New hotel at airport will be a 200 bedroom Premier Inn

Details of an outline proposal made last month for a hotel development on Eastfield Road have become clearer as hospitality group, Whitbread, has announced that they have entered a deal to create a 200 bedroom Premier Inn on the site.

There are two drop-in public consultation events at the Pavilion in the Royal Highland Showground on 19 November from 1pm to 6pm and on 17 December from 1pm to 6pm when plans for the newest airport hotel will be on display.

Whitbread say this will be a five storey building with the full application for planning permission due to be submitted to the council in 2025. The L-shaped layout will have 100 on site parking spaces as well as Premier Inn’s latest bedroom styles including Premier Plus rooms. The hotel will also have a reception space on the ground floor with the brand’s The Social.

Jill Anderson, Acquisitions Manager for Whitbread, said: “The investment case for expanding Premier Inn at Edinburgh Airport is compelling. Close to 14.5 million passengers chose to travel from the airport in 2023, an increase of almost 30% on the year before, and aircraft movements are increasing especially to international destinations.

“As the airport continues to succeed and grow, so are we.  We have recognised an opportunity to expand our network in the catchment and bring the popular Premier Inn brand to within walking distance of the airport terminal building.  It’s another exciting location for our guests and a further example of Whitbread’s strategy of investing in strategic locations where we see a bright future.”

John Rumsey, Development Director at Riverstone Developments, said: “Whitbread’s strong reputation and track record made this partnership an easy choice. The Premier Inn brand is instantly recognisable to travellers, and Whitbread’s long track record and consistently strong financial performance gave us the reassurance to commit to a leasehold development with them. As a team, we have everything in place to progress to start building the new hotel next year should we get planning and I know Whitbread is keen to press on and bring the hugely popular Premier Inn brand closer to the airport as soon as they can.”