Already present in the United States, in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and more recently in New Orleans and Las Vegas, Virgin Hotels will shortly be entering the European market in Edinburgh. The upmarket lifestyle brand founded by Richard Branson's group will be setting up in Edinburgh in June. in the heart of the historic centre of the Scottish capitaljust a stone's throw from the famous château.
In this UNESCO-listed part of the city, the hotel is preparing to integrate the walls of the India Buildings, dating from the mid-19th century. Reinterpreted by the studios ICA Studio, Four-by-Two and Joelle Reid Interiors, the place offers " a design that preserves the building's heritage while adding a new, dynamic style to the neighbourhood" says James Bermingham, Managing Director of Virgin Hotels. Selected works of art by Visto Artwork, inspired by Scottish identity, blend with original Victorian details.
With views of Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, the 222 rooms and suites The hotel's rooms, complete with real dressing rooms, include a host of technological features, such as dematerialised room keys and control of lighting and thermostats via the Lucy app. The 15 room categories also include flagship suites, including Richard's Flat and the Eve Branson suite, in tribute to the mother of the brand's founder, as well as the Moroccan-inspired Kasbah Tamadot suite.
As part of the transformation of this historic site, the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh is home to a 19th-century church, now known as Greyfriars Hall, which has been restored and converted into a dedicated meeting and event space. Like the other Virgin Hotels, the Scottish establishment incorporates the Commons Club bar and restaurant concept, a sort of English-style club revisitedThere is also an all-day dining restaurant, Eve, and a rooftop terrace with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.
After this first foray into Europe, Virgin Hotels already has a second address in the pipeline, again in Scotland. the lifestyle brand will be setting up shop in Glasgow later this yearwith a contemporary 242-room hotel on the banks of the Clyde. Another development expected this year is the launch of Virgin Hotels in New York, with a 500-room establishment on the corner of Broadway and 29th Street. While the brand's expansion will certainly continue in Miami, with an opening planned for 2025, Virgin Hotels is also studying other projects, both in London and in the United States, in Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, Philadelphia and Seattle.
