Minto Hotel set to auction entire contents off

Minto Hotel in Newington. Picture: Rab McDougall/ TSPL

Next week, the entire contents of the Minto Hotel in Newington will go up for sale in an anything-goes auction that could see flatscreen TVs and bath tubs sold for as little as £1.

The site, which shut its doors at Christmas, is due to be converted into eight apartments and three townhouses within the year – and developers are selling off all the old fittings to make way for the revamp.

Items up for grabs include TVs, beds and artwork from all 22 rooms of the 125-year-old hotel, as well as restaurant tables, chairs and lamps.

But Robert Chambers, of Wilsons Auctions – who are hosting the sell-off – said it was difficult to put a price on how much would be raised in total. He added: “Auctions can be so fickle. You don’t know who is going to be there on the day.

The Minto in Newington to be converted into housing

“If you have two or three people bidding on one item, that will raise the price. It’s difficult for the auction house to come up with a figure.

“The asset will find its own price. Everything is unreserved, so it will be sold. If the highest bid is £1, it will be sold for £1. What does not get sold will probably just get binned.”

Bathroom fittings are among the items up for auction in the Minto Hotel. Picture: contributed

Last year, Wilsons Auctions were appointed to sell the fixtures and fittings of Donald Trump’s five-star Trump Turnberry Resort.

Bosses said their latest auction was a “fantastic and unique opportunity for local businesses and the community to pick up a bargain” – with more than 560 items going under the hammer. While open to everyone, the event is expected to attract mainly hotel and B&B owners, as well as those involved in the catering trade.

But bargain-hunters from across the city and beyond are sure to turn up in force.

The development of the Minto Hotel is being spearheaded by Merchant Capital, a company co-owned by developers Mark Emlick and James Tullis.

The facility previously boasted a long history, and was the site of former Hibs goalkeeper Andy Goram’s wedding.

Its revamp will see the main building turned into luxury apartments, while the non-original extensions to the rear of the hotel will be replaced with three new townhouses. Mr Emlick is behind a number of ongoing developments in and around Edinburgh, including the transformation of the former tax office in the New Town into a 127-bed Premier Inn.

The property guru also converted the Craigievar House office block – along with the surrounding area in East Craigs – into affordable housing, and in 2014 constructed 48 new flats as part of a major brownfield development at Lochend.

June 28’s auction will take place on site from 11am, with viewings on Monday, June 27, between 10am and 4pm.

A detailed list of all the items on offer will be published on the Wilsons Auctions website.