Skip to Main Content

Buildings

Basic Site Details

Café Royal
Edinburgh
A Listed
Scotland
Original building by Robert Paterson. As first designed, the ground floor was to have been a gas showroom for the owner R Hume & Co and Contractors W & D McGregor. Converted to Café Royal Hotel and Oyster Bar before opening.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
Café Royal Hotel and Oyster BarYes

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
HotelNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
17 West Register StreetYes

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
1863Opened as hotel
18931895Alterations, forming present Circle Bar from Lunch Room and Smoking Room. Further alterations for Alexander MacPherson
1898Interiors for Charles Clark (HS gives date as 1900-1901)
1923American bar at NW corner
Addition197Staff accommodation added

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Robert Paterson1863
Alexander Wood MacNaughtan (or McNaughton)18931895Alterations, forming present Circle Bar from Lunch Room and Smoking Room. Further alterations for Alexander MacPherson
James Macintyre HenryA1898Interiors for Charles Clark
Henry & MaclennanB1923American bar at NW corner
James Macintyre HenryB1923American bar at NW corner
Thomas Forbes MaclennanB1923American bar at NW corner
Alastair Shepherd MathisonFArchitect197Staff accommodation
Francis ('Frank') Sibbald WhiteFArchitect197Staff accommodation
Henry Wylie (or Harry Wylie)FArchitect197Staff accommodation
Henry Wylie Frank White & PartnersFArchitectural practice197Staff accommodation

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
Clark, Charles
Grand Metropolitan HotelsFor 1970s work
McLaren, JohnClient for 1893 work
MacPherson, AlexanderClient for new rooms on first floor

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland)Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdpp330-1
Kenna and Mooney1983People's Palacespp119-120
McWilliam, ColinThe Café Royal, Edinburgh3Scottish Georgeian Society Journal, pp15-19
Nicol1908Domestic Architecture in Scotland
RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices
RSA1863733

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Building News1862/06/27*
Country Life1969/11/27*
National Guardian1895/05/10*

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register29619