Friday June 27th 2025
Edinburgh's Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The Edinburgh Council have secured a new tourism information centre next to the City Chambers on the Royal Mile due to a new 25 year £150,000 a month lease to Drumnadrochit hospitality firm, Cobbs Group.
The council has leased the former Visit Scotland information centre to the hospitality firm to secure a new information centre. With Cobbs group taking on the lease, it will secure up to 15 jobs, creating a tourism centre that will contain stalls promoting attractions, a tourism shop and a ‘Cobbs Cafe’ selling traditional Scottish baking.
Councillors on the Finance and Resources Committee unanimously agreed to lease the prominent location for £150,000 a year following Visit Scotland closing all of their tourism hubs in Scotland.
Councillor and Finance and Resources Convener Mandy Watt said, “While more and more visitors are planning their trips to Edinburgh online, you can’t beat a warm Scottish welcome face to face. We believe there remains an appetite for this type of in-person experience for visitors, particularly with the draw of a shop and cafe.”
“This will prove invaluable as we encourage tourists to visit all parts of the city in all seasons as part of the city’s tourism strategy, and as we introduce Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy next summer. The lease will also support us to raise income worth £3.5 million over the next 25 years.”
Cobb’s Group is a family-run hospitality business with 35 sites across the country, adding the new tourist centre to their portfolio.
Councillor Mandy Watt explained, “Cobbs is well established throughout Scotland with the family nearing 40 years of tourism experience and we’re looking forward to welcoming them into the space.”
With the Cobbs Group planning to turn the former Visit Scotland tourism hub into a tourism centre, Cobbs cafe and shop, they are planning to sell Scottish crafts from local craftspeople in their stalls. Opening the well-needed centre for visitors to access tourism information alongside experience Scottish goods, it is re-establishing the former visitor centre in the heart of the Royal Mile.
Cobbs Group’s Managing Director Fraser Campbell explained, “We’re well established in Scotland as the Cobbs group and we proudly operate 35 sites across the country. Opening a tourism office in the heart of Edinburgh is a dream and we’re excited to take over the lease.”
“Right in the heart of Edinburgh’s festival action, it is the ideal site for showcasing everything the city and Scotland has to offer. We’re particularly keen to highlight local experiences and ‘Made in Scotland’ items where we can and I’d urge makers and crafters to please get in touch so that we can offer a unique and authentic range for tourists to enjoy on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.”
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