A new 18-bedroom hotel has opened in Dunfermline’s High Street, with its owner hoping it will help establish the city as a more attractive destination for short breaks and business travel.

The Amorist Hotel, at 82 High Street, was officially launched at a champagne reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Provost of Fife Jim Leishman and local MSP Shirley Anne Somerville.

The hotel is the brainchild of Dunfermline businessman Nihat Oymak, who already runs several local enterprises including the award-winning Antioch Turkish Restaurant in Bridge Street, Ace Alterations in East Port, and The Wee Shop in Douglas Street. He has invested in excess of £700,000 in the development, which occupies the top three floors of the High Street building.

Every bedroom is en-suite, and the refurbishment has retained original character features including cornicing and window shutters. Several of the larger rooms feature freestanding baths.

The project has not been without its challenges. Nihat began the work in 2022, with an initial plan to open in Spring 2023, but the devastating earthquake which struck Turkey in February of that year forced him to pause. He lost family members, properties, and a significant sum of money in the disaster, and returned home for a period before resuming the project.

“We persevered, as I really wanted to finish the hotel,” he said. “I am very proud to present the building that you see today.”

Alongside the hotel, several new jobs have been created, including the appointment of Head Chef Victoria Morrison, who previously cooked for royalty and dignitaries at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The hotel shares a building with Amorist Bistro Bar, which Nihat took on as La Menta in 2017 before rebranding it in 2022. The bar has built a strong local following and is said to stock the largest selection of spirits and gins in the city.

Convener of the City of Dunfermline Area Committee, Cllr James Calder, welcomed the investment: “The opening of the Amorist Hotel will strengthen the city’s appeal as a destination for short breaks and business travel, creating new jobs and supporting local businesses.”

VisitScotland’s Destination Development Director, Caroline Warburton, added that increasing the number of rooms available in Dunfermline was important for its continued development as a visitor destination.

Nihat said the hotel would be seeking a formal star rating in the coming months. More information is available at www.amorist.co.uk