Couples who have romantic stories from iconic Hamilton dance hall The Trocadero are being invited to share their memories ahead of the opening of a luxury new venue sharing its name.
The new restaurant at Crossbasket Castle – created as part of a multi-million-pound development also including the addition of 40 luxury hotel rooms – will be named Trocadero’s in honour of the fondly-remembered Townhead Street ballroom and aims to “capture the essence of the original venue” with its combination of live music, bespoke cocktails and fine dining.
Now its owners are asking couples and their families who have cherished memories and stories of meeting at the nostalgic venue to get in touch and feed in their first-hand experiences ahead of the restaurant’s launch next month.
Dance hall The Trocadero first opened in the 1950s and became a hugely popular venue in its heyday, becoming “a renowned hotspot for blossoming romances”.
The town-centre building was eventually demolished in 1997 but with couples and families across Hamilton and Lanarkshire having their own special tales to tell, the Crossbasket team want to honour its history at their new venue which “takes inspiration from its local roots”.
Visitors are being promised an entertainment-led dining experience with “one of the most sophisticated live performance set-ups in Britain” and immersive dining experiences overseen by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.
Crossbasket Castle owner Alison Reid-Timoney said: “It’s important to us that the launch of Trocadero’s pays homage to the rich local history from which the concept of our new restaurant was born – we want to showcase the romance found from the original iconic venue as we build on its history and enter a new era.
“I have fond memories of hearing stories from my mum telling me all about the music and dancing at the ‘Troc’ with my dad.
“These personal stories are an integral part of The Trocadero’s legacy, and we are honoured to pay tribute to those moments while celebrating the unveiling of the brand-new modern restaurant that allows guests to indulge in pure nostalgia.”
Crossbasket’s new venue promises to “transport guests to a captivating bygone era”, and anyone with a memorable story from the former dance hall – including couples themselves and those whose parents or grandparents who may have met or spent time at The Trocadero – is asked to email [email protected].
The destination restaurant and new 40-bedroom hotel at the five-star venue in High Blantyre will open on March 16, in the latest landmark development since the historic castle was purchased in 2011 by owners Alison and Steve Timoney, the entrepreneur and philanthropist couple.
They spent five years and over £10 million restoring the historic building – including a tower dating back to the 15th century – which was then on Scotland’s register of buildings at risk and has since been transformed into a popular venue, now supplemented by the new hotel and restaurant which will “have capacity for an additional 35,000 visitors each year and provide over 50 jobs for the area”.
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