Go West for a different view
AZKHA KHOKHAR sees another side of a city she knows well
EDINBURGH has fast become one of my favourite cities, not least for its vibrancy and welcoming aura, which captivates you whether it’s your first or fiftieth time visiting.
For me, I always feel like I’m seeing the city with fresh eyes and uncovering new delights around every corner each time I go.
A stay at the Haymarket Hub only proved this even further as it allowed me and my best friend to explore the West End district; an area I hadn’t had the pleasure of wandering through before.
Like most, when I picture Edinburgh, I think of the Royal Mile, Princes Street, Arthur’s Seat and other iconic places and so it was an utter delight to see what the West End District had to offer.
Reaching the destination could not have been easier given the direct train that travelled from Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh Haymarket; delivering us virtually on the doorstep to our hotel.
As part of the Edinburgh Collection, The Haymarket Hub is a fresh new style of hotel that combines technology and efficiency to create an affordable, millennial-era business class place.
To set itself apart from others in the same category, Haymarket has set up complimentary smartphones for each guest, making this place the first of its kind in Scotland.
The useful device was set up for us and ready to use, filled with free data and no-charge UK and international calls to 10 countries. This really is a great feature of the hotel and an obvious appeal for many visitors – including us who made sure to take full advantage of the free data for finding our way around the city.
Following the aesthetics of the rest of the hotel, the room itself had a fresh, contemporary look, designed for efficiency and a great night’s sleep in the luxurious beds from Hypnos; which were akin to lying on a soft cloud.
There is a mixture of styles of rooms, with double, twin and internal double rooms, all adhering to the same consistency and quality throughout, just proving that budget does not always mean boring or basic.
The en-suite bathroom with power shower and included range of toiletries is good enough to help recharge you in the morning for that important business meeting or to start your day with a boost and ready to get exploring, or even if a night on the town is on the cards.
Arriving at 5pm meant we still had plenty of time to set our bags down, take several pictures of the stunning view, which looked out onto the distant hills and the grand Balmoral Hotel, and then we were out.
The following day we awoke early, ready and eager to scout out the surrounding areas, but first, breakfast! The Haymarket Hub has an adjoining Belhaven Pub, Platform Five, that serves up a range of veggie and non-veggie options.
Their full Scottish breakfast includes haggis and potato scones as well as the usual suspects. Simply put, this was all that you want from a breakfast and more – filling and absolutely fantastic. Featuring a pleasant cohort of independent businesses, Edinburgh’s ‘hidden gem’ in the West End can be described as being rich in quintessentially Scottish charm.
With everything from quirky gift shops, organic bakeries, chic boutiques and more, the streets aligning this quaint BID (Business Improvement District) are full of character that deserves to be seen.
We met up with Gail Niven and Susan Mather from the BID group at Just g; Gail’s own independently run women’s boutique for ‘uncommon fashion’.
They introduced us to the area before telling us about an exciting new idea on the scenes.
Created by four individuals from Edinburgh College of Art, The Sound Walks is a series of audio soundscapes to bring the West End to life, transporting you back in time; commissioned by BID.
We listened to the three soundscapes (A Historical Tour of Edinburgh’s West End, A Journey through Edinburgh’s West End and A Mystery Tour through Edinburgh’s West End) while walking around, enhancing the whole experience.
The latter of the soundscapes was by far our favourite as we had to follow a series of clues to a find a secret word ... but we aren’t giving anything away. This is really perfect for anyone interested in learning about the history and culture of Edinburgh and can be downloaded for free from www. edinburgh-westend.co.uk.
After an afternoon of walking it was only right we filled up at a nearby local gem.
The Voyage of the Buck is situated deep in the heart of the West End and fulfils the area’s quirky vibes, with an eccentric fictional background story that will no doubt leave you intrigued.
The restaurant/bar takes you back in time to the early 1900s to join your ‘host’ William ‘Buck’ Clarence – an intrepid explorer who, after having fled the UK with Prince Albert Victor following the Cleveland Street Scandal of 1889, travelled the globe to return back to Edinburgh, bringing back with him some new flavours and experiences.
We started with a masterpiece ‘small plate’ of whipped goat’s cheese, poppy seed granola, charcoal ash, preserved lemon and honey.
The textures were close to perfection, with the unusual flavours complementing each other wonderfully.
The main was crispy butternut squash katsu, toasted coconut, turmeric, ginger and forbidden rice – which was not only superb, but also accentuated the tale of Buck in the boldest way.
The menu changes on a monthly rotation, ensuring that only the freshest and most seasonal ingredients are served.
Their extensive cocktail lists are a nod to Buck’s travels to Paris, Taipei, Cairo and Havana and each city has its own suite of drinks! Also it is probably worth mentioning that there is a service for drinks on demand at the touch of a button located by the table – the future is here and it’s incredible!
Cairngorm Coffee was our last stop in the morning before setting back home and boy what a way to leave Edinburgh.
The cosy contemporary interior was welcoming, as well as the pleasant aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air.
We left with brownies in hand and such lovely memories of what is still one of my favourite cities.