The Witchery by the Castle

Edinburgh

A city-museum and the capital of Scotland since 1492, Edinburgh has been classified by UNESCO as a world heritage. It was also named the most popular city in Great Britain by the daily newspaper, The Guardian. Also known as “The Athens of the North”, Edinburgh has a very rich architectural heritage. The old and the new city possess façades, which are vestiges of renaissance and neoclassical architecture. Built between 1767 and 1890, the new city is largely the work of the Scottish architect, Robert Adam His dual sense of romanticism and elegance is what gives the city its unique charm. Although the weight of history can be felt at each of its numerous monuments and structures, Edinburgh is nevertheless an active and thriving city. The Edinburgh Festival is a prestigious international artistic event which attracts thousands of visitors to the city. Scottish novelist, Tobias Smollet wrote: “Edinburgh is a source of genius.” The enchanting atmosphere that permeates the narrow streets of the old city has provided inspiration for many great writers including, J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Canon Doyle and J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame.

Secretive, enchanting and wonderfully romantic

In the heart of the old city, at a detour of a narrow passage bordering the cobblestones of the Royal Mile, a conserved 16^th century building houses a charming and seductive hotel-restaurant. The Witchery by the Castle opened its doors in 1979 at the initiative of restaurateur James Thomson. While studying at the prestigious Henriot School, the young man developed a passion for the architectural history of his native city. Anxious to preserve the wealth of Edinburgh’s historical heritage, Thomson invested in the restoration of a 1595 building known for having been the home of James Boswell, a Scottish lawyer and man of letters.

The name, The Witchery, recalls the sad memories that marked the history of Castle Hill, the center of repression led by King James against individuals accused of witchcraft. There is no attempt to stigmatize this bloody past in the hotel. The eight suites are decorated with sumptuous purple drapes, tapestries of the period and gold trim. The suites also provide a venue for exposing antique art objects from art lover Thomson’s personal collection. One need not reserve a suite to take advantage of the restaurant which composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, a regular customer and admirer of The Witchery calls, “most seductive restaurant there is”.

The Witchery is a preferred stop for a number of celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan all of whom have left their impressions in the visitor’s book.