor. Upgrade! Vertigo! Upgrade! We stepped into the lift and pressed the “19” button. In as many seconds, we were up there. I’m not a huge fan of heights, but this was a treat that simply was not to be sniffed at. We proceeded to the executive reception, and the Vertigo vanished in an instant. I was soon looking out of the windows. I wouldn’t describe the view as pretty, but it was pretty breath taking.

We were soon off to our room, number 1916, which was very well appointed. Furnished in a warm beige colour, it was very comfortable. The lighting created a subtle ambience that I really liked. To be honest, it didn’t scream five-star opulence or over-the-top luxury, but everything was certainly there. Comfortable bed, efficient air-conditioning, colour TV with hotel information services, ample storage space, comfortable seating, decent desk with leather swivel chair. Playstation games, in-house movies and internet access were all available for a charge. The bathroom was very pleasant – typical hotel-style, but well fitted out and – like the room itself – well-maintained and not showing any signs of wear and tear. I was pleased to see that, for once, my request for a smoking room had been accommodated (Yes, I know it’s a dirty habit, Mother Superior!), and Baby Josh’s cot was already in place. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I have to ‘phone housekeeping to get a cot installed when, in fact, one has been pre-reserved. It was nice, for a change, to note that the reservation details had actually been read, understood and accommodated!

Our rate included dinner on the first of the two nights, so we soon headed off to the lift and rocketed down to the second floor. The hotel has two restaurants – “Cameron’s” (the upmarket restaurant), and “Minsky’s New York Deli”, which is where we ate. You have a choice of ordering from the menu, or – as we did – enjoying a three course buffet.

We returned upstairs to the lounge and enjoyed a few more drinks (well, a lot more!) before the complimentary bar closed for the evening. Mindful of the fact that a review really ought to feature the main hotel bar, I decided to pay it a visit. Purely, you understand, in the name of research. I couldn’t bear to let you down by filing an incomplete review after all. So – off I went in the lift again to the second floor to sample the delights of “Raffles Bar”. This time, I was paying for my drinks. The bar was very comfortable and very much in the style of a British pub. You could sit at the bar and chat, or relax in comfortable leather sofas, or retire to a quiet area of the lobby. The bar staff were very friendly and helpful – and when I visited it the next evening, I only had to quote my room number; Harry, the Chinese barman with a Glaswegian accent had already poured my drink of choice.