Public reacts to new St James Quarter hotel as viral tweet shows finishing touches to exterior

Members of the public have been weighing in on the latest addition to Edinburgh’s skyline, as a tweet highlighting the new St James Quarter hotel goes viral.

The strongly-worded tweet, by Twitter account “Crappy Cheapo Architecture” highlighted the new twirled metal sculpture that sits atop the building on Leith Street, labelling it “horrendous”.

Other twitter users were quick to voice their opinions, and the tweet has been liked by more than 1,300 people.

One unimpressed user wrote: “It’s not been nicknamed ‘The Golden Turd’ for no reason.

“That it has been allowed to dominate the skyline above the heart of the New Town demonstrates appalling judgement on the part of whoever gave it planning permission.”

Another called it “dreadful”, adding: “One of the worlds great architectural cities and they bring this ‘Disney’ architecture to town.”

One person joked: “The planning officer must really hate Edinburgh.”

Another took aim at Edinburgh City Council, writing: “It never ceases to amaze me what terrible stewards Edinburgh council are.

“They have no idea both what they have or how to cherish it.”

Others disagreed, however, reminding people of what had been at the site before the development.

“It’s a vast improvement on the St James Centre as was, and the rest of the development seems decent enough, so not going to complain too hard.”

Among a host of nicknames for the sculpture, several tweets referred to it as the “Walnut Whip”.

“If it was a Walnut Whip,” one user wrote, “at least it would have context.

“Walnut Whips were originally made by Duncan's of Edinburgh.”

So perhaps the hotel’s eye-catching design is fitting after all.

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