New hotel opening in Haymarket

A new 157-bedroom hotel in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh, which has been developed by property company S Harrison, will open early next month.

S Harrison, which owns the completed building, has a long-term agreement with European hotel group MEININGER Hotels, to operate the hotel.

MEININGER Hotels currently operates 37 hotels across 27 European cities. Each hotel features its own unique design, offering flexible and affordable modern accommodation.

The Edinburgh hotel has a residents’ bar, guest kitchen, breakfast area, lounge areas and an outdoor seating terrace, and will welcome its first guests from 5 August.

Ann Scott, managing director at S Harrison, said: “After working meticulously to create a

vision for this building that suited its size and location, before securing planning permission

and selecting the right occupier, it’s fantastic to see it almost complete, before it opens next

month.

“This scheme has completely transformed a tired office building into a modern development

that makes a positive contribution to the streetscape and enhances this important part of the

city.

“Crucially, it’s also in a highly sought-after location, just west of Edinburgh’s city centre, within

walking distance of Princes Street and only a few minutes from Haymarket railway station

and tram stop, which will make it hugely popular with anyone visiting one of Europe’s most

popular destinations for business and leisure travellers.”

Ajit Menon, chief executive of MEININGER Hotels, said: “Expanding into Edinburgh is a key tactical milestone for our brand. The city’s resilient, year-round demand profile and diverse visitor base makes it a naturally high-yield market for our hybrid hospitality model.

"In partnership with S Harrison, whose development expertise is key to transforming this

prominent asset, we are thrilled to enhance the local hospitality offering and support the

sustainable growth of Edinburgh’s tourism economy.”

S Harrison appointed Ogilvie Construction as the Haymarket project’s principal contractor.

The work involved demolishing part of a 1970s office building formerly known as Osborne House, before building two further accommodation wings and adding an additional top storey. The scheme was designed by Edinburgh-based Comprehensive Design Architects.

The hotel continues S Harrison’s investment in Edinburgh, following the delivery of the Malmaison hotel in the city centre, which opened in 2019 after the conversion of the Grade A-listed Buchan House.

S Harrison has also delivered numerous purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)

schemes across the city. This includes a recently completed development just off Newington

Road and the company will complete work on another scheme within the historic

surroundings of the Canongate later this year.

In addition, S Harrison has recently secured planning permission for a landmark PBSA

scheme on Gillespie Crescent. The approved scheme will transform a vacant brownfield site

within the Marchmont, Meadows and Bruntsfield Conservation Area into a high-quality 124-bedroom development in a contemporary five-storey building.

S Harrison has also secured planning consent for a major £100m mixed-use

development in a prime waterfront location in Leith. The development will comprise

residential and PBSA, along with commercial, co-working and amenity space.

www.s-harrison.co.uk