Edinburgh hotel that’s taken longer to fix than Notre-Dame - and it’s still not finished
It’s not a race – but if it had been we’d have lost. The ongoing repair work taking place behind the enormous and unsightly scaffolding on the historic corner of the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has taken longer than repairing the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral.
It still isn’t finished after more than six years and counting to fix a hotel that was built less than two decades ago.
Despite our best efforts, and in in response to several readers who’ve asked, we’ve been unable to determine whether the project remains on track to complete in 2027, with scaffolding starting to come down by the end of this year.
Notre Dame, which also sits in a World Heritage Site, reopened five years after the catastrophic fire in 2019 destroyed its massive roof, spire and caused huge internal damage. That massive effort included having to source 1000 historic oak trees to hand-hew the medieval roof framework, a task involving 2000 craftsmen and artisans.
Quicker to build than fix: The former G&V Hotel in Edinburgh has now taken more than twice as long to repair than it did to demolish the former Lothian Regional Council offices that stood on the site and construct the existing building. Experts tell us the normal timeline for a full refurbish of a hotel of this size (originally 130 bedrooms) is between nine and 18 months.
Go compare: So far, it has taken more than four years longer to fix than it did to build the Empire State Building; a year longer than it took to construct the enormous Hoover Dam, and equally as long as it took to complete each of the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing.
Why is it taking so long? We don’t know entirely. We’re told the repairs that were initially expected to take 12 months were more complex than anticipated, but no-one has ever explained to the city’s population precisely why. In October last year, we trawled council documents to shed light on it all. Fire safety issues, including cladding replacement, appear to have been a big part of the problems. It is likely that negotiations have taken place between the owners, city-based financial giant Aberdeen, the original contractors, and hotel operators Radisson Collection about who is responsible and pays for it all.
No clear end date yet: Our most recent effort has failed to extract a public commitment to any completion date is perhaps unsurprising given that when we first raised the issue at the start of 2025 we – and local councillors – were led to believe that dismantling the scaffolding was due to start within weeks.
Owners Aberdeen only told us: “We understand the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses and are working with the original contractor Sir Robert McAlpine on essential repairs to the building. This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the complexity and scale of the remedial work required; however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is practicable.”
Huge disruption: Residents and businesses have expressed concern at the length of time the work has taken. Award-winning seafood restaurant Ondine decamped from its site in the building after failing to get any firm reassurance on completion of the work. Andrew McRae, owner of John Kay’s bookshop in Victoria Street, told the Edinburgh News of the difficulties of running a business close to the work, saying: “I’m absolutely horrified it now seems to be a never-ending construction project.”
What about the council? The site on which the hotel was built is owned by the city council, although the building is not, and its repair and maintenance is not the council’s responsibility. Two city council leaders, Cammy Day then Jane Meagher, have publicly expressed frustration at the time the work is taking. Today, councillor Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment Convener, told The Inquirer: “I completely understand how frustrating these works are for residents and local businesses, and I appreciate the disruption they are causing. We’re continuing to press the owners and contractors to progress the works and bring the project to completion at the earliest possible opportunity.”
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
TEARS AND DISCO: There were tears and a disco music soundtrack as Elsinore, the eagerly-anticipated biopic of Edinburgh actor Ian Charlseon, opened the BFI London Film Festival. Charleson’s sister Lizzie joined the film’s star Andrew Scott on stage where he described her as a “wonderful new friend”. Scott is widely tipped to pick up the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Charleson when he starred in Hamlet as he was dying of AIDS.
‘REPAIR, NOT DEMOLISH’: Summerhall Arts, the charity which programmes arts at the venue facing major redevelopment, has raised concerns about developer AMA’s plans for the site. Stressing it recognises the need for investment and that it wants a constructive relationship with AMA, the charity added: “We are concerned the current plans appear to earmark some of Summerhall’s most distinctive spaces for demolition… Their loss would have implications for the arts activity that takes place across the site… We believe the potential for repair, renovation and continued cutural use deserves serious consideration.”
