Intro

Channings is one of the Town House Company's hotels and, as the firm's name suggests, their four Edinburgh hotels occupy exactly what the capital's unique New Town is famous for: substantial, stone-built townhouses. In this area of the city the streets are still cobbled and with gardens to front of this hotel (private and for residents of the area only), and to the rear, the location is a plus. And there's still free on-street parking, too.

The hotel, five adjoining townhouses now making up one unit, is operated to particular standards by the company, who are the 2007 Scottish Hotel Group of the Year title-holders. It's a gem of a find, handily situated close to Queensferry Road, one of the main routes into the city centre, and only a short walk across the pretty 1831 Dean Bridge into town. When we say this is a real find, we mean it, and in more ways than one; more on that later.

Part of its appeal is the location away from the hubbub of the city centre... yet the West End, with its shops, art galleries and the financial centre, is only a 10-minute stroll away. The district surrounding Dean and Stockbridge is of architectural significance and is without question one of the most sought-after areas in which to live in this city. But the hotel's atmosphere is, in some ways, that of a charming country house. And yet with traditionally-furnished or contemporary accommodation, there's real choice.

A wee bit of history

The hotel has an interesting historic connection up its sleeve. In naming the latest, re-designed and spacious 3rd floor rooms the Shackleton Suites the owners do so in celebration of the famous explorer who once lived there. Yes, Sir Ernest Shackleton, a key figure in the exploration of Antarctica, with his ship aptly named Endurance, once lived right here with his wife Emily.

Sir Ernest was knighted for successfully leading the British Antarctic Expedition 1907 - 1909 but is chiefly remembered for the brave 1914 - 1916 expedition when Endurance was trapped in the ice. For more on the man why not explore one of the exciting rooms named after him? Channings has on display a number of striking prints taken by the expedition photographer, Frank Hurley. One caption tells of 'the epic adventure of Shackleton and his crew who survived a two year journey of freezing temperatures, destruction of their ship and sailing Antarctic seas in small rowing boats'. Brave indeed!

The hotel

Set in a secluded, elevated street with those private communal gardens well-tended, you can be excused for thinking this can’t possibly be just one block from a main route to the city. But it is so. And the townhouses have been converted into a quality hotel where original features have been retained and accented. General manager is Pirman Hodel.

Step up from the well-heeled pavement and under a green canopy and enter Channings: sparkling glass, polished woods, tony colours, fresh flowers and friendly faces. We were impressed with the handsome mix of fine woods with leather and rich fabric sofas and armchairs in the spacious ground floor Lounge / Sitting Rooms area, with focal point fireplace; the reception desk is found here. Designers have successfully created an open feel and yet intimate and secluded zones, too. Wi-fi internet access is available here while curios, paintings, prints, fine lamps and various objets d’art all help create a slightly clubby, privileged mood. Artworks – from the amusing and witty, to the elegant and sublime – add identity.

One room of interest on the ground floor is the tastefully preserved Shackleton Library which has retained all the features of the day including the original leaded windows (a must see). This along with other public rooms can be reserved for private dining or as wedding venues.

There's a chic Wine Bar on the lower level, adjacent to Channings Restaurant. Perfect for lunches, coffees and long blethers over a drink. One table doubles as a big chessboard, so there's clearly no rush. The reception / lounge area gives access to all areas of the hotel by lift or stairs, although there's no lift to lower ground. Guests can also access the dining and bar areas via steps down from a separate street level entrance.

To the rear of the hotel, guest can enjoy the seclusion of a Walled Garden with a well-serviced patio area which in the summer hosts regular BBQ evenings.

By the way, stairways are lined with paintings and prints from days gone by and many are quite humorous. We thoroughly recommend guests take the stairs at least once while staying... if not for the exercise, then at least to soak up some of the humour!

Bedrooms

With a total of 41 bedrooms and suites from garden level to 3rd floor, including the newer Shackleton Suites, there's a wide choice of style. As an Edwardian town house, many rooms are decorated in a classic with period style furniture, canopied beds, chintz curtains and bedspreads, although as rooms are revamped a more up-to-date look is being applied.

Room 28, with its huge bay window overlooking the private gardens to the front, has an impressive view over the Edinburgh skyline taking in the Disneyesque towers of Fettes College and further north the Fife coast.

For a touch of romance, perhaps choose Room 1 which is dressed in shades of blue with a four poster bed; or Room 43 with king size bed covered in velvet and silk cushions and boasting a large black and white tiled bathroom with roll-top Victorian slipper bath.

There are 3 Club Rooms with windows overlooking the garden, featuring contemporary décor in soft neutral colours, including Room 12, an excellent Superior Double with a double spa bath; and Room 16 which is a spacious Suite. All rooms have cable TV and internet access. And don’t be afraid to ask for a particular type of room: the hotel assures the Guide that they are more than happy to discuss any room / feature combination.

Approached by smart corridors – matt pale coffee and blue tones prevailing – room 34, for example, is a Superior Double. Decorated deftly and classically in light shades of cream and yellow, with deeper blues, the room offers all the latest electronic gadgetry, and a marble bathroom big enough to have an echo. A cast iron bath with golden lion’s paw feet sits awaiting; superior toiletries are to hand. Two such rooms are at garden level and one has its own sitting room.

