Belles in the Basement at Malmaison

This review is saved only by the company of the other fabulous Unilocalers.
I was lucky enough to get a half price ticket for this event, and I’m glad I did — for the original £10 fee I’d have been a little miffed at value for money.
On the way in, were were given lovely gift bags filled with beauty products, a miniature of gin, a free drinks voucher and some flyers.
There were cocktail masterclasses on throughout the day, and staff going about offering nibbles.
The room itself had 3 businesses — Beauty Boutique & Spa, Vidal Sassoon and Benefit. Nails, facial mapping and brow waxing were on offer, and I’m not exactly sure what Vidal Sassoon were offering as they seemed very quiet and not very approachable.
The basement was lovely, with bright lighting, neon signs, pop art pictures and a spiral staircase. I’d be tempted to go back and have a drink or two with friends.
It was a nice event to meet other Unilocalers and I enjoyed my afternoon with them, but I’m not sure I’d go back to another

Think I’m with Lucy and Haley on this one, as much as I has a nice afternoon it just maybe wasn’t for me? The fellow Unilocalers and their chat definitely made it! It was a group of people I hadn’t spent much time with so it was great getting to know them!
The bar it’s self was lovely and the Malmason staff were great too. It’s definitely somewhere I’d like to pop back for a cocktail. The goodie bags were fab, as was the fizz and cocktail taster!
The cocktail demonstration was fab, with Lucy and her fast maths getting a go at making them. I feel like they said there would be a couple of demonstrations, but when I left about quarter past 3 there had only been one. Although I could have misheard that one.
When it came to the stands, I was just a bit underwhelmed, although I have to admit I’m not very girly so figured it could just be me. I decided I’d get my eyebrows done at benefit, being quite well known for eyebrows. I was then told they weren’t taking card payments and had to leave to find a cash machine and then come back. Not a massive deal but it would be good to know before or have a sign. It was £12.50 to get them waxed which is the same price as going to the benefit bar, not sure the service was as good. You’d think at these events they’d do a wee offer. Pretty sure everyone else was. Although my eyebrows are lovely!
I then got gel nails done by Beauty Boutique & Day Spa, this was great! Coming from someone who has never had their nails done before, I’d really consider it in future. We were a little unsure of the set up to start off with however one of the girls came over and asked if we wanted to be added to the waiting list and would come and find us when it was our turn. That was really nice. The girls were chatty, telling us about the company, what all the things they do are. And my nails are a lovely colour!
I never got anything done to my hair, that’s really not my thing. But all in all the room with all beauty brands lacked atmosphere and guidance. I’m glad I went along and got chatting to some cool Unilocalers! :)

