Caterer and Hotelkeeper - Eat your Art out

The House for an Art Lover, set in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park, is one example of a more recent appreciation of Mackintosh's work.

It is now home to an art school, cafe-restuarant, shop, banqueting and conference facilities combined with a visitor exhibition centre. It appears a somewhat diverse collection of interests on which to establish a profitable and coherent business, but it is the interdependency of catering, education and arts that has brought the house such considerable success.

The combination of an 'artistic' environment and a catering business amounts to astute branding. The House for an Art Lover is a place tourists and Mackintosh fans come to visit to appreciate the architecture and design, while providing an inspiring setting in which to enjoy quality food and wine.

Although it is named the cafe, the emphasis is firmly on fine dining. It provides a relaxed and informal environment for dinners. To attract more visitors, the cafe opens for dinner during some of the quieter winter months and for special occasions such as Valentine's Day. Free music recitals every other Sunday bring in a regular supply of visitors, most of whom also visit the cafe.

The House for an Art Lover is not just a restaurant, however. By renting out space to Glasgow's School of Design, hosting art classes and music recitals, it provides an image that businesses wish to subscribe to through conferences, catering and events.

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