Scotland’s richest man reaches landmark in 12-year Jenners restoration odyssey
The wraps will soon start coming off.
Five years after Scotland’s oldest independent department store closed its doors to the public - and three years after it was shrouded in scaffolding following the tragic fire which cost firefighter Barry Martin his life - we will soon start to get our first glimpses of the extravagantly restored Jenners.
The scaffolding will be removed in stages over the coming months as the exterior restoration of the 131-year-old A-listed building is completed.
It is a significant landmark in Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen’s restoration of the world-famous store, which, as The Inquirer reported after work began, is taking a ‘money no object’ approach with the aim of securing its future for the next 200 years.
What will we get to see? The grand exterior of the building will be revealed in all its former glory this winter, including the famous Jenners sign in gold lettering, ornate statues and cleaned-up, honey-coloured stonework.
When will we be able to shop there again? With significant work still required inside the building, The Times reports it will be 2029 at the earliest before it opens to the public.
What can we expect when it does open? The building’s most celebrated features including its three-storey, main atrium and historic tea room will be restored. The lower floors will become a shopping destination again, similar in size to the biggest store currently on Princes Street, the 5-storey Primark. The upper floors will be a boutique hotel with rooftop, restaurant and bar, converted from former store rooms and the attics of formerly neighbouring properties.
Wow. How much is it all costing? Povlsen reportedly paid £53m to buy the store in 2017, but the restoration is likely to cost at least as much again. Fortunately, Jenners’ owner has deep pockets, with a reported net worth of more than £8bn.
The restoration in numbers: Specialist restoration work has been carried out to 34 (all female) statues on the building’s exterior by Ratho-based Graciela Ainsworth Sculpture Conservation. More than 600 windows have been catalogued and protected, including rebuilding historic stained glass windows using evidence from old photographs by Rainbow Glass Studios of Prestwick. By 2029, it will be 12 years since Povlsen’s development company AAA United bought Jenners with a view to restoring it to its former glory.
Our high-quality local journalism is only possible thanks to the support of our paying members. If you haven’t signed up already, you can join them and support our work from as little as £1.54 a week - and get two exclusive editions of The Inquirer every week.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
HIBS HISTORY: Congratulations Hibees, bad luck Jambos. Hibs came from behind in a thrilling League Cup Semi-Final yesterday to record their first ever Hampden win over their city rivals. Next up, Rangers in the final, on December 13 - as Hibs aim for their first trophy since beating the blue half of the Old Firm in that unforgettable Scottish Cup final of 2016.
FIRST PUPS: The Scottish Seabird Centre is appealing to people to give seals their space and enjoy them from a distance after the first sightings of pups on the Firth of Forth this winter.
BONFIRE NIGHT POLICING: A major police operation is planned for Bonfire Night with 14 Firework Control Zones in operation - from Balerno in the west to Seafield in the east and Burdiehouse in the south to Muirhouse in the north - and extra police patrols on Lothian Buses. The setting off of fireworks is banned in the zones and the police have special powers to disperse groups gathering in the streets. Police are encouraging the public to visit one of a number of organised displays in order to celebrate safely.
Halloween action: Police issued seven dispersal orders within the city’s Firework Control Zones on Saturday night, with no arrests, and are investigating reports of lit fireworks being thrown at people in Bonnyrigg and Tranent.
ARTS CRISIS: A packed public meeting at Summerhall Arts yesterday heard warnings about the threat to the future of the city’s arts infrastructure, as hundreds of artists and creative enterprises face losing their premises as a result of the redevelopment of the Summerhall site and St Margaret’s House at Meadowbank. Don’t miss tomorrow’s Inquirer for a full report from the meeting.
GOING UP? Plans to build a 10-storey hotel on Rennie’s Isle, behind Commercial Quay, in Leith, have been submitted to the city council. Developers VRS want to demolish an existing office block to make way for the 121-bed hotel, despite residents objections that it would overwhelm the area.
HITTING THE HEIGHTS? One of the tallest buildings in Musselburgh will double in height under plans to create a 270-bed student housing block. East Lothian councillors are being recommended to approve plans for the 6-storey development by planning officials, who say: “It could inject an estimated £1.7–£2 million annually into the local economy.”
EPSTEIN PROBE: A flight into Edinburgh Airport by Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet is at the centre of a Police Scotland investigation into allegations of women being ‘trafficked’ to the King’s Balmoral estate. Detectives have confirmed they are are probing the activities of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during their time at Balmoral castle in the 2000s, with enquiries at “a very early stage”, The Daily Express reports. That includes a flight the former Duke of York and Maxwell took into Edinburgh on Epstein's private jet in September 2006.
DRAINS BACKLOG: Fewer than one in ten (172 out of 2,590) requests to clear blocked road drains were attended by the city council within a month, with the number dropping to just 1% (2 out of 200) in Murrayfield and Corstorphine. The city council said staff shortages and fleet issues had affected the response, but the city’s Lib Dem leader Ed Thornley, who obtained the data, said it was “a serious failure by the council”.
