Luxury hostel brand Safestay has acquired a fourth property in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and close to The Royal Mile. The former Smart City Hostel will launch as Safestay Edinburgh in early 2016 following a refurbishment, continuing to trade as ‘Smart City Hostel by Safestay’ in the interim.
Edinburgh is one of the top ten most visited cities in Europe and one of the most picturesque. The opening of Safestay Edinburgh marks a strategic goal for Safestay as along with Safestay York, Safestay London Elephant & Castle and Safestay London Holland Park, the award-winning hostel brand is now able to provide its guests with accommodation choices in three of Europe’s most visited international tourism and heritage destinations. Safestay Edinburgh completes the circuit on Britain’s East Coast train line.
Safestay Edinburgh, located at 50 Blackfriars Street, on one of Edinburgh’s ancient thoroughfares, and near the lively Cowgate, occupies the listed building, Blackfriars House, as well as the modern extension. Previously a brewery and before that, an old print works, the building was converted into a hostel in 2001 and further extended in 2007.
The hostel has 132 rooms with 615 beds. 272 beds of these are available throughout the year, while an additional 81 en-suite bedrooms, which are leased to the University of Edinburgh from September to May as part of a student accommodation scheme, are specially converted and made available to Safestay guests over the peak summer months.
Black Box Interiors will oversee the refurbishment of Safestay Edinburgh, this is the same design team behind the interiors of all Safestay’s other hostels. Vibrant hues will give the hostel a lighter and more contemporary feel and Safestay’s trademark furnishings and standout lighting will be evident throughout. The designers will pay homage to Scotland’s illustrious heritage to ensure guests feel local on arrival.
Comprising 8 floors, Safestay Edinburgh features a heated roof terrace, fully equipped guest kitchen, and a popular fully-licensed bar and kitchen known to the locals as ‘Bar 50’. There is complimentary WiFi throughout. Further facilities include: pool tables, a well-equipped laundry room, secure luggage store, an ATM, a computer area, and a book swap library. A free walking tour is offered to guests every morning.
Safestay Edinburgh will feature private twin rooms and family rooms with tea/coffee facilities, as well as four-, six-, eight- and larger bunk bedded rooms, all with en-suite showers. The bunk beds come with individual reading lights as well as lockers to secure luggage and personal items. Entry to the rooms will be by touch key.
Bar 50 serves great value freshly prepared food and drinks from 8.00am until late on a daily basis. In addition to delicious fresh stone baked pizzas, the produce is locally sourced where possible, with 100% Aberdeen Angus beef burgers, Edinburgh Gin, Monkey Shoulder Whisky, and WEST brewery (Glasgow) St Mungos lager on tap. Haggis is on the breakfast menu for those also particularly keen to sample the national dish. On Monday nights, guests can join in with local musicians, and participate in the Thursday night pub quiz.
Centrally located in the historical old town and only 6 minutes walk from Edinburgh Waverley station, Safestay Edinburgh is within easy reach of many of the City’s top visitor attractions. These include Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Dungeons, Holyrood Palace, Camera Obscura, Dynamic Earth, the Royal Mile, and Princess Street, one of the best-known streets in Scotland.
Blackfriars Street itself is famously the site of the first printing press in Scotland. On 15 September 1507, James IV of Scotland granted Walter Chepman, an Edinburgh merchant and Androw Myllar, a bookseller, the first royal licence for printing in Scotland. A commemorative plaque was unveiled in 2008 and is situated a few doors down from Safestay Edinburgh on the corner of Blackfriars Street and the Cowgate.