Watch as Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh removes shutters as it gears up for opening

As the country enters phase three of exiting lockdown, businesses such as hotels are able to start inviting guests back.

One of the city’s iconic hotels removed its shutters today for the first time since businesses were forced to close in March.

The Balmoral Hotel, in Princes Street, closed its doors and boarded up its windows when lockdown was announced almost four months ago.

The popular attraction announced in June that it was ready to welcome guests back from August 1.

Balmoral Hotel in Prices Street removes its lockdown shutters for the first time since closing back in March

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On Monday, maintenance staff removed all the wooden boards that were put up at the start of lockdown when business was put on hold.

With just a few final touches to make, the historic building will be resuming service with social distancing measures in place to ensure guests can enjoy the hotel once again in a safe way.

Despite not being open for guests, the hotel made it into the news during lockdown after the famous Balmoral Clock stopped working in April.

It is a well known the clock runs three minutes fast on a normal day to help commuters arrive a little ahead of time for trains, or for the romantics, to give lovers more time for that goodbye embrace.

The clock has been controlled electronically since being converted from manual control in the 1970s, and rarely breaks down.

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