Meet the Team

We are delighted to introduced you to members of the team at the Colonnades.  

Laura Ashe - Team Member

Bubbly Laura Ashe hails from Belfast. After 5 years working in a bank, she took the plunge and enrolled for an art foundation course. This inspired her to move to Edinburgh to take a Photography Degree at Edinburgh Napier University and she’s been here ever since. We’re very pleased to include some of her photographs of the Colonnades on this website.

Laura relishes that two days are never the same at the Colonnades. Her enthusiasm is infectious.

On her days off, she loves catching up with the latest art exhibition or attending a live music gig or sharing a laugh with friends at a comedy show.

Her guests for the ultimate dinner party

She’d invite Jimi Hendrix, Picasso, Salvador Dali and Gaudi – what a night that would be!

How her friends would describe her?

Caring, chatty and quirky

The Colonnades in three words

Delightful, historic and relaxing.

Don’t take our word for it – reviews for Laura from TripAdvisor

“Laura our server was extremely attentive and was able to give us a brief history of this magnificent building whilst explaining the various items on the menu.” ….  a great first time at this new place and again a special thanks to Laura and the team." Jim Veith, Hong Kong 

"Great and friendly service from Laura in calming, sophisticated surroundings oozing with tradition". Lynne Bateson, Passadena, California

"Laura was our main server and she was so friendly and efficient and well aquainted with all the produce, very informative without being intrusive." Eileen D 

Glenn D'Costa - Maître D

Meet Glenn D’Costa our energetic Maître D. He has a fantastic eye for detail ensuring that our guests’ experience at the Colonnades is memorable.

Glenn is very well travelled. Having grown up in India, he moved to Switzerland to study and work, then moving continents to South Africa, where he became Assistant Manager at Arabella Starwood Hotels. Three years ago he arrived in Scotland and worked as Assistant Manager at Rocco Forte Hotels. 

On his days off, he loves nothing better than discovering the best places to eat and drink in Edinburgh with his friends.  With all the travelling across the globe, he’s got quite a taste for different cuisines, his favourite is Thai and in particular Bangkok street food.

Glenn and his staff pride themselves on delivering the “old school” service that makes a visit so special. To him, every day is an opportunity to learn something new and to drive himself and his team to be the very best.

His secret vice is football and is a staunch follower of Liverpool FC. Indeed the person he would most like to meet is his idol Stephen Gerrard, former captain of Liverpool FC.

The Colonnades in three words

Where people meet

How his friends would describe him

Loyal, supportive, a great sense of humour and always ready to meet  up for a drink!

Latest News