Thomas & Adamson have been appointed project managers and quantity surveyors by India Buildings Limited for the development of the first Virgin Hotel in the UK. The 225-bed project will occupy the 19th century India Buildings on Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh and is set to open in 2020.
“We are delighted to have been selected to work on an iconic project such as the country’s first Virgin Hotel, which has attracted such international interest. We have some fantastic hospitality projects under our belts across the UK and Middle East in particular. This sector, despite the widely anticipated challenges of Brexit, has continued to develop. We have a strong pipeline of hospitality projects coming through this year and expect growth to continue,” said Brian Donaldson, Partner at Thomas & Adamson.
The development will see the building of a five star blend of bedrooms with multiple bars and restaurants, including one of the brand’s flagship Commons Club restaurants, meeting and conference facilities, and function rooms. The work that needs to be done consists of the refurbishment of the three existing listed buildings and a new build pavilion extension housing guest rooms, landscaping, and public realm works.
The hotel is expected to provide a £5 million boost to the local economy every year, as well as support hundreds of jobs during its construction.
“This is a significant success for our Scottish business and our hospitality team globally. It is a positive affirmation of our continued growth in the hospitality sector,” Mr Donaldson added.
The project will be developed by Flemyn LLP assisted by Jansons Property and managed by Virgin Hotels.