As with so many other events, for me it was the fellow Unilocalers who made this event fun and enjoyable.
Rather thoughtfully, prior to the event, Briony had sent us a list of who would be attending, so that we could look out for each other. We did this extremely well, and formed our own wee Unilocal clan, dividing to look at certain tables or get nails done etc, then gathering back at the clan hub in the beautiful bar area, to report back on our finds.
The seating area certainly is glorious, as the photos will testify. Flooded with natural light, and stylishly fitted out, it really is lovely to sit here and have a drink and a chat. Previously, I would never have considered coming here for a drink, but I would now — it’s a very comfortable and cool place to hang out, and having a look at the cocktail menu, I was surprised to see how reasonable the prices are, with all of the cocktails being a £5 fixed price, and a wide selection to choose from.
Going from the Cosmopolitan cocktail that was demonstrated in the masterclass, with the mixologist being expertly assisted by his glamourous side-​kick (ahem), the drinks are certainly tasty too. I thought the masterclass was one of the strongest elements of the event. Take-​away recipe cards would have been the finishing touch for me.
I didn’t try any of the food, so can’t comment on that, but the staff certainly did seem keen for us to eat it, with haggis balls and cheesey things being thrust under my nose every few minutes. If you ate this sort of thing, you could have filled your boots, as it was plentiful.
I was more appreciative of the glass of fizz — very nice it was too, as well as the complimentary goodie bag, containing a Malmaison body cleanser, Malmaison shampoo and conditioner, a Sassoon spray shine, and my favourite — a wee bottle of Bloom gin. I restrained myself from necking it there and then, and stuck to my fizz.
When it came to the stands, I was a teeny bit disappointed.
Benefit were there — but I like to buy vegan products where possible, and the Benefit girls seem woefully under-​informed whenever I ask about this, so there’s not much to keep my interest there. Vidal Sassoon had a table, and that was very interesting as they were sort of (eventually) doing demonstrations of the styling wand that they were trying to sell. Talking to them actually made me think a lot about my current hairstyle, to the extent that I’m going for a style change, and I AM going to buy one of the wands (but NOT the one they were punting for lots of money). Beauty Boutique & Day Spa were there, and they were just brilliant — I have booked in with them to get lash extensions (eeek!) and eyebrow tinting, as they were able to reassure me on the day that all the lashes they use are imitation, rather than real mink (I KNOW — yuck!)
So while there were only 3 stands there, it very much has encouraged me to take them up on their services/​advice, even if I didn’t do it on the day. I think there could be much more made of this — it seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity — if there were more decent suppliers there, it could be a brilliant day of pampering or finding out about beauty treatments. I would LOVE to see more demonstrations — maybe how to put on false eyelashes, how to do eye-​liner flicks, that sort of thing, and more mini-​treatments — I don’t like nail-​polish, but I would have LOVED a hand massage and a nail shape, or even a foot massage. That sort of thing. This event really could be awesome. At the moment, it seems a wee bit un-​inspired. And while I think we all made the best of it, and did enjoy it, if I’d paid for the ticket, I probably would have been a teensy bit beelin’.
To sum up, the concept of the event is good, and it has the potential to be completely awesome. On this occasion, it was my fellow Unilocalers that brought the event to life for me, and I really enjoyed this afternoon of female company and chat about girly delights.

Wow! I’ve been to Belles in the Basement twice now and I’m always impressed; Malmaison as a company in general always go that extra mile to offer a luxurious experience for their patrons.
Today Malmaison hosted 4 lovely local beauty businesses; I had my nails done (they’re all lovely and sparkly now), my hair expertly coiffed into retro-​inspired waves, I received a lesson in eyelining at Benefit (I’m still rubbish but I’ll keep practising) and my face ‘mapped’ by the vivacious Lindsay from Dermalogica. Malmaison also provided some tasty canapes and cocktail masterclasses. I watched how to make a PainKiller (no pharmacology degree required!) and it was awesome!
The company as well was lovely; this was such a relaxed environment to get to know more about some of my fellow Unilocalers so a big thank you Briony for giving us the chance to get together!

While I’m delighted to have been along to this lovely ladies day out… I must be honest to say it was the fine company on the day that made it a winner for me, as opposed to the event itself.
Of course, who doesn’t love a basement with a vaulted ceiling, full length skylight + a goodie bag and glass of fizz on arrival? The Malmaison was a lovely space for this event and I’d recommend it for a sneaky cocktail (or 7) if that sort of thing floats your boat /​tickles your fancy /​flips your pancake /​milks your goat etc. The staff were lovely, the mini Haggis balls a triumph, and the cocktail-​Masterclass with post mix-​up taste-​test was an obvious crowd favourite… especially with mathematician-​mixologist-​in-​the-​making Lucy B on hand!
Yet even with my 5* nails from the team at Beauty Boutique and Day Spa on Bath Street costing only a tenner… I just found the whole vibe to be a little lacklustre. The exhibitor stalls were fairly stock-​standard and not really the most engaging. Some good tunes from the decks but all-​in-​all, fairly low-​key. Bells in the Basement is a clever idea for attracting guests at what would otherwise be a fairly quiet time and a nice opportunity for an afternoon out with the girls… just be prepared to bring your own fun.

