VALUE-LUXE HOTEL AND DINER BRAND TO PROVIDE MAJOR INVESTMENT BOOST FOR EDINBURGH PARK AS IT SETS TO OPEN FIRST PROPERTY IN SCOTLAND
Mollie’s, the value-luxe hotel and diner brand (mollies.com), has taken the next step in its UK.
expansion, submitting a planning application to City of Edinburgh Council. The application includes detailed plans for a fourth Mollie’s site at one of the UK’s premier business parks and one of Edinburgh’s major growth locations, Edinburgh Park.
Following the success of its three existing properties, Mollie’s feels the time is now right to make its first investment in Scotland, setting its sights on 0.63 hectares at the southern edge of Edinburgh Park – a location chosen for its strong visitor demand and high-quality environment. The significant investment will provide Edinburgh with a new, luxury accommodation offering outside of the city centre, whilst also providing easy access to road networks, the city centre, the airport and more. The hotel and diner brand will work with a range of consultants on the project including 3D Reid Architects, Lichfields Planning Consultants and Amicus Property Consultants.
The proposal, which was subject to public consultation earlier this year, incorporates 207 high-quality guest bedrooms, a lobby, reception and lounge area, a diner and bar with an outdoor terrace, ancillary facilities, car parking spaces with EV charging infrastructure and more. The venue will also follow the same strict sustainability practices as Mollie’s other properties, in line with the brand’s B-Corp Certification which was achieved in October last year.
The proposed development will deliver significant economic benefits for the local community. In particular, the addition of 455 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs and an economic value of £38.6 million added (GVA) per annum just throughout the construction phase. Post-build, Mollie’s Edinburgh site is expected to bring 69 new FTE jobs, c.£3.3 million of direct GVA per annum and an uplift of 120,888 visitor nights per annum.
As Edinburgh Park continues to advance and grow, with the opening of the new 8,500 capacity AEG Arena earmarked for 2028, Mollie’s hopes the addition of new, quality accommodation will help support in achieving the wider vision for the local area and beyond.
Matt Bell, Managing Director at Mollie’s, commented:
“Edinburgh is a dynamic and vibrant year-round tourism destination, and the perfect choice for our first investment in Scotland. The city has so much to offer, both in the centre and out, and Edinburgh Park is just one example of that, particularly with planned investments such as the AEG Arena.
We’ve worked hard to ensure that the submitted proposals are closely aligned with the council’s ambitions for the area to become the go-to destination for visitors outside the traditional city-centre hotspots. We’re confident the value-luxe, people-first approach of Mollie’s will integrate seamlessly with the wider Edinburgh Park vision, and we couldn’t be more excited to service existing and new users of the area and the wider community.”
Commenting on behalf of Edinburgh Park, Tony Hordon, Managing Director of Parabola said,
“We’re pleased we can continue to attract quality brands like Mollie’s to Edinburgh Park and are very confident that it will positively support the areas ongoing development and progress. The area investment is all about encouraging guests to experience a new destination, enjoying an increasingly vibrant community comprised of new homes and offices, an unrivalled music arena and now an upscale hotel. Placemaking has been central to our vision for Edinburgh Park and it’s investments like this that will help us deliver that vision.”
