Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, showing the original three arched entrances to the station complex

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, is a hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. Opened in December 1903, it is an example of a British grand railway hotel,[1] formerly called The Caledonian Hotel, and nicknamed 'The Caley'.

It stands at the west end of Princes Street, and is a category A listed building.[2]

Construction

The hotel under construction

The Caledonian Hotel, constructed from 1899 to 1903, was part of the Caledonian Railway's Edinburgh Princes Street railway station. It was a rival to the North British Railway's North British Hotel which opened at the other end of Princes Street in 1902.[1] The hotel was built on top of the stone built, V-shaped station building which had been recently built as a replacement for the previous wood-built station which was damaged in a fire in June 1890.[1] The architects of the hotel were John More Dick Peddie and George Washington Browne.[2]

When first built, the hotel had 205 rooms with decor in the style of Louis XV.[1] The grand arches at the front of the hotel also provided access to the railway station below.[1] The red sandstone facade has been a city landmark throughout the hotel's history.[3]

In 1965, Princes Street Station was closed and it was demolished by 1970. This provided room for expansion for the hotel and the cast iron gates at the entrance to a car park in Rutland Street are the only remainder of the station outwith the hotel.[1] The original station clock, pre-dating the fire of 1890, has been preserved in the hotel.[1]

Refurbishment

The Caledonian was purchased by the Hilton hotel chain in 2000.[1] A £24 million refurbishment in 2011 put the hotel within the luxury flagship Waldorf Astoria brand.[1] By the time of the refurbishment the hotel had 241 rooms.[4] The refurbishment plans included the addition and improvement of the public spaces, rooms, spa and restaurant.[4] The original station concourse and ticket office were roofed over to provide a bar and lounge area, named Peacock Alley, which incorporates the station clock.[3]

The hotel's restaurant is named The Pompadour.[3] It provides French-influenced dishes and is overseen by double Michelin star chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin.[3]

The bar, known as the Caley Bar, is venue 50 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.


See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 McLean, David (7 October 2013). "Lost Edinburgh: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian". The Scotsman. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 "4 Lothian Road, The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Butler, Sophie. "Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, Edinburgh: review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Edinburgh set for Scotland's first Waldorf Astoria". BBC News. BBC. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2014.

Coordinates: 55°57′00″N 3°12′26″W / 55.9500°N 3.2073°W / 55.9500; -3.2073

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