I was really fascinated when I got the message from Briony that I can attend Belles in the Basement this weekend. The event offers cocktail master classes, snacks, and most importantly, various beauty related offers in one place, which already sounds like the ultimate girly programme for a Sunday afternoon. Now as someone with a weird intolerance to a very basic cosmetics ingredient, fine and flat hair and the pressing need to apply makeup on a daily basis for humanitarian reasons, I really felt that this was just tailor made for me. It’s always good to learn about new products, tips and tricks.
I arrived a bit too early (earning the Unilocal Instigator badge as a side effect), so I had a bit of time to look around in shoot a few photos of the venue, which is indeed very modern and colourful, providing a stylish scene for the event. I didn’t even start to drink my cappuccino when the first fellow Unilocalers arrived, and we started to discover the contents of our goodie bags together: a lot of vouchers, a shampoo, a body cleanser, Sassoon hair shine and the prettiest bottle of gin I ever got (okay, it’s the first one too, but I don’t really think it can get any prettier).
A little later we went to another room where the real fun started. Four or five tables awaited us, packed with beauty related items, surrounded by a lot of kind ladies who answered our questions, demonstrated their products or performed various types of witchcraft. Some of these spells you could even get for free, and some others were available at a discounted price.
This is a very good opportunity to try out new stuff and decide if a girl needs certain things in her life or not. As for me, I added new eye shadows and a primer from Benefit to my collection (definitely need), got my hair done by the lovely girls at Sassoon (GHD’s gadget might well be a new item on my birthday wish list) and for the first time in my life, got gel nails for just 10 pounds in a glittery diet coke shade (I must be the unluckiest person on Earth, but they already started chipping off — so I will probably not add this to my repertoire). I also booked in for a massage in the Beauty Boutique and Day Spa in a few weeks’ time — more about this in one of my future reviews, I hope.
Other things to try were makeup consultation and brow waxes by Benefit, and a Dermalogica face map — these I saved for another time.
Between two stations, I had a lovely chat with fellow Unilocalers (nice to meet you girls, and hope to see you again soon at another Unilocal event), saw two of cocktail master classes (the Metropolitan was delicious, but that’s no surprise, Unilocal expert Lucy B assisted in its creation), and had some of the yummy snacks too.
All in all, this was a very good day out, but I will not be desperate if I miss it next time. A somewhat broader variety of exhibitors could have been a game changer, but this time it is a solid four stars for me. It’s not an absolute must, but of course if you have the chance, you can try and see it for yourself.

After winning a ticket in the Unilocal giveaway I was so excited to attend the event as I had never been in the malmaison.
After a bit of a rough night health wise and a poorly dog I nearly cried off but after some super strong painkillers I dragged myself along.
Positives first … the venue was stunning. The basement bar is beautiful and has a really cool vibe. We were given a drinks voucher on entry and staff were happy to swap this for a soft drink for me. Staff then came around with little canopes for us to try and I have to say the haggis balls were superb! Little bowls of toffee and bacon popcorn were peacons were placed on the table and it was so unusually yummy!
There were 3 main stallholders offering gelnails, skincare, hair ad beauty.
Sadly this is where the negatives creep in. The stallholders although friendly enough just didnt seem that enthusiastic. I approached the benefit counter as they are one of my fave brands and basically i was asked what i wanted to try in a dull monotone voice. I tried a few samples but I didnt feel pampered in anyway.
Whilst my friend was getting her eyebrows done I approched vidal sasson and was given a lovely demonstration of their curling wand. The young girl who done my hair was amazing. She explained exactly what she was doing and little tips and tricks for trying this at home. There was an older lady at the stall who quite frankly really put a dampner on things creating a negative vibe and telling the stylist to hurry up even tho there was no one waiting.
And that was kinda it …
We were given a goody bag on the way in but no one actually checked our names to see if we had tickets or not. I missed the cocktail class as I wasnt feeling great i thought best not to drink.
I loved getting my hair done and thank you so much briony for scoring us lovely Unilocalers freebies. It was lovely to spend time with the other Unilocalers that were there but to be honest I would have been pretty annoyed if I had paid £10 for this.

