The Scotsman Hotel opened in 2001 in a landmark Victorian building which had housed The Scotsman newspaper for nearly a century. The splendid turn of the 20th century building is a flourish of English baroque with romantic turrets, ornate ceilings, stained glass windows, wood-paneled walls and a showpiece marble staircase; of which at the time of The Scotsman newspaper residence, only the editorial team were allowed to use.
Originally the top of the building had pigeon lofts for carrier pigeons carrying news back and forth from outlying parts of Scotland, the middle floors were home to the editorial offices and the basement was the printing house.
The newspaper was churned out under Market Street to waiting trains for distribution. What is now The Scotsman Hotel’s North Bridge Brasserie & Bar was formerly the newspaper’s impressive reception room with its imposing marble pillars. Members of the public could come in to buy advertising space here.