Readers react to news Frasers could be turned into a hotel

READERS have reacted to news that one of the Capital's most iconic shops could be transformed into a hotel

As revealed by the Edinburgh Evening News, The House of Fraser site at the west end of Princes Street has been put up for grabs 12 years after the retail giants secured the Jenners store on the shopping thoroughfare.

The department store could be turned into a new flagship hotel after being put up for sale with a £13.7 million price tag.

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Frasers department store at the West End. The building is up for sale and may be converted into a hotel. Picture: Greg Macvean.

Readers took to social media to have their say on the news.

@wessy666 said: “Yay another hotel. Council will gloat about how many jobs it will provide - forgetting all those lost when Frasers close.”

William Kay added: “it’s a funny old world.

Frasers department store at the West End. The building is up for sale and may be converted into a hotel. Picture: Greg Macvean.

“Shops have opened their doors seven days a week for us and how do we reward them for that generosity? We shop online and so they eventually close.”

It is thought the shop could be turned into a hotel - but Lora Grace Scott said: “It should stay a department store.

“Princes Street is seriously lacking these days with too many empty shops, the BHS store for example. It’s so sad.”

Scott J Glanville is concerned about the news.

He said: “Another hotel. If it’s not student flats, it’s hotels.

“The Scottish identity is nearly gone from Edinburgh. People want to meet locals when they visit a city especially Edinburgh but sadly Edinburgh is losing more and more of us.”

Margaret Sinclair is concerned about the state of shops on Princes Street.

She said: “It should stay as a shop but make it a good one for a change.

“Princes Street has too many rubbish shops compared with years ago when it had really good shops. Hotel not necessary.”

John McDonaugh added: “I remember when Princes Street was iconic.

“Now it’s fast becoming like any other, full of empty shops.

“Bring back city centre shopping. These shopping malls outside town are horrible and expensive.”