Resident Hotels reveals opening date for first Scottish site

Resident Hotels will open the Resident Edinburgh on 1 September.

It will be the brand’s first hotel in Scotland and its sixth in the UK, joining four in London and one in Liverpool.

A total of 164 rooms and suites are now housed in what was Meldrum House, the former headquarters of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, on Drumsheugh Gardens. Each room has been designed for slightly longer stays, with double rooms to junior suites averaging between 17 sq m and 35 sq m.

Accommodation amenities include Nespresso coffee machines, GHD hairdryers for the dressing and vanity area, Molton Brown bathroom products and a dining/working area beside the full-height windows.

The Resident Edinburgh will host an early drinks hour for guests every evening, featuring beverages and snacks from local suppliers, including Stewart Brewery, Quirky Chocolate and wine supplier Justerini & Brooks.

Although there won’t be an onsite restaurant, the hotel is linking up with businesses around the city as breakfast partners, such as the West End Brasserie, seafood restaurant Dulse and steak restaurant Kyloe, as well as Cairngorm coffee.

The hotel’s library lounge will host a book collection of relevance to the city and its culture, while owners the Mactaggart Family and Partners have commissioned art for the public spaces from Emily Beamish of Dacre Fine Art, featuring local artists Katy Eccles, Hatti Pattisson and Poppy Cyster.

Interior design takes inspiration from local surroundings and the designers have placed emphasis on sourcing items to capture Edinburgh’s character. Furnishings have been handpicked and fabric in the rooms and lounge areas have been sourced from Glasgow-based Timorous Beasties.

David Orr, chief executive of Resident Hotels, said: “The Resident Edinburgh marks a significant milestone for the Resident brand, many of us in the business and especially our ownership have cherished, deep Scottish roots and a great affinity for Edinburgh and its cultural affluence.

“The Resident Edinburgh brings a new offering to the visitor for the city, a slightly longer stay with the guest and our teams at the centre.”

Gillian Mylles, who has been appointed as general manager of the Resident Edinburgh, added: “The attention to detail in the Resident Edinburgh is impressive. Amenities and services have been diligently considered to offer an exceptional experience for guests in an idyllic setting. The Resident Edinburgh will be a comforting home away from home.”

Plans for the Edinburgh site began in 2020, with Resident Hotels’ owner purchasing the 1960’s building in 2021 for redevelopment. The firm also secured a £22m loan from NatWest in 2022 to fund the project.

In June, the hotel brand secured planning permission for its fifth London property, in the form of a 128-room site expected to open in Farringdon in 2027.