The House of Gods Hotel

The House of Gods Hotel reveals a masterclass in unapologetic maximalism and experiential design that fundamentally subverts the sterile, minimalist conventions of modern hospitality.

Originating in Edinburgh's subterranean Cowgate and expanding to Glasgow's Merchant City (with a footprint extending into London), the properties operate under a strict "beige is blasphemy" design theory. The interior architecture—spearheaded by the brand's visionary co-founders Mike and Ross Baxter in collaboration with the international architecture and design firm Ica—fuses Victorian grandeur with a distinctly rock-and-roll decadence. Spatially, the hotels are intricately zoned into distinct tiers, from intimately scaled "Cabin" rooms inspired by the compact luxury of the Orient Express, up through Classic and Deluxe offerings, to sprawling Presidential Suites anchored by freestanding golden bathtubs and four-poster beds. The material palette relies heavily on sensory immersion: deep crimson and midnight blue hues, 24-carat gold embellished bespoke wallpapers, tactile velvet drapery, and hidden spirit bars integrated into period-correct cabinetry. Driven by developers Mike and Ross Baxter alongside specialist leisure investor Imbiba, this architectural execution extends beyond the guestrooms to communal spaces like the glass-encased "Sacred Garden" rooftop bar, ultimately creating a lavish, theatrical environment that transports guests entirely out of the surrounding urban landscape.