June 11 2025

Boutique hotel brand Bomporto has teamed up with Anta, a manufacturer of homeware and accessories, to transform a B-listed theatre at Rose Street, Edinburgh, into a hotel.

The heritage and craft specialists are pooling resources for the complex project, which will include additional Anta premises on the ground floor, complementing their established store over the road.

Planned works will see upper floors converted to visitor accommodation with the addition of a rooftop bar bringing new amenity to the area.

Originally designed as an Edwardian Baroque Chapel in 1912 the distinctive building has been subject to a number of proposals, most stalled over the preservation of the main hall, but this is not deemed viable.

Explaining the need to subdivide this space the applicants wrote: "If the sanctuary space were directly accessible from street level, converting it into a hotel lobby or reception area would be more practical. In its current location, the space occupies too much floor area and would impede the economic viability of the development.

"Significant investment is required to bring the building up to contemporary standards. Retrofitting new technologies and the new programme into the Listed Building will require taking the interior back to the external shell.

"We fundamentally believe the value of the Listed Building & Setting lies in the external appearance of the building. The proposals make sensitive alterations to the external elevations which respect the integrity of the original architecture."

Dormer extensions will provide additional floor space at roof level will, styled on traditional examples from across the New Town but in a contemporary style.

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