So today I had my first experience of Belles in the Basement at Malmaison.
I had never actually been in Malmaison so it was a day of firsts for me, including my first eyebrow wax but more on that later…
The Basement Bar itself is really lovely — spacious and subtly decorated with fantastic lighting and nice pops of colour on the soft furnishings and fab pop art on the walls. The staff at Malmaison were all excellent, approachable and friendly.
We were given a fab little goody bag to take home with us, and were then directed towards a conference room with Benefit, Vidal Sassoon, and Beauty Boutique and Day Spa offering treatments and demonstrations.
I started my day of taster treatments off with an eyebrow wax from the lovely girls at Benefit. I paid £12.50 for this treatment, and was really pleased with my newly sculpted eyebrows.
Next I spent some time chatting to all the lovely Unilocalers who were attending the event too while watching Lucy B expertly take part in a cocktail demonstration. Good job Lucy!
There were some canapés on offer too, including goats cheese in choux pastry, haggis bonbons, and some smoked salmon canapés.
Next I visited the Beauty Boutique & Day Spa girls for a gel nails manicure. For a bargain price of £10 my neglected nails were transformed in to rockin red nails to be proud of.
Next it was back to the bar area for a delicious mocktail and some delicious maple, bacon, and pecan popcorn, and another catch up with my fellow Unilocalers.
All in all this was a lovely way to spend a few hours with friends and new friends.
A few reasons I didn’t give this event five stars… I do feel another couple of exhibitors would really make this feel like more of a pamper day out. Also the canapés were just ok, I would really expect a better quality canapé from the likes of Malmaison.

Was so excited to win a ticket in the Unilocal giveaway but this event sounded right up my street! Who doesn’t love a little pamper?!
The Malmaison is a beautiful hotel and I loved the ‘basement’ setting (definitely the prettiest basement I’ve ever seen!). Got given a goody bag and vouches to get a free glass of fizz at the bar (although they were more than accommodating for those wanting soft drinks). Then I went into one of the side rooms which had various tables set up for each of the companies involved.
The tables were all beautifully presented and whether you were looking to get your nails done, transform your straight hair into a head full of curls or get a makeover at Benefit, there was something for everyone. Not every treatment was free (understandably) but there were a few if you didn’t have much money to spend. I got an eyebrow wax and tint from Benefit (£19.50) and I love my brows! I can’t believe I put it off for so long because I love them! Highlight of the day for me (next to the food, but more on that below…).
Everyone was really nice although a couple of the girls representing some of the companies could have been a little well… more enthusiastic and made a bit more of an effort. It’s a chance to really talk about your products to girls who are GENUINELY interested. That disappointed me a little… That was the minority though and I learned so much about different treatments/​products that I’m keen to try. And did I mention I love my brows?!! I would have got my nails done too but none of the colours offered really appealed to me (I steer away from anything on the pink/​sparkle spectrum surprisingly!).
Out in the seating area beside the bar it was so nice to get a comfy seat. I was wearing new flats (never do this) and my feet badly needed a rest. Waiters served various nibbles such as toffee popcorn (with pecans and bacon — seriously, best popcorn I have EVER tasted!), haggis bon bons (delicious!) and the most amazing puff pastry bites stuffed with goats cheese (like a cheese explosion in my mouth… AMAZING!). Food was delicious and plentiful!
I stayed for about 2 hours and missed the cocktail masterclass sadly but it looked fun! My feet were in agony (when I got home there was blood running down my ankles… lovely!). Met some lovely Unilocalers and I had a nice afternoon. No Sunday Blues over here! (My feet are suffering though… oops!)
Thanks Briony… being a Unilocaler is THE BEST!

I can’t believe I neglected to review this until now! When I got the chance to come along to Belles in the Basement I was so pleased. An afternoon of cocktails, pampering and good company? Yes, please!
The cocktail waiter has to be — by far — the best mixologist I’ve ever met. He demonstrated a wide variety of cocktail styles — from fruity, to milkshake based and catered for all of us there. With a Vidal Sassoon pop-​up, a benefit counter and Ultimo (giving away knickers!) we were thoroughly spoiled.
If there’s another one, I’ll definitely be back. And without a doubt, I’ll be back here for a cheeky couple of cocktails!

