Edinburgh’s ridiculed ‘poop emoji’ hotel is branded a ‘white elephant’ by furious locals as ‘eyesore’ remains closed to the public two years after it was due to open
- Edinburgh’s much delayed W Hotel has been compared to a ‘t**d’ by some locals
A controversial 12-storey ‘T*rd hotel’ made from swirling, stainless steel coating and earmarked to be operated by Marriot luxury brand W when it finally opens later this year is still a point of bitter debate amongst Edinburgh locals seven years after construction began.
The ‘ribbon hotel’ – so named because of its distinctive design- is the centrepiece of the city’s £850million St James Quarter development but its opening has repeatedly been pushed back – most recently from a winter 2022 date.
However, ever since plans for the hotel were first tabled there have been concerns that its ultra modern design will sit at odds with Edinburgh’s nearby World Heritage listed buildings and spoil existing views of the historic city.
As recently as March this year, developers were forced to abandon plans to install an enormous illuminated ‘W’ sign on top of the building as planners deemed it could harm Edinburgh’s World Heritage status by being ‘too prominent’ on the city’s skyline.
Edinburgh’s new ‘ribbon hotel’ is part of a £850 development of the St James Quarter
The hotel has a distinctive design which some have compared to the ‘poop emoji’
It has been a controversial addition to the city skyline since plans were approved in 2015
Much of the city’s St James Quarter development – which includes a shopping centre, cinema and restaurants- has now opened after being delayed by the Coronavirus pandemic, however the 244-room hotel has been repeatedly pushed back.
Once completed and open to the public, the five star destination will have a host of amenities including a spa and a three-storey penthouse restaurant with outdoor terrace for viewings and drinks.
But even though plans were approved in 2015, Edinburgh’s residents have still not all come on board with the hotel’s ambitious design.
Despite not operating yet, the hotel is already the subject of a parody Twitter account named ‘Golden T*rd Hotel’ which claims it is ‘like a golden pile of pure sh**e’ and the winner of the worst building of 2020.
Elsewhere other locals have expressed concern that the building in its current state detracts from the awe inspiring views of the skyline that can be seen from viewpoints like Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat.
The building has received a mixed reaction from locals on social media
Taking to Twitter this week, one person said: ‘Excuse the hot take, but I still think it’s total madness that one of the world’s most iconic city skylines was tarnished by the architectural embodiment of the poo emoji.’
The post sparked a wave of condemnation against the pricey landmark, with several others voicing their disapproval of the ‘hideous’ structure.
One opined: ‘It’s ugly from afar, but even uglier up close, it’s not just the awful design, but it’s out of scale, when you come round the corner at Register House it’s like the giant Puff Pastry Man from Ghostbusters looming over the St James Centre at you.’
Another said: ‘I couldn’t agree more. It’s a real eyesore.
‘Also, it’s not even open!! It’s been empty of life for so long now I’m beginning to wonder it it’s a white elephant.’
However there were some who defended the structure.
One said: ‘I disagree, it’s lovely. Cities can’t stay the same, they have to evolve.’
Another agreed: ‘It’s quite nice to walk around it. Time will tell if it’s looks are good or bad.’
MailOnline approached the owners and operators of the Edinburgh W Hotel for clarification on the delayed opening.
A spokesperson for W Edinburgh said: ‘W Edinburgh will mark W Hotels’ debut in Scotland. W Hotels embraces originality and curiosity, reflecting the city’s festival spirit.
‘We are excited to be creating new jobs for local talent to be part of this landmark destination, inspiring locals and visitors alike.’
