Business partners snap up historic Melvin House Hotel

A businessman from Russia and his partner have bought a prestigious hotel in Edinburgh's west end and intend to redevelop it.

Professor Vladimir Kulchitsky, who owns hotels in London and south-east England, has snapped up the Melvin House Hotel on Rothesay Terrace with Penny Brown under their BB Collection brand.

The new owners plan a major refurbishment of the hotel, transforming it into one of Edinburgh's premier hospitality businesses.

Ms Brown said: "We identified Edinburgh as an ideal location for our contemporary boutique B&B concept."

Melvin House Hotel dates from around 1880 and was formerly the residence of the founder of The Scotsman newspaper. The four-storey stone-built building retains many of its period features and has views over the Dean Village and Water of Leith.