I had booked to go before and it was only a fiver so what you get here at this fine venue was definitely worth going to. Unfortunately I couldn’t go as I was ill so I entered into the Unilocal give away competition and low and behold I won. Yay! I was excited as I was gutted for missing the last one.
I had been to Malmaison before for a previous Unilocal event so it was nice to come back to this lovely hotel. On arrival you get a wee token for a glass of fizz. I have to say I was a wee tad delicate as one had been out on the Glasgow Subcrawl the day before. That’s a whole other review. I found some other Unilocalers and donated my fizz token. There was also a cocktail master shaking up some cracking drinks but I just enjoyed watching rather than participating.
We were also treated to getting our nails, hair and make-​up done. As I was on the rough side, I came with hair scraped back and no make-​up so I was in need of some major pampering. Once I had a wee cup of tea and the bar, I know but I was rough, I booked into get my nails. I got a slot for Benefit make-​up, I asked for a healthy look as I was looking a wee bit like death. Haha!
I then managed to get a slot for my hair by Sassoon, the girl did a great job and straightened my curly, frizzy locks and gave me a much softer look to go along with my healthy make-​up. I was very much starting to feel much more like myself. I caught up with some of the other Unilocalers while I was waiting to get my nails done and they loved my hair. I don’t straightened it often and I forget how long it’s got.
I also spoke to the lovely girl from Ultimo, and was gifted with a beautiful pair of satin purple pants. I am not your average bra size so it was good to find another brand who sells my size and does lovely styles. I do like my underwear bright and pretty.
I then went over to get my nails done and I opted for a lovely red/​pink colour. It was just nice to get pampered and this wee rough yin came out feeling wonderful.
If another event pops up I would definitely book to go as it’s nice way to spend an afternoon. Thanks to Briony and Unilocal Glasgow for giving me opportunity to enjoy this Sunday treat.

This was a fabulous, luxurious event! Hmm where to begin… It started off with a champaign toast and a gift bag, which may be how all things should kick off! The lovely manager of the Malmaison introduced herself and told us all about the exciting activities for the afternoon! We learned how to make cocktails from the excellent bar staff, which Unilocaler Eilidh was one of the mixologist participants… I have to say I like the way Eilidh pours her cocktails ;)
There was an option to get your nails done, or your hair styled by Vidal Sasoon Stylists. There were representatives from Benefit, to hone your brows and lashes, and give you a healthy glow. The pleasant ladies from Reiss were there showing off lovely garments! I will be checking out their store for sure!
All of this was done while socializing with a great group of gals and sipping cocktails. Speaking of the cocktails, Malmaison makes a great version of my favourite drink, the Clover Club. If you are in their swanky bar, give it a try. Also ask for a dish of their highly addictive, salted and roasted almonds!

I’m not a particularly Girlie Girl. I don’t really do hair, and my make up extends to «ooh, glittery». However, I do like a bit of a pamper, and it’s nice to do something a bit different every once in a while! So I put my name down for the Unilocal competition to win a ticket… and lo, the gods of luck were clearly smiling down on me, because I won one :)
A hasty messaging session rounded up a friend to come with me — who’s much more of a girlie girl than me, and therefore a worthy companion for this foray. We met at the Blytheswood for a coffee beforehand, and then moseyed on down across the square to the Malmaison.
I do like the Mal. Of all the more boutique-​end hotels in the city it’s one of my favourites, and I’ve stayed a couple of times with the other half. The design is striking without being overpowering, and the service is generally attentive without being overbearing, which is a winner for me.
So down to the basement, where we were greeted with a free glass of bubbly, and a goodie bag. I do like a goodie bag. We squirrelled away our jackets and headed through to the rooms across from the bar, where Vidal Sassoon styled our hair («I have an ulterior motive, I’m being a Best Woman in a few weeks, my hair is rubbish, HALP.»), giving great advice and good chat. We perused Reiss’ collection, a little out of my price range but actually containing more interesting things than I thought.
We had our make up done by Benefit, who again were good with the advice, and who added me to their database so that there was a record of what I’d bought should I want to go to see them in Frasers. I’d have preferred to take a list away with me, but I understand why they do that, so fine, y’know?
Having noticed that the lady (who turned out to be a Unilocaler) Getting Her Nails Did was drinking a cocktail with a flower in it, I decided that I needed some gin and headed to the bar to avail myself of a refreshment, whereupon we discovered a cocktail making class. Hurrah!
I’m still sporting the purple & silver nail varnish from the lovely (and very friendly) ladies from Spa — I’ll come back here and update with the name, I left the flyer at home). I got to meet some very friendly other Unilocalers too, so a good day all in!
Overall, this was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The Mal isn’t the cheapest of places for food & drink, but the quality was great. Top pick for special occasions!

