International hotel operator MEININGER is set to open a new hotel in Edinburgh’s Haymarket area following a deal with S Harrison, the property development firm. The planned hotel will be a conversion of a 1970s office building, Osborne House, which S Harrison purchased in 2018 and includes 157 bedrooms as well as featuring a bar and lounge area on the ground floor.
MEININGER, known for its hybrid hotel concept that combines the best of hostels and hotels, provides modern, affordable accommodation with facilities such as a reception, lobby, lounge, breakfast room, bar, guest kitchen, and games zone. Since opening its first location in Berlin in 1999, MEININGER has expanded to offer more than 19,000 beds across 26 cities in Europe.
The Edinburgh location will offer a mix of classic double rooms and private multiple-bed rooms, totalling 549 beds. It will also include a taxi drop-off area, disabled parking, and a secure cycle store. Construction is slated to begin early next year.
Ann Scott, managing director at S Harrison said, “We’re very pleased to agree this deal and look forward to seeing our vision for Osborne House begin to take shape. Edinburgh remains one of Europe’s most popular destinations for tourists and business travellers, hence our decision to hold this asset to further strengthen our investment portfolio.
“MEININGER has established an enviable reputation for offering modern, well-designed hybrid hotels in key cities throughout Europe that appeal to all types of guests.
“When all this is combined with Osborne House’s location, in a very vibrant area, just a five-minute walk from Haymarket station and close to both Murrayfield Stadium and Edinburgh city centre, there’s no doubt it will become a very popular hotel.”
Ajit Menon, CEO at MEININGER Hotels added, “We are excited to bring the proven and successful MEININGER hybrid hotel concept to Edinburgh, re-entering the United Kingdom and further expanding our presence in Europe. We believe that Edinburgh, with its lively, diverse and unique nature resonates with the MEININGER culture. Edinburgh attracts families, couples, backpackers, school groups, friends and business travellers alike, making the city a perfect fit for our brand.”
S Harrison has a history of investing in Edinburgh, including the development of the boutique hotel for Malmaison in the city’s New Town and the recent approval of two student accommodation schemes. Additionally, the company has proposed a residential-led development at Ocean Point 2 in Leith.