Joining the Royal Scots Club was a ‘no-brainer’ for me

As a ‘country member’ living outside Edinburgh I have, for the last three years, enjoyed the club as a ‘home from home’ with none of the expense and hassle of a pied-à-terre in the city.

Some of my friends expressed surprise that I joined the RSC – the dated imagery of cigar-smoking, crusty old colonels and a buttoned-up environment was uppermost in their minds. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Club is rightly proud of its military associations but membership embraces all sectors of the community. All of the professions are strongly represented and women members play an important part in running the Club. More young people are joining too.

I’ve had enough of faceless corporate hotels, and of the astonishing inflated room rates that they command in Edinburgh. For me, the Royal Scots is an ideal alternative where I am greeted by friendly and familiar faces and benefit from a 30 per cent reduction in room rates for members! What’s not to like?

The members’ library with a constant supply of free coffee and tea is a haven of tranquility and an ideal environment in which to work or relax and read the newspapers. The comfy lounge bar, with its tributes to Victoria Cross winners adorning the walls, boasts a pleasant atmosphere for drinks before and after lunch or simply to have coffee and a snack.

The main restaurant is located in the Abercromby Room. Overlooking Queen’s Gardens, it is a bright and luminous salon with gleaming regimental silver on display. There are atmospheric rooms for private dining too. The lunch menu offering three courses and coffee for £25 is great value. Traditional dishes are served, often with an imaginatively modern twist, by a cheerful waiting staff. It is refreshingly free of small plates, sharing plates, tasting menus and the current culinary clever-dickery that serves up cheap cuts at a hefty price. There are no cod cheeks, ox cheeks, pig cheeks or beef cheeks here — and none of the bare-faced cheek that can accompany them when it comes to calculating the bill.

There is a decent wine list too with my favourite, a Côtes du Rhône tasting for all the world like a good Châteauneuf-du-Pape, coming in at just £29.

Although I joined the RSC principally to use it as a hotel while on business in Edinburgh, I’ve found myself getting involved in the club – attending and giving talks. We have also enjoyed various social events put on by the busy events team.

The Club, in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, also has numerous meeting rooms and suites to host varying sizes of gatherings — and again members qualify for a 30 per cent discount on room hire.

RSC members are also able to access the facilities of reciprocal clubs across the country and further afield. We have enjoyed a stay at the excellent Royal Northern and Universities Club in Aberdeen and have also visited the East India Club, Farmers Club and National Liberal Club in London – with latter two boasting excellent terraces overlooking the Thames. All of these clubs are steeped in history and interest with a welcoming staff totally devoid of snootiness.

For me, joining the Royal Scots Club was a no-brainer and I would not hesitate to recommend it to readers of Scottish Legal News.

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