Lower in the building we found a spacious and rather sexy haven in room 14, a Club Suite. Finished in browns, gold and black, with a very chic chequer carpet and bold black artworks, it would suit anyone in the mood for a relaxing, contemporary space. For once, the invitation to come back and see my engravings might just be accurate.

Five new high-style Shackleton Suites occupy the 3rd floor. These have been created to celebrate the Shackleton connection in a contemporary fashion. Each individually decorated room is named after an expedition ship: Endurance, Discovery, Nimrod, Quest and James Caird. A great deal of attention to detail has been given, sourcing unusual fabric, furniture and furnishings such as gorgeous sofas, coffee tables, Sottini baths, showers and basins, plus Italian marble and limestone wall and floor tiles.

These rooms are quite spacious; comfortable chairs and couches occupy one end of the room where there's a cool LCD TV plus interactive consol with its own internet access. There’s a practical-sized desk and easy connection for laptops to the outside world. Plenty of storage space with usual yet welcome extras including ironing board and trouser press.

In oversized bathrooms you'll find funky, brightly-coloured roll top baths set against a huge photographic backdrop of the Endurance trapped in the ice. Lie in your bathtub 'ship' – large enough for a crew of two – and you too are sailing to the South Pole! In addition, you’ll find separate walk-in shower cubicles, underfloor heating and Molton Brown toiletries.

Tip: one of the most lavish is Discovery, furnished in tones of orange and gold, with windows on two sides. On the other hand, Endurance is superb – oozing glamour in lipstick crimson red from the bedspread to the freestanding bathtub. Who knows if recent guests Elton John or Sir Sean Connery demanded the 24-hour room service?

Dining

Downstairs is the Channings Restaurant and Wine Bar. The bar's an attractive place for a lunchtime snack, coffee, pre-dinner aperitif or a few leisurely drinks. In the summer, there's also a patio garden open for drinks and snacks. The bar area will soon be refurbished by one of Edinburgh’s leading designers and we look forward to seeing the end result and updating you.

Channings Restaurant is next to the bar, a kind of conservatory setting, filled with green plants and a wall of picture windows overlooking the garden. The space is light for breakfast and lunch (affordable at about £12), moving on during the day towards a more sophisticated mood for evening dining.

Chairs and banquette seating in neat rows around the walls and windows are upholstered in soft suede in a tone of dark olive green and chocolate brown. On the walls are black and white photographs of chefs or culinary images.

Head chef Karen MacKay provides a varied menu embracing a mix of local Scottish produce with a touch of French and European influence. Simple, modern dishes based on tradition is the aim: “We want to make authentic tastes and styles accessible to a wider variety of people”, says chef.

For starters a recommendation would be the Buffalo Mozarella Salad, or Crab Cakes, while for the main course an aged Aberdeen Angus fillet is hard to beat. There’s a wonderful selection of desserts and a decent cheeseboard, too; and of course coffee and tea are available either at your table or through in the more informal bar setting.

Tip: does a private fine dining experience appeal to you? If so, this is a highly recommended venue. Chef Lamort rises to this sort of occasion with great flair. Fine dining, private parties and weddings are all areas that Channings thrive in, especially with two private rooms available: Kingsley, comfortably catering for 22 people, while the more intimate and delightful Shackleton Library caters for up to 10.

Plus+Point

Find 3 friends and make a booking for the special Saturday or Sunday 'Boozy Snoozy Lunch' where the bill for 4 people will be just £60 for 3 courses... including 2 bottles of selected house wine. Limited availability, so do reserve well in advance.

Breakfast

has always seemed to us to be well-organised and delicious. It is served in the main Channings Restaurant and offers both a buffet selection and table service for freshly-prepared hot items.

Leisure

One of the best things about Edinburgh is the way that so much is within easy, safe, attractive walking distance. Channings is in a truly elegant area of cobbled streets where strolling is a joy. Walk downtown in no time at all. Or wander down to Stockbridge for its fine pubs and little shops, admiring the architecture en-route.

Channings is well located for exploring the famous Botanic Gardens, about a 15 minute walk away. Equally close by are two of the National Galleries of Scotland, the Modern Art gallery and the Dean, which are both highly recommended. You can either walk there by road or along the Water of Leith. Good fashion, jewellery, homeware and book shops can be found along George Street, a short walk from the west end, with theatres and cinemas a short taxi ride away. The hotel will advise on local sports clubs, swimming pools and golf courses which guests may use.

Receptions / Events

The hotel welcomes small weddings, private parties and corporate events with excellent facilities in various function and meeting rooms, the Kingsleigh Room, the Shackleton Library and private dining room.

