Princes Street fire: New Ruby Hotel on site next to former Edinburgh Debenhams looks set to face delays
‘We’re hopeful that any delays to our hotel proposals can be kept to a minimum’ - Andrew Moffat
A £100 million hotel due to be built next to the former Debenhams store in Princes Street looks likely to be delayed following last week's fire.
The new 347-bedroom Ruby Hotel is said to be the biggest investment in Princes Street since the Johnnie Walker experience opened in the former House of Fraser premises at the West End in 2021.
Demolition had already taken place on part of the site previously occupied by Next. But work has not been able to progress since the fire in the early hours of Thursday last week, which badly damaged the historic Debenhams building.
The former store was due to be converted into a Zedwell hotel and pod-hotel with 328 bedrooms plus 345 “capsules” or pods, with retail on the ground floor. The proposals will now have to be revised and there has been speculation that Criterion Capital, which owns the Zedwell brand, could decide to sell the site.
It is still unclear when work to make the building safe will be completed and it is understood there has been some flooding at the Ruby site.
Around 50 firefighters, six engines and two height appliances were involved in tackling the blaze at its peak. And the stretch of Princes Street in front of the store has been closed to traffic, including pedestrians, since the fire.
Andrew Moffat, managing director of real estate management company Hunter Reim, Ruby Hotel’s partners in the project, said: “Like everyone involved we’re relieved that nobody was harmed by what has been a very serious fire.
"We’re obviously very concerned about any impact this project might have on our proposals. We’re working as closely as we can with the council and will do all we can to help facilitate any demolition or remedial works necessary.
"It’s important that decisions are taken appropriately and quickly to minimise any disruption of Princes Street and the city centre. We’re hopeful that if things do move quickly any delays to our hotel proposals can be kept to a minimum."
The Ruby Hotel plan was announced in 2022 and the planning application was approved in 2023. It involves replacement of the unlisted 1971 concrete building at 107-108 Princes Street, which used to house Next, and replacement of parts of 104-105 and 106 Princes Street, previously occupied by Zara and Russell & Bromley.
The hotel will have a rooftop bar with views across to the Castle, and retail space on the ground floor and in the basement.
It will be the first Scottish location for Ruby Hotels, who already operate in London, Dublin, Zurich and Amsterdam.
Munich-based Ruby Group say their hotels offer “lean luxury” to “cost and style-conscious” customers.
A study during the planning process claimed the project would “help revitalise this core area of the city centre” and create over 150 jobs during the development phase and more than 250 jobs once the hotel and retail space is operational.