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An historic former school building in Edinburgh’s Old Town is to be converted into a boutique hotel and restaurant as part of the city’s £150m New Waverley development.
The C-listed red sandstone Canongate Venture building will become a 21-bedroom hotel and will be managed by Apple Apartments – an aparthotel operator that specialises in the conversion of small-scale period properties.
Plans for the two-storey building include the conversion of the school’s original rooms into a 21 double-height serviced apartments, each with a mezzanine level providing separate sleeping and living areas.
A glass atrium forming part of the central galleried hall will remain unchanged since it was first designed in 1901.
The property will also feature a 24-hour butler service, an exclusive customer lounge and a gourmet restaurant. The company said discussions are currently underway for the restaurant, including talks with a “internationally recognised successful chef”.
Billy Cowe, who runs Apple Apartments with his brother Peter Cowe, said: “We knew straight away that this historic building would be perfect for our next specialist conversion project.
“As well as sitting alongside the Royal Mile, one of the world’s most iconic streets, it also has a range of striking features both inside and out, which makes it genuinely stand out as a unique destination not just in Edinburgh but in the UK.”
Subject to planning permission, it is expected that building work will begin later this year, with an aimed completion date of the second half of 2017.
