Project Overview

Designer Lighting Store delivered a bespoke 2 metre crystal chandelier to the newly refurbished Skylark Bar at Marcliffe Hotel & Spa — Aberdeen’s only 5-star hotel.

The Skylark Bar sits beneath a newly constructed architectural glass dome, creating a dramatic focal point within the hotel’s latest refurbishment. The brief required a statement chandelier that would feel timeless and refined, while integrating safely and precisely within the dome’s engineered framework.

Marcliffe holds an official AA 5-Star rating, unmatched within the city, and has received prestigious AA Rosette recognition, reinforcing its position at the pinnacle of hospitality in the North-East of Scotland.

The Brief

The original concept design called for a grand, multi-tier crystal chandelier with decorative crystal crown to sit centrally within the dome structure. The challenge was not purely aesthetic — it was structural.

The chandelier needed to:

• Align perfectly within the dome’s curved geometry
• Suspend safely from a newly engineered glazed structure
• Deliver warm, dimmable hospitality lighting
• Complement the brass detailing of the surrounding bar

Designer Lighting Store were appointed to take the initial concept and engineer it into a fully manufacturable and installable solution.

Engineering & Structural Coordination

In early 2025, Designer Lighting Store Owner Robert Parkes met with the engineering team at Gray & Dick Ltd in Glasgow — the specialists commissioned to construct the architectural glass dome.

Also present were Lady Gillian Milne, Scottish business figure and co-proprietor of Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, alongside the design team from Glasgow based 3 Design Scotland. Lady Gillian plays a key leadership role in the management and continued development of the hotel, working alongside her husband, Sir Jim Milne, founder of the Aberdeen-based Balmoral Group.

The purpose of the meeting was to resolve a critical structural question:

How would a 2-metre multi-tier crystal chandelier suspend safely within a brand-new glazed dome?

Load distribution, fixing tolerances, suspension ratings and long-term maintenance access were carefully assessed. The chandelier was not simply decorative — it had to integrate precisely with the dome’s engineered framework.

Early coordination ensured both structural integrity and perfect visual symmetry.

Installation & Contractor Liaison

The refurbishment was led by CHAP Group (Aberdeen) Ltd as main contractor.

DLS maintained direct involvement throughout the dedicated delivery to site with Robert personally on site to supervise the chandelier’s arrival, unloading, safe lifting and handling into the building. 

The Result

By day, natural light refracts through cascading crystal chains. By evening, warm candlelight enhances the brass framework of the bar below.

It is both the centrepiece and quiet guardian of the room — an elegant presence overlooking every guest who visits the Skylark Bar.

Project Credits

• Client: Marcliffe Hotel & Spa
• Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
• Project: Skylark Bar – Glass Dome Feature Chandelier
• Main Contractor: CHAP Group (Aberdeen) Ltd
• Glass Dome Construction: Gray & Dick Ltd
• Interior Design: 3 Design Scotland
• Photography: Conor Gault
• Lighting Design & Supply: Designer Lighting Store