Former office block in Edinburgh's Haymarket transformed into 157-bed hotel in time for festival season
The former Osborne House building has been transformed into a major hotel
A new 157-bedroom hotel in a 1970s former office block in Haymarket has confirmed it will open at the start of August.
Work began on the redevelopment of the building, formerly known as Osborne House, in 2024 after being acquired by property development company S Harrison in 2018.
It is being run by the hotel group MEININGER Hotels, and features a bar, guest kitchen and breakfast area, as well as several lounge areas and an outdoor seating terrace.
A section of the 50-year-old office building was demolished as part of the development to make way for two new accommodation wings and to add an additional storey on top of the building.
The hotel has announced it will welcome its first guests from August 5, at the beginning of the busy festival season.
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 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.”
The Edinburgh hotel will be the 38th MEININGER hotel to open in Europe.
Ajit Menon, CEO 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 exceptional 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 also delivered the Malmaison boutique hotel in the city’s New Town, which opened in 2019 after the conversion of the Grade A-listed Buchan House.
It is also behind several of the purpose-built student accommodation schemes across the city, including a recently completed development off Newington Road.
It has recently secured planning permission for a major student housing scheme on Gillespie Crescent, which will transform a vacant brownfield site within the Marchmont, Meadows and Bruntsfield Conservation Area into a 124-bedroom development.