When I first found out I was going to the event, I really had no idea what to expect, having never even set foot in Malmaison before! What the set up would be, if there would be food/​drinks, not a clue! So when the event turned out to be essentially a pamper session, I was pretty thrilled! The bar itself is really stunning, with turquoise blue chairs, comic strip art, and one wall decorated with empty beer kegs!
On arrival, we were given goody bags filled with vouchers, flyers and a couple of beauty products, and a glass of complimentary champagne — a pretty good start! We were then invited to head through to where the exhibitors were awaiting us.
Our first stop was to the Benefit stall. I was pretty excited about this because my entire make up collection is Benefit! The staff were super friendly and tested their brand new mascara on me and filled in my eyebrows — something I have NEVER done before — and it looked great! They also gave us the menu for the boutique in House of Frasers, which includes a waxing, tanning and brow bar — who knew?!
After that, Eilidh and I grabbed a cocktail while we waited to get our nails done. I ordered a lovely French martini, and just after it was sat in front of me, we were called to get our nails done. I chose a purple/​grape colour and chatted away with the beauticians from Pure Spa, who were friendly and lovely, just like the Benefit team.
After my nails were sorted, I headed over to the Sassoon stall to get my hair done. I asked for a fish-​tail braid, something I have never been able to master, and minutes later I had a lovely side-​braid!
I left the beauty stalls just in time to catch Eilidh attempting to make cocktails with one of the bar staff. When she and the barman both poured their cocktails into shot glasses to sample, it was clear that Eilidh’s had much more of a kick to it — go easy on the gin next time!
Before calling it a day at Malmaison, we decided to order one last cocktail. The friendly and helpful bar staff recommended one that wasn’t even on the menu, and consisted of blueberry, chambord, gin, lemon and tonic. It was a big hit! As we chatted away, nibbles were placed in front of us including Truffle & Parmesan Popcorn (!!!) and these amazing salted almonds which they kept re-​filling every time we emptied the bowl! That’s good service for you!
I’m really glad I got the chance to go this event — I learnt some beauty tips I’ll never forget and got to know two lovely fellow Unilocalers while sipping on some delicious cocktails! We even headed out to Tiki Bar afterwards for more!

So after a week stuck indoors with the flu, it was a lovely suprise to find out I had been lucky enough to get a place at the basement belles event.
I met up with Lisa before and we headed together where we then meet up with Amy.
It was a little bit confusing at first as to what we should do, but then we got into the swing of it. With complementary champagne in hand we headed to the pamper room.
First of all I got a Benefits make up tutorial, where they gave me lots of tips on how to use some of the products I already had and some of the new products on offer. The girls were helpful and friendly.
Next it was time for a cocktail whilst we waited for a spot to get out nails done, bar staff were friendly and helpful and I went for the barmaids recommendation of a Clover Club which was lovely, now it was time to get my nails done, I was delighted that I had ran out of time to do my nails the night before. I got them shaped and painted a lovely bright orange. Again staff were friendly and fun. I then went to the Vidal Sassoon to get my hair done, they were doing lots of curls and up do’s. They decided to straighten mine and give it a little more body.
Then time for a cocktail demonstration, we were shown how to make the clover club cocktail and I volunteered to help. Whilst pouring out the gin I might have let it overflow a little, well maybe a lot, but the barman laughed at my cheek, it was all good fun and I have to say his tasted fruity but mine definitely had a kick and everyone that sampled said they preffered mine. Hehe maybe I’ll be a mixologist when I grow up!
I really enjoyed today and it was great to see the bar. I would not have known it was there if it wasn’t for this event. I will definitely be back for cocktails. The bar is bright and spacious with a really modern look. The staff were all so friendly and down to earth, a perfect way to spend a Sunday.