Prestonfield House
Encyclopedia
Prestonfield House is a five-star boutique hotel
located in Prestonfield
, Edinburgh
. It was originally built in 1687 by architect Sir William Bruce, and was once a wealthy rural estate, but in recent decades has come to serve as a hotel. Though it is but a small establishment, having only 23 rooms, Prestonfield House is well renowned by critics.
Situated on extensive grounds at the foot of Arthur's Seat
, Prestonfield House also owns a large roundhouse
, which was previously used for keeping horses. The now-converted stables are used to host large functions, one example being the Taste of Scotland festival. Otherwise, the Hotel maintains a small dedicated restaurant
named 'Rhubarb', which serves gourmet
food.
, founded in 1150 by Henry, Earl of Northumbria. Over the subsequent centuries, the estate changed hands many times, until when newly in the possession of the Catholic
Dick family, the monastery was in the 1670s burned down by Protestant students. The Family quickly enlisted William Bruce to design a replacement building, which was renamed Prestonfield. The new estate remained in the family's possession for many generations, who played host to many great thinkers of their times, including David Hume
, Benjamin Franklin
, Dr Samuel Johnson, and Allan Ramsay. The Dick family continued to modify and improve the estate, adding paintings, a grand new staircase with reception rooms, and a porte-cochère
. Most notably, the stable house was built in the 19th century, as designed by James Gillespie Graham
. As later generations of the family spent less and less time at the estate, no further remodelling took place, preserving the decor to the modern day.
The estate was converted for use as hotel in the 1960s, and has since played host to Sandie Shaw
, Winston Churchill
, Margaret Thatcher
, Sean Connery
, Elton John
, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Oliver Reed
. In 2003, the hotel was bought by restaurateur
James Thomson, who also maintains the acclaimed The Witchery by the Castle
.
Boutique hotel
Boutique hotel is a term popularized in North America and the United Kingdom to describe intimate, usually luxurious or unique hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and motels by providing personalized accommodation and services / facilities...
located in Prestonfield
Prestonfield
Prestonfield is a suburb in the south of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, which lies to the north of the A7 road. It is best known as being home to Prestonfield House, a renowned hotel.-External links:* *...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. It was originally built in 1687 by architect Sir William Bruce, and was once a wealthy rural estate, but in recent decades has come to serve as a hotel. Though it is but a small establishment, having only 23 rooms, Prestonfield House is well renowned by critics.
Situated on extensive grounds at the foot of Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat may refer to:* Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, in Scotland* Arthurs Seat, Victoria, locality and hill in Australia* Arthur's Seat, Maharashtra, locality and plateau in India* Arthur's Seat a promontory on Otago Peninsula, New Zealand...
, Prestonfield House also owns a large roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
, which was previously used for keeping horses. The now-converted stables are used to host large functions, one example being the Taste of Scotland festival. Otherwise, the Hotel maintains a small dedicated restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
named 'Rhubarb', which serves gourmet
Gourmet
Gourmet is a cultural ideal associated with the culinary arts of fine food and drink, or haute cuisine, which is characterised by elaborate preparations and presentations of large meals of small, often quite rich courses...
food.
History
Originally known as Priestfield, the site was once a wealthy monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, founded in 1150 by Henry, Earl of Northumbria. Over the subsequent centuries, the estate changed hands many times, until when newly in the possession of the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Dick family, the monastery was in the 1670s burned down by Protestant students. The Family quickly enlisted William Bruce to design a replacement building, which was renamed Prestonfield. The new estate remained in the family's possession for many generations, who played host to many great thinkers of their times, including David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, Dr Samuel Johnson, and Allan Ramsay. The Dick family continued to modify and improve the estate, adding paintings, a grand new staircase with reception rooms, and a porte-cochère
Porte-cochere
A porte-cochère is the architectural term for a porch- or portico-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which a horse and carriage can pass in order for the occupants to alight under cover, protected from the weather.The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th...
. Most notably, the stable house was built in the 19th century, as designed by James Gillespie Graham
James Gillespie Graham
James Gillespie Graham was a Scottish architect, born in Dunblane. He is most notable for his work in the Scottish baronial style, as at Ayton Castle, and he worked in the Gothic Revival style, in which he was heavily influenced by the work of Augustus Pugin...
. As later generations of the family spent less and less time at the estate, no further remodelling took place, preserving the decor to the modern day.
The estate was converted for use as hotel in the 1960s, and has since played host to Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw is an English pop singer, who was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. In 1967 she was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest...
, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
. In 2003, the hotel was bought by restaurateur
Restaurateur
A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of the restaurant business.-Etymology:The word...
James Thomson, who also maintains the acclaimed The Witchery by the Castle
The Witchery by the Castle
The Witchery by the Castle is a restaurant on the Royal Mile near Edinburgh Castle which also provides lavish bed and breakfast accommodation.The restaurant was opened in 1979 by chef James Thompson...
.