Closure all grist to the mill at Peebles hotel revamp

The legacy of the Victorian March Street Mill in Peebles will live on in a local hotel that is being refurbished with tweeds and other items from the disused property.

The Park Hotel in Peebles is due to re-open next month

The 23-bedroom Park Hotel is set to re-open in March after a two-month closure to overhaul the décor in items from the mill. Textiles will be combined into new soft furnishings, while items such as photographs, bobbins and old door signs will be displayed in public areas.

Sister hotel to Peebles Hydro, The Park is one of eight properties in the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels. The two Peebles’ hotels were bought by privately-owned Crieff in February 2014.

The refurbishment is being led by Ann Napier, March Street Mill’s textile designer for six years until its closure at the end of 2015 with the loss of 87 jobs after its parent company, Moorbrook Textiles, failed to find a buyer.

Napier said the project will help preserve the history of the mill.

“Work has already begun on a number of the unique textile and design projects that I have been asked to work on, including the beautiful banquette seating area,” she said.

“It will be exciting seeing the wider project come together over the coming weeks.”