Capital Room With A View
If it’s an Edinburgh skyline you’re after, you couldn’t do better than this penthouse
ABOVE the old whisky bond in the port of Leith, you can’t help feeling on top of the world. Big sliding doors in the bedroom of the penthouse apartment open out to a panorama that is truly capital, revealing birds-eye views to Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat.
The Leith Lofts development in 1999 was the first real attempt in Scotland to replicate the trendy, loft-style living synonymous with New Yorkers.
It was this kind of open-plan lifestyle that appealed to current owner Alex Milton, a designer who works between Dublin and Edinburgh.
He said: ‘Being a designer, I have worked abroad a lot with creative people. I would look on jealously at friends and colleagues internationally who live in contemporary open spaces.
‘We couldn’t believe it when we saw this place. I loved coming out to the roof space – you feel as if you’re always on holiday.’
Mr Milton and his wife Suzanne were so entranced by the roof garden that they held their wedding there.
They hired a band and other rooftop neighbours allowed them the full run of the place by opening up their areas to accommodate the guests.
The building first came to life as a 19th Century whisky bond for William Sanderson & Son Ltd, producer of the well-known brand VAT 69.
THE whisky got the name because Mr Sanderson placed almost 100 of his blends into small numbered vats and invited guests to pick the best. All chose the vat numbered 69. For some reason, the bond’s address, Quality Street, was changed to Maritime Street in 1967, the same year Sanderson & Son won the Queen’s Award for Industry in recognition of soaring worldwide sales.
It was this success that forced the firm to move out of Leith in 1969, to the Distillers Group’s modern bottling and blending plant at South Queensferry.
Fortunately, the B-Listed stone building was saved from dereliction by visionary developers 30 years later, who fashioned 28 flats around the unique fabric of the property.
So you get original wooden floors, cast iron pillars and matching industrial beams on the ceiling to remind you that your home once wafted with the Angels’ Share.
The Miltons’ penthouse apartment is spread across two floors; the fourth, with the amazing open living space, and the fifth with its wow-factor eyrie.
The living/dining area has been cleverly furnished to allow a seamless transition of activity.
The stainless steel kitchen, with freestanding butcher’s block and marble work surfaces, adds a contemporary feel to a historic property.
A slate-finished wet room with stainless steel WC features a double sink unit and a stylish fitted mirror with hidden storage behind and a bespoke utility cabinet.
A guest cloakroom is available in the entrance vestibule.
You go upstairs via a spiral staircase, which leads straight into the master bedroom and that aforementioned vista of Auld Reekie.
Enthusiasts are trying to bring back whisky production to Leith by opening a distillery next to the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Ocean Terminal.
Until then, feel free to partake of Scotland’s national drink in any of the port’s many bars and restaurants, which conspire to make living here so hip.
Only a short walk from the penthouse apartment lie countless cosmopolitan cafes and gastropubs on the waterfront.
Top eateries include The Ship On The Shore and Michelin-starred The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart.
The Custom House hosts a weekend farmers’ market.
You can also take in a movie at the Vue Cinema, located in Ocean Terminal.
And after that? Well, it’s off to bed – in that incredible Room With A View.
Offers over £335,000 to Knight Frank, Edinburgh. Tel 0131 222 9618.