Changing the name on the front door of a hotel on George Street called the George is a bold move. But Principal Hayley Hotels are bold and what they have done to upgrade what they now call The Principal Edinburgh hotel in a multi-million pound refurbishment programme is very bold.
They threw open the doors on Tuesday of this week with the unveiling of an important artwork by Scottish artist Charlie Anderson, paying homage to the history and future of the hotel.
The 240 bedrooms are all now newly designed by interior architects Goddard Littlefair and the hotel is also home to the restaurant Printing Press Bar & Kitchen and coffee shop/deli Burr & Co. Â Both of these eateries have their own entrances, but they are still an important and integral part of the hotel.
Head chef at Printing Press Colin Fleming uses Scottish fare to great effect with home-cured salmon and Tweed Valley beef featuring on the menu. Only the other day I had a beautiful wild mushroom lasagne for lunch there sitting in a cosy alcove overlooking George Street. It is the loveliest place to escape the buzz!
The best part of the city centre is formed from sandstone which originated in one of our local quarries. One of these was of course at Cragileith where Sainsbury’s and M&S now add to the retail park there. The stone was used as an inspiration for the guest rooms where bathrooms are equipped with Villeroy and Boch sinks. Some have walk-in showers and others roll-top baths for you to luxuriate in. And did you know that you can take your dog with you to stay at The Principal? They will even get their own dog-bed and treats!
The hotel is formed from five townhouses all dating from the 18th century and parts of which were formerly home to the Caledonian Insurance Company. Towards the rear of the property there are several suites including The King’s Hall which is often used for weddings, a rooftop terrace for private hire and the Forth View Suite which has breathtaking city views. In all there are 9 spaces for meetings and events.
Andreas Maszczyk, General Manager of The Principal Edinburgh, says: “This will be another chapter for a remarkable building in a city steeped in history. We hope that the hotel and its services will become a lively meeting-point in one of the world’s most handsome neighbourhoods.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
