It begins with the sound: a weighted, golden click that feels less like a handbag closure and more like a secret handshake. We’re in Edinburgh for 48 hours to deconstruct that sound, trading the London rush for the rhythmic, tactile world of Strathberry – a brand currently redefining the ‘Spirit of Modern Scotland’ through a lens of leather.
I’m tracing that sound now against the rhythmic hum of the LNER as we sweep north toward Waverley. To my left, a Kite Hobo Maxi in a muted, architectural beige rests against the window; to my right, the charcoal mist of the Borders begins to swallow the horizon. We are heading into the heart of the city to explore a manifesto built on grit and grace one stitch at a time.
The Bar: A Masterclass in the Architecture of the Handbag
To understand the bar, one must first understand the hide. We have the honor of spending four hours within the Strathberry Atelier Townhouse on Melville Street – which is where creativity doesn’t just flow; it’s curated.
Beyond the new, there is the soulful; we witness the “recovery” process, featuring well-loved bags meticulously restored. Somewhere between the precision of a hand-painted edge and the 2,000 stitches required to birth a Lana Osette, the realization hits: Guy and Leeanne Hundleby aren’t interested in making fleeting, trendy “it-bags” – they’re making objects that actually feel alive, built with a patience that’s become the ultimate modern luxury.
The Bard: The Kimpton Charlotte Square and Chef Roberta Hall
Edinburgh is well-known for its verticality and stone, but inside the Kimpton Charlotte Square, the sharp edges soften. It is a home away from home that actually delivers on the promise – spoiling us with a curation of Ishga (the seaweed-infused soul of their spa) and Maskology masks that made the London-to-Waverley transit feel like a distant memory. After a heavenly lunch at their iconic Baba, we retreat into the wellness sanctuary to reset; this really is the kind of hotel that understands luxury is as much about the ritual of a face mask as it is the thread count.
As dusk fell, the evening calls for a different kind of ceremony. We arrive into the Hundlebys’ private residence for a Strathberry Supper Club via the haunting, visceral pull of the pipes. The residence – a 19th-century Victorian villa – sits on the edge of the historic Links, tucked away in leafy Bruntsfield. The interiors? A masterclass in the “Modern Scottish” aesthetic: Farrow & Ball tones serve as the backdrop for maximalist prints from House of Hackney and iconic Fornasetti plates, punctuated by Jonathan Adler ceramics and Diptyque scents.
The meal itself, a bespoke manifesto by the formidable Chef Roberta Hall, is an exercise in “New Scotland” precision. It begins with the comfort of a game broth and a pillowy milk bun, followed by a baked scallop submerged in a rich Arbroath smokie sauce. The main – a venison saddle paired with haggis, pearl barley, and parsnip – is a plate of pure, refined grit. By the time the cardamom panna cotta with pear and pecan arrives, the evening has become a sensory proof-of-concept: a place where heritage isn’t sealed in amber, but served in real time.
The Byrne: A Cinematic Finale
When the Glenmorangie is poured, the mood shifts to the cinematic. A gentleman from the distillery walks our senses through the 15 and 18-year-old casks, explaining the magic of Scottish oak as the whiskey opens in the glass.
Honor Swinton Byrne co-hosts the evening with warmth. There is something profoundly moving about hearing a Scottish poem read in a room where the floorboards groan with history. In fact, Honor’s reading feels like the final piece of the Strathberry puzzle.
In this setting, the ethos snaps into focus. Guy and Leeanne Hundleby haven’t just built a brand; they’ve created a seat at a very chic Scottish table. Strathberry is a world where the craft is humble, the poetry is visceral, and the heritage is perpetually moving forward. All secured, as always, with that signature golden bar.
Written by Sandy Aziz.