BALACLAVA BAN: The city’s Conservatives and Ben Macpherson, the SNP MSP for Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith, are among those calling for police to be handed more powers to deal with growing problems of anti-social behaviour involving yobs wearing balaclavas. They point to Nottingham which has introduced new powers to order people to remove a face covering where their identity is being hidden to commit crime or behave antisocially. Scotland’s Minister for Victims Kirsten Oswald said she needed to see “clear evidence that additional measures are necessary, practical and effective” as Police Scot land believes its current powers are sufficient.
GREEN FOUR GO: Four of the city’s Green councillors are to stand down at next May’s local elections. Claire Miller (who represents the city centre), Jule Bandel (Inverleith), Susan Rae (Leith Walk) and newly-elected MSP Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill (who represents the Forth ward on the council). The party, which has been tipped to increase its presence on the council in May, has started the process of choosing new candidates.
VIVA ENRAGE: Staff working at the Scottish Government’s huge Victoria Quay offices have reportedly nicknamed its Viva Engage staff message board Viva Enrage. It comes after civil servants were told to return to the office for at least 40% of their working week. Unhappiness about the move has been exacerbated by the Scottish Government’s Social Security Director Stephen Kerr telling them they are ‘free to leave if they don’t like it’, The Scotsman reports.
7-7-7 BUS LANE TRIAL: The trial of 7am-7pm bus lane enforcement 7-days-a-week starts today on the route between Milton Road East and London Road. Bus journey times on the route have increased by 22% since 2019. Data from the 18-month trial will be used to decide whether to make the change permanent and help inform decisions on rolling out the measure in other parts of the city.
FIRST RESORT: Lost Shore Surf Resort just west of Edinburgh has been chosen by GB Surfing as one of its National Performance Centres and Olympic training facilities – strengthening the award-winning centre’s role in the sport in Europe. The partnership will give GB Surfing athletes access to the centre’s leading wave pool and wider facilities.
RARE LITTLE TEAPOT: An incredibly rate silver-plated teapot is to be sold by Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull on Wednesday, The angular teapot will go under the hammer, valued at £30,000 - £50,000 on the first day of the two-day Design Since 1860 auction which celebrates creativity and craftsmanship from the late nineteenth century to the Modern era.
HIBS HISTORY: Hibs fans can enjoy some free reading following the release of a new book about the club in the 1990s: (What’s the Story) Goals and Glory? The book by author and journalist Colin Leslie is the long-awaited sequel to the 1980s hardback Bestie to Beastie to Belgium published in 2021. The book is being released digitally in three parts, then as a complete print edition next Spring. You can download and read the first part now, which cover the attempted takeover of Hibs by Wallace Mercer and the successful Hands Off Hibs campaign, at buymeacoffee.com/hibs90s/extras
Pics of the week
THE BUSINESS
Heriot-Watt seeks to raise £35 million to build new centre of excellence
Heriot-Watt University is looking to raise around £35 million, including Scottish Government support, to create a new Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling which could generate an additional £53.4 million per year for the Scottish economy.
A new BiGGAR Economics economic impact assessment for the University today provides an analysis of the potential of a new centre, which would build on the success of the institution’s acclaimed International Centre for Brewing and Distilling.
And the report maintains that within ten years, the new Centre could be generating a total economic impact of £324.8m GVA per year for Scotland, helping support thousands of jobs.
In order to build the new CABD, Heriot-Watt is looking to unlock £25.3m from industry as well as £9.7m in public investment. In terms of the latter figure, BiGGAR’s assessment states the CABD could deliver £20.80 of economic benefit for every £1 of public funding invested.
Finding Solutions
Currently the alcohol sector employs 60,000 people, representing 2.4% of all jobs in Scotland, 14,000 or 71% of the UK’s distilling jobs, and a GVA per head across the distilling of spirits and manufacturing of beer sub-sectors of £240,730.
