Scotsman Hotel to be sold to Stefan King's G1 group

The hospitality firm run by entrepreneur Stefan King has announced it is buying the Scotsman hotel '“ former home of this newspaper '“ on Edinburgh's North Bridge.

The Scotsman Hotel. Picture: TSPL

Senior figures at Mr King’s firm G1 said more than 90 employees currently working at the five-star hotel would be transferred to the Glasgow-based company.

News of the move comes after it emerged in November that the Scotsman hotel building had been put up for sale. Mr King said the purchase confirmed G1’s commitment to Edinburgh. The group already owns venues including The Three Sisters, Espionage and Cabaret Voltaire in the city.

He said: “We have enjoyed huge support from Edinburgh City Council, the patrons and the teams employed in our Edinburgh venues over the years. The acquisition of The Scotsman Hotel is a significant reflection of a continued commitment to the city … We aspire to build on the iconic presence and reputation of the Scotsman Hotel to be at the forefront of hotel venues in the city.”

The Scotsman hotel was put on the market after it fell into liquidation in June last year.

Elsewhere in the Capital, developers behind controversial plans to turn the city’s former Royal High School into a luxury hotel slammed critics of the project – as they unveiled a scaled-back vision for the site.