The long game
Dalriada owner denies change of plan for beach site
THE OWNER OF the former Dalriada Hotel on Portobello’s Promenade has quashed rumours that he has had a change of heart about the future of the site.
Millionaire games developer Leslie Benzies purchased the B-listed building last September for £1.3 million, and has obtained planning permission to convert the former bar and popular music venue into a luxury private home.
After an initial burst of activity, the site appears to be at a standstill, prominent contractors’ signage has been removed from security fencing which surrounds the property, and the extensive gardens are severely overgrown.
Locally there had been speculation that Mr Benzies - who made his fortune as the developer of the billion dollar grossing Grand Theft Auto game series – had changed his mind about the development and was in discussion with a prominent Edinburgh publican over its future.
However, Philip Johnston, a spokesman for Mr
Benzies, refuted the suggestion and said work would go ahead as outlined in a planning application to the city council to develop a private home over three floors, including top floor office space.
He said initial rewiring work had taken place and a combination of factors, including the coronavirus pandemic, and a shortage of materials and tradesmen, were contributing factors to a lack of progress.
Mr Johnston said of reports that a publican could be interested in acquiring the property: “There is nothing to that at this point in time”, adding that there was “no deviation” from the planning application which had been lodged.
He added: “To be honest, with Covid and everything else going on, we don’t have a timescale for completion. With a shortage of materials, which are now costing the earth, it is not the best time to be undertaking large scale construction projects. I am acutely aware of how much local interest there is in the site but there is no rush from our end.”