However, the assessment states that the ICBD’s ability to sustain its current level of success is under threat and a new CABD would help sustain and develop Scotland’s brewing and distilling sectors as well as drive innovation to meet the new challenges of the 21st century, which include meeting brewing and distilling’s commitment to reach net zero by 2040; tackling the large volumes of water used to create Scotch whisky in particular; maintaining their competitiveness by finding solutions to the current rising input costs – from 2020 to 2025 they increased by 37%; and tackling the current skills shortage across the sectors.
Professor Chris Turney, Deputy Principal of Research and Innovation at Heriot-Watt University, said: “BiGGAR Economics’ independent assessment provides a huge vote of confidence in our vision for a new Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling. To be located right next to the National Robotarium, the new centre will deliver real, tangible benefits for brewing and distilling and the wider supply chain that depends on them.”
Graduates of the university’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling have founded nearly 30 of Scotland’s active brewing and distilling businesses. In 2024 to 2025 alone, those businesses added an estimated £79.4 million to the Scottish economy and supported the creation of 520 jobs.
Ewan Andrew, Diageo’s President Global Supply Chain & Procurement and Chief Sustainability Officer and co-chair of Heriot-Watt’s CABD fundraising committee, said: “What this economic impact assessment demonstrates is the potential value to Scotland and the UK that Heriot-Watt University can deliver with a commitment from government to back this new world-class facility.”
SOARAWAY ST JAMES: The apparently ever-increasing success of Edinburgh’s Westfield St James Quarter continues apace. Four new arrivals due to open soon are women’s athleisure brand TALA (2,490 sq ft), Italian fashion label Subdued (1,992 sq ft), Danish outerwear specialist Rains (1,805 sq ft) and Australian fashion jewellery brand Harli + Harpa (893 sq ft). Westfield St James Quarter recorded 20.6 million visits last year, and since it opened has been the prime factor in driving Edinburgh’s move up the industry’s CACA’s Retail Footprint ranking from 15th place to sixth.
OFFICE READY: An office building that overlooks Haymarket Station is now ready for occupation following improvement work. A refurbishment at 65 Haymarket Terrace includes new air conditioning, LED lighting, new shower and locker room facilities and secure bicycle storage. The building is owned by a client of CBRE Investment Management and marketed by Knight Frank.
BUYING GIFT FIRM: Edinburgh-based digital voucher platform SK Chase, which works with hundreds of the world’s leading hotels, restaurants and resorts to allow them to sell gift experiences, has been acquired by London-headquartered SME payment solutions business ClearCourse.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
TELL US A STORY: The Scottish International Storytelling Festival brings artists from around the world to the Royal Mile’s Storytelling Centre from 21-31 October. If you want your appetite whetted, read Will Quinn’s interview with new festival director Daniel Abercrombie here.
AMAZING AGATHA: Celebrate the legacy of the word’s most famous crime writer Agatha Christie in style, with host Amanda Ross, actor and director Ben Miller and bestselling author Lucy Foley, who’s been trusted by the author’s estate to write a brand new Miss Marple novel Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel. Between the covers live: Celebrating Agatha Christie is at the Queen’s Hall tomorrow night.
PINTS OF KNOWLEDGE: Want to know Why you should care about sports politics in the 21st century?, then join Dr Ben Coulson at Malones in Haymarket on Sunday. He is guest speaker at the latest Pints of Knowledge lecture at the pub at 12pm-2pm.
QUICK BITES
RICKS RETURNS: A popular name is returning to Frederick Street this month. To allow refurbishment by Montpeliers Group restaurant and bar Rabble is to close from 19-31 October, before re-opening as Ricks, which previously operated a boutique hotel, restaurant and cocktail bar.
NEW CLASH: Clash Bar & Restaurant has opened as a new addition to Edinburgh’s food and drink scene. Located within NYX Hotel on Jeffrey Street, Clash brings together South American-inspired dishes, house cocktails and live DJ sessions.