The Scotsman Hotel

The Scotsman Hotel stands on North Bridge in Edinburgh, a grand Edwardian building opened in 2001. It once housed the offices of The Scotsman newspaper for nearly a century. The building’s 190-foot-high tower was added in the early 1900s when the bridge was widened. Designed by Dunn & Findlay, it cost around £500,000 and formed an imposing entrance to the Old Town. The hotel’s penthouse was once used as pigeon lofts, and the North Bridge Brasserie now occupies the former reception and trading rooms. The hotel’s history includes ownership changes, from JJW Hotels & Resorts to Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber in 2006. It later went into liquidation in 2016 before being sold to the G1 Group in 2017. The building is also linked to ghosts, including a phantom printer and a phantom forger from its time as a newspaper office. Awards recognise its design and status, including Boutique Hotel of the Year in 2020 and a place among the world’s top hotels by Condé Nast Traveler. Visitors find a blend of Edwardian grandeur and modern luxury. The hotel retains original features like the tower and basement printing house. The penthouse offers views over the city, while the brasserie occupies the former trading rooms. The building’s location on North Bridge provides easy access to Edinburgh’s New and Old Towns. Its reputation as a top hotel is reflected in its awards and membership of The Preferred Hotel Group.