CHANNINGS HOTEL, EDINBURGH;
Arriving in Edinburgh, for full on rugby, our focus was on supporting New Zealand All Blacks, we had to beat Scotland in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

I’d booked the accommodation months in advance and told anyone who would listen that I was incredulous at the price we had to pay on match- night to stay in Edinburgh after the game.

Channings Hotel changed our ‘’rugby’‘ weekend focus the minute we walked through the door. First impressions were of truly upmarket accommodation. The reception is tidily tucked to one side with the comfortable sofas as the main feature in this ever so important welcoming area to any hotel.

We arrived after staying several nights in hostels and I have to say we felt like we had arrived at Buckingham Palace. Parched from travelling we asked for a cup of coffee as we were too early to go to our room. This was served to us in one of the three or four reception rooms and we certainly enjoyed both the drink and the decor. I thought it would be complementary, due to what I percieve to be the high cost of the hotel room: 150GBP for one night, bed and breakfast - the most I have ever paid for accommodation, but the next day I noticed an add-on of around five pounds for this tray.

That is one half of the only little niggle I have about our stay there - we were asked did we want a paper next day and I said yes and I saw that the 45p was also added on - once again I expected it to be complementary - well, included in the price we’d paid to stay in the room.

Never mind, every other aspect of hospitality was superb, helping me to smooth over the two small charges - the friendliness of staff, willingness to go that extra mile, superb food, overall cleanliness and opulent presentation were faultless.

Some examples of what impressed me were not life-changing but most appreciated when you are away from home and little things present themselves. We came back from the rugby (New Zealand won in case you are interested) and asked what time the restaurant opened, the receptionist asked had we booked and we said we hadn’t. She said it was full but she would talk to the restaurant manager and see if we could be fitted in somewhere. A short time later the phone rang in our sumptuous room and she asked would we like to dine at 8pm. We were delighted as we thought an upmarket meal after a week of hostel self-catering and in-house meals would be a treat.

While we were enjoying pre-dinner drinks in the modern-art-walled bar my partner and I had a discussion about where a certain English town was and neither of us could think. I asked the waiter if they had an atlas and within minutes he returned and we settled the question as we supped on our delicious drinks.

The dinner was just amazing. The ambience matches the selection of diverse dishes. Our taste buds were tempted by the options and we finally settled on entree, main course and were to make a decision about a dessert after partaking of the first two treats. Well, we were so sated with the extremely well presented, tasty meals and our fine wine that dessert was not a possibility no matter how much we wanted to taste some of the fare we saw other diners savour.

Channings advise that it uses only high quality, local and organic produce when arranging the menu for all meals. We had the dinner and next morning a great, wholesome breakfast. You are invited to partake of several cereals, at least eight fresh fruits, dairy products and fresh juices before you can choose from cooked meals. I believe they also offer lunches. You get a peek out to the garden from the breakfast restaurant, we were not there long enough to have a sit out there but guests are apparently welcome to do so.

By the way: in case you wonder how the dinner priced out - we both had two courses and a fine wine and we paid around 60 GBP. A very good investment in a romantic, comfortable dining experience.

Our suite was one of 41 individually decorated, elegant rooms. It was really delightful. The single beds were huge, groaning with stylish pillows. There was a plasma television, arm chairs beside a little occasional table and I spied an iron and ironing board - I can assure you that I had no intention of using such mundane household pieces in my luxurious surroundings. There was tea and coffee making facilities and a pack of Scottish shortbread - we did use these while we waited for our dinner date.

Now the white, huge bathroom was out of this world. A bath and shower with the most inviting lotions and soaps to lure you into a relaxing soak which I definitely did. I luxuriated in a deep, warm bubbly bath for a good half hour before dressing for our ever so romantic dinner.

After all, a girl has to unwind when she’s spent the afternoon yelling, cheering madly and being an enthusiastic member of the massive Mexican wave at an international rugby match - along with over 54,000 other rugby fans. I bet many of them would have liked to spend their after-match evening at Channings Hotel in Edinburgh.

If you go to Channings Hotel, you can sit a while and muse about a former owner of the house: history records that Polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton once owned the home from 1904 until 1910. There certainly is plenty of historic pieces placed about. I spied a library there and a room set up for meeting so guess these are on offer to you whether you visit as an individual or for conference, seminar or the like.

It’s a wee way out of town but we walked in and out, following the map the receptionist gave us and so willingly advised the route to take. Before we took off for the rugby we asked her to book us a taxi but one of the young male staff said could he make a suggestion. ‘’If I was you, I would walk down to Murrayfield. You will experience all the atmosphere as you get there, a taxi won’t get you close to the stadium.’‘ Good enough for us - we took his advice and were both delighted we did so - what a walk, there and back, what a huge rugby day.

Most certainly for me, returning to four-star Channings Hotel for a night of opulence, fine wining and dining and of course the good old soak in the bath will be a memory to remain with me for ever.

(Don’t know about bus routes out to Channings, we took a taxi from the Railway Station and it cost around 6 GBP). Perhaps if you go on to its site you may learn about buses: www.channings.co.uk