W hotel chain to take over Edinburgh's ribbon hotel

Artist's impression of the St James Quarter. The image attached is 'courtesy of Laing O'Rourke' and shows the 'Galleria Roof and Upper Levels of the Hotel'. St James Centre redevelopment

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LUXURY brand W Hotels will be part of the major St James redevelopment.

The current shopping centre will be demolished and replaced with up to 250 homes, 30 restaurants, shops and a multi-screen cinema.

Completion of the 1.7 million square foot development is expected by 2020 and the new hotel is due to open the following year.

St James development gets go-ahead from councillors

Artist's impression of the St James Quarter hotel - St James Centre

Aerial view looking north east. — Artist's impression of the St James Quarter hotel - St James Centre Aerial view looking north east.

The 214-room hotel will have a rooftop bar and outdoor terrace with views across the city skyline as well as a spa, restaurant and event space.

It will be the second W hotel in the UK, after the Leicester Square hotel in central London which opened in 2011 and recently hosted a karaoke event with tennis champion Serena Williams.

Michael Wale, of the hotel chain owners Starwood Hotels & Resorts, said: “As an established business hub with a thriving global tourism industry, we are confident that there will be a huge appetite for our innovative lifestyle brand in the Scottish capital.”

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