Portable hotel set to return for city’s New Year festivities

Snoozebox opened its doors to Festival-goers on Monday, with the Evening News given access to one of the 48 en-suite rooms yesterday. And while there is not enough room to swing a cat, each room somehow manages to squeeze in everything you need, including a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, built-in room safes, an en-suite wet room and beds – complete with Egyptian cotton bedding and memory foam mattresses – for up to three people (two adults and a child).

Each room at the Edinburgh Snoozebox is named after a famous Scot, with examples ranging from David Coulthard to Alexander Graham Bell.

A spokesman for Snoozebox said it had been running at around 80 per cent occupancy since opening on Monday, although this increased to 95 per cent last night.

As a result, it is considering a return to the Capital for Hogmanay in the hope that many New Year revellers enjoying the famous Street Party will choose to spend the night in the temporary accommodation.

Visitors from as far afield as Japan, China and America have already stayed in the ISO  containers.

Craig Wilson, project manager for Fusion Group UK, which was employed by Snoozebox to help with sales and marketing, confirmed that nightly prices had already been cut to “meet market demand”, with average mid-week prices now starting from £80, and weekend rates from £125 per night.

Wilson said: “Other hotels have reduced their prices in Edinburgh and we have had to follow suit to remain competitive.”

Located on the Caltongate site at New Street, the “Snoozebox Village” contains its own bar and breakfast area, as well as a 24-hour reception.