RAISING THE ROOF: Charity hub and business centre, Norton Park, has seen the completion of works on its third-sector events and conference space – and has recycled the old slates from the re-roofing work. Local company Compass Roofing, which helps deliver the National 5 qualification in Creative Industries Roof Slating, is using the old slates and working with six schools in Edinburgh, to teach pupils roofing skills.
PROTEST PROBE: Police Scotland says it is working to identify people wearing t-shirts and holding banners showing support for Palestine Action after a demonstration outside the US Consulate, on Regent Road, on Saturday. The move come ahead of an appeal at the Supreme Court on Wednesday against Palestine Action’s designation as a terror group. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Evidence is being reviewed and further action will be taken as appropriate.”
SNOOKER BOOST: A new snooker hall and sports venue has been welcomed to Musselburgh High Street. Councillors and local licensing officers believe the family friendly Ball Room will provide a welcome distraction for young people in the town. The planning licensing application received no objections and 40 letters of support.
Pic of the week
THE BUSINESS
Growth requires bold global vision, city businesses are told
More than 170 city businesses were told that embracing AI is a major component of growth for ambitious firms.
In a keynote address to the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Festival 2026 held in partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland at the RBS Conference Centre at Gogarburn, Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at RBS, said most RBS business customers engaging with AI were now in the “functional” stage of adoption of the technology, meaning that AI was being used to improve efficiency and save time and costs across a number of processes.
However, the major business gains were enjoyed by the 22% of firms further down the adoption journey, who were “reimagining their processes and putting AI at the heart of it” he said, and these were “seeing positive impacts in revenue, profitability and - encouragingly -positive effects on hiring intentions.”
And he had a caution for those firms not really engaging with AI. “You may not be actively engaging with AI but if you ask your staff it is highly likely that a high percentage will say they are. So, it’s not that your business is not engaging with AI, it’s that you’re not controlling it.”
Delegates were also told they need to be global in their outlook, laser-focused on customers and bold in their decision-making to achieve growth.
Progress v perfection
Richard Lennox, interim COO at tech support platform CodeBase and a successful leader and entrepreneur at tech giants Skyscanner and Current Health, reminded delegates that being bold and globally ambitious was positive, especially since most business decisions are reversible.
“Growth won’t be possible just by focusing on the market in Scotland…the view that you succeed in the local market first might have been true in the past but if you really want to grow you will have to find your customers elsewhere.”
He added that decision making should be “data-informed rather than data-led” and that business leaders should always focus on what was right for their customers in reaching decisions.
That view was supported by Barry McCulloch, Senior Manager Scotland at British Business Bank, who said: “That is what I see constantly – too many not making decisions, waiting for the perfect moment…I see that stasis.”
Niki McKenzie, joint MD of Edinburgh-based venture capital investors Archangel, said they are working with high-risk, start-up technology businesses where the technology had to be as “disruptive” as possible, but to focus on who to back she looked at “how you have engaged with your customers to prove exactly how they will benefit”.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Liz McAreavey told the attendees that the Chamber’s “Edinburgh 2030” business-led local growth plan was about creating an even stronger ecosystem that helps more businesses have the confidence and skills for growth: “Edinburgh has one of the strongest city economies in the UK …but we cannot take success for granted.” she added, to ensure Edinburgh could build on it success and ensure it was “a more productive, innovative and internationally competitive city.”
WINNING MENU: City-based restaurant group Howies has been named ‘Best for Scottish – Independent Business of the Year’ at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026. The award recognises the group’s ‘longstanding commitment to Scottish produce, strong supplier relationships and continued business growth’.
LIFETIME AWARD: Dame Susan Rice has been presented with a lifetime achievement award for her services to the financial services industry, as part of the Scottish Financial Services Awards. The Award recognises her services to financial and professional services in Scotland. Dame Susan made history by being the first woman to lead a European clearing bank as chief executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland, and has held a number of other senior roles across a 40 year career in the industry.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
TOP SHORTS: There’s a chance to catch some of the world’s best short films as the 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival hits the screens at The Filmhouse on Lothian Road. With outstanding work from Scotland and around the world, feast on 27 UK premiere and 29 award-winners, including work that picked up prizes at Cannes and Locarno.
FLOTILLA OF LIGHT: The popular Flotilla of Light returns to the Union Canal on Saturday as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. You can enjoy the free flotilla of 15 to 20 decorated boats and live music, organised by the Lowland Canals Association, from Harrison Park to the Leamington Lift Bridge, from 6.30pm.
RADICAL BOOKS: Edinburgh’s Radical Book Fair is at the Assembly Roxy from Thursday until Sunday. Browse stalls featuring more than 70 publishers, enjoy performances and workshops, with entry to the book fair being free.
ALL BLACKS: New Zealand’s legendary All Blacks come to Murrayfield on Saturday, kick-off 2.10pm, but if you don’t have your tickets yet, you’re out of luck.
QUICK BITES
OPEN… Black Sheep Coffee is opening a new 2,500 sq ft store at The Gyle Shopping Centre on Thursday 5th November, where the new store will feature 66 indoor seats and 24 outdoor.
…AND CLOSED: The Duck & Waffle restaurant, much heralded when it opened its first venue outside London in early 2023, has closed its venue in Westfield St James Quarter. The announcement offers no explanation for the sudden closure.