Couple married there 15 years ago to be first guests as Edinburgh hotel re-opens

They will celebrate their anniversary in style.

Sarah and Steven Hinks on their wedding day

A couple who were married at the Edinburgh DoubleTree hotel 15 years ago will be among the first guests as the hotel reopens for business today.

Sarah and Steven Hinks were married at what was then the Point Hotel in 2005, and have returned to the hotel for numerous celebrations over the years.

They will now mark their 15th anniversary there on the day the hotel reopens to visitors after the coronavirus lockdown.

Sarah and Steven Hinks with son Costin, 12

"It’s our special place. We’ve always gone back every year, it’s changed hands but we’ve kept a good relationship,” said Ms Hinks, 43.

The couple, who now have a son, Chiston, 12, had considered a big celebration at the hotel this year, but the coronavirus pandemic hit before they had organised anything.

They chose the hotel back in 2005 as it was a ‘trendy’ spot, having been visited by Prime Ministers, First Ministers and film stars.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh. Picture: Paul Rogers

They also wanted a local hotel which they could return to for later celebrations.

“We had a wonderful party,” said Ms Hinks.

"There was amazing food and amazing champagne. We had a free license to come up with the food we wanted, so we had lots of flexibility to do what we liked.

"We were at the stage when everyone was getting married and we wanted somewhere different.”

Ms Hinks said she sometimes jokes that the couple “got married in a Co-op”, as that was the building’s former use.

“Hopefully it ill be a hotel for a while, we’ll keep coming back as long as we can,” she said.

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