Business hospitality
When the marketing team at McLaren Automotive began searching for the perfect venue to host a special anniversary the combination of style, history and exclusivity offered by Broomhall House could not have been better.
The grand home to one of Scotland’s most famous and historic families, set in the midst of a 2,500 acre estate, is one of the country’s best kept secrets, yet lies just 20 minutes drive from Edinburgh airport and 45 minutes from Glasgow.
McLaren chose this splendid setting to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the company’s P1 hybrid sports car with 30 of the world’s leading motoring writers – and were blown away by its attractions.
The event also marked a renaissance for Broomhall House.
Ideally located off the M90, with easy access via Rosyth and Dunfermline, it is now being marketed as a top class corporate venue for meetings, product promotions – particularly high-impact launches – dinners and other events such as conferences, team-building and training workshops.
A three-year programme of investment has equipped the house with essential new facilities to ensure high standards of hospitality for up to 150 guests.
The Bruce family, lineal descendants of King Robert the Bruce, have entered partnerships with leading catering companies and hotels to provide guests with the finest dining and overnight accommodation.
It also offers a high level of security, including private cyber security, facilities for helicopters, car parking, and private transfers.
Broomhall House exudes authenticity, a strong sense of identity and worldwide recognition for the exploits of former family members. The combination of beautiful architecture, grand interiors and fascinating objects makes it a remarkable destination.
The original house, overlooking the Firth of Forth, was built in 1702. The current building was built on the same site in the Greek revival style and dates from 1798.
Its connections to royalty – including a lunch for King George V and Queen Mary in 1924 – military adventure, diplomacy and discovery also give it a compelling story that connects the family inextricably to important events in British, European and global history.
Broomhall House has a long association with enterprise, being the venue for historic treaties and trade agreements, as well as meetings of Scottish industrialists, including those who met here to forge ideas that led to the creation of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. In 1901 Andrew Carnegie, then the richest man in the world, appointed the 9th earl of Elgin as first chairman of his Scottish Universities Endowment Fund.
In modern times it has hosted lunches for royalty, including Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife Charlene.
Charles Bruce, who manages the estate, says: “We have the perfect combination of history and location for the modern business to promote itself.
“Ultimately, those organisations that come here like the fact that they are welcomed into what is still a beautiful ancestral home to my family.”
There was no doubting the choice of venue when McLaren’s team descended on Broomhall House. With nearby Knockhill racing circuit just minutes away, it provided the ideal venue to showcase the company’s supercars.
Wayne Bruce (no relation), global communications & PR director at McLaren Automotive, said: “Our guests, many of whom had travelled from across the world, were delighted with the relaxed hospitality, stunning scenery and the exclusive location in which to carry out their work.
“It really was one of the loveliest events I have had the pleasure to manage in many years.”
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive at VisitScotland, said: “It’s fantastic that Broomhall House has opened as a venue for corporate events, product launches, meetings and private dining.
“This historic building’s superb facilities, accessible location and dedicated staff make it a top choice for a range of business events.
“Scotland continues to prove its worth on the world stage as a deliverer of major business events and conferences, with business tourism representing 20% of all tourism expenditure in Scotland.”
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