Links

We hope that you find these local links helpful:

Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board

EdinburghGuide.com

Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

Scottish Pariament

Dynamic Earth

Royal Botanic Gardens

National Galleries of Scotland

The List events magazine

The Reviewer’s View Gary McLean, Bryan Dougan

“Channings is a comfortable, elegant and uniquely 'Edinburgh' kind of hotel. The new Shackleton Suites add to what was already a stylish boutique place, and yet one with a homely touch. From reception to bell-hop, from waiter to barman, well-trained staff seem to enjoying their place of work. Sean Connery, David Coulthard and Elton John are just some celebrity guests who have stayed. We live in a customer service driven environment and from the outset we were very impressed by the high level of hospitality extended to all guests from a very good front of house team.”

Readers’ Reviews

"Channings is a very nice hotel indeed. The area's impeccable and traditionally set out. Very nice staff indeed. We much liked the restaurant downstairs, elegant and a delicious menu too. Our group had three rooms and they vary quite a bit in style, but all were lovely. It is a hotel with lots of personality and a real antidote to samey samey chain places." - Louie Arniston (England), 2007

“It’s January and even though we’re all still recovering from the festive excesses, we’re off to Edinburgh for the weekend to see Mamma Mia the musical. But where to stay? Why not Channings? They are offering some wonderful Winter offers so it would be rude not to accept!! I’m the first to admit that I usually stay in chain hotels where you are guaranteed a certain standard and brand. But never again! Channings may have sister hotels in the company, but it has its own individuality. Situated in a quiet residential area of the city you feel as if you are nowhere near to the hustle and bustle of the centre – yet how wrong. It only takes about 10 enjoyable minutes to wander from Channings to Princes Street.

The staff are exceptionally friendly and attentive – lots of chit chat and extremely helpful but at the same time professional. We were staying in a standard room but if that’s standard, who knows what superior must be like! It’s room 24, on the first floor at the front of the hotel with views across the cobbled streets and gardens below. The room has a bay window with two comfortable chairs to sit in and admire the view. The beds are like something a princess would sleep in – extra high and comfy with feather pillows and quilts. The room has all the mod cons that you could possibly need, and individual pieces of furniture and art. There’s no jacuzzi in this bathroom but the bath is huge with a wonderful shower. In fact the entire bathroom is huge with a mirror covering the entire length of the back wall. Lovely Molton Brown toiletries and soft and fluffy robes just add to the luxuriance of this room. If I’m being ultra critical then there’s one thing that I need to point out to all you ladies reading this (and perhaps the gents too!) the lighting in the bedroom is very subtle and with the dark blue décor there is not a lot of light – perfect for many things but not so good for applying the war paint.

And what about the food? If you’re staying in Channings it would rude not to try it! It would be impossible to pick out one course as the highlight, but for me the red mullet and black gnocchi (black thanks to squid ink) and the wonderfully pink and tender ‘Black Gold’ beef were a triumph.

Breakfast is served in the restaurant, a bright and airy room with modern décor and style. As you would expect by now, breakfast was served with the usual professionalism and watched over by a very careful eye. The hot dishes were all cooked to order and the buffet was fresh and inviting. After breakfast a quick wander around the hotel finds other lounges where you can pass an hour or so with the newspapers and if it hadn’t been January, an outdoor terrace where summer cocktails could be sipped. A perfect excuse for a return trip once the weather is slightly kinder.

So for anyone looking for a quiet and relaxing hotel with the friendliest of staff and the highest standard of accommodation and food, Channings would be difficult to beat. It’s romantic enough for that special weekend away; central enough for a shopping trip; quiet enough if you’re in the city on business and friendly and homely enough if you just fancy treating yourself! The award plaque for Edinburgh Hotel of the Year 2004 is proudly on display in the reception area – and rightly so!” - Fiona Gage (Scotland), 2006

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"Channings Hotel was introduced to us by the Guide. We were looking for somewhere romantic to spend our wedding anniversary weekend in Edinurgh, and we were not disappointed. Deceivingly inconspicious from the outside, Channings is a beautiful hotel set in a quiet, residential area only 10 miutes walking distance from Princes Street. We received a very warm welcome and the staff - all of them - were friendly, professional and very helpful. We stayed in Room 34, a superior double room that was very elegantly decorated and had a truly marvellous bathroom with a wonderful stand-alone slipper bath with brass lion claw feet. The review provides more detail of the room, but take it from us it was absolutely beautiful." - Brendan & Anne O’Mahoney (N. Ireland), 2005

Note This hotel was awarded a listing by HotelReview™ | Scotland and has been fully reviewed by the Guide; this includes a full overnight stay followed up by quarterly quality control checks and ongoing feedback from readers. As a reviewed hotel, its Look & Book Box™ features are ONLINE and any awards made by the Guide are published above. The star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board, VisitScotland.

Your opinion? There’s a link to a Reader’s Review form at the top and left side of this page. It only takes a moment to send the Guide your views via the small panel that will pop-up. You can be as brief or as fulsome as you wish! Your views go to the Editor, who will acknowledge your response within a few days. He may edit feedback. Reports do not go directly online. You can be named or remain anonymous. At Scotland’s most-read hotel guide we greatly value the tremendous feedback we have from our readers. Thanks!

Disability Information: Unsuitable for wheelchairs, due to stairs at entrance and throughout, sorry.

Ghàidhlig: Bidh Ghàidhlig ri fhaighinn an seo a dh’aithghearr! Tapa leibh.