George Hotel, 19-21 George Street, Edinburgh

This building, located at 23-25 George Street, Edinburgh, is a complex structure with origins around 1780, initially designed by John Young as offices. It has undergone substantial alterations and additions over time, reflecting changing architectural styles and uses. David Bryce contributed in 1840-1841, McGibbon and Ross in 1879-1880, R H Watherston in 1903, and Henry Wylie in 1968. The building now serves as a hotel. It originally comprised a four-storey, seven-bay office block to the east and three four-storey, three-bay terraced houses to the west, with significant ground floor alterations.

No. 19 (incorporating 15 & 17) is constructed of cream sandstone ashlar. The ground floor features a channelled, glazed, arcaded rustication with pedestals to each pier; it was originally pilastraded but altered by Watherston. The projecting central bay has a doorpiece framed by fluted and panelled pilasters, topped with an open segmental pediment containing garlands and an arched doorway with a mask keystone. A giant colonnade of fluted Corinthian columns runs up the first and second floors, engaged at the central bay, which includes a pedimented window at the first floor. Remaining first-floor windows have cornices. A massive entablature and dentilled cornice are present, topped by a third-floor/attic with pilastered arched windows, an engaged fluted Corinthian colonnade, an entablature and a balustraded parapet with urn finials. A similarly detailed single bay returns to the east, adjoined by an irregular five-story, five-bay stuccoed elevation framed by channelled pilasters, and a taller two-storey section containing a former telling room (McGibbon & Ross). A single-storey link connects to Henry Wylie's seven-storey accommodation block to the northeast, characterised by alternate horizontal bands of windows in bronzed frames and polished ashlar.

No. 21 retains the ground floor treatment of No. 19, but incorporates a simple pilastered arched doorway to the right. Upper floors have moulded architraves, consoled cornices, a single cast-iron balustrade at the first floor, a cill course (previously a cornice) at the third floor, a heavy eaves cornice, and a later set back attic.

No. 23 features a projecting, full-width painted Adam revival tripartite bay at ground level, with a taller canted tripartite central section flanked by pilastered single bays with swan-necked pediments. The first and second floors have moulded architraves and cill courses, with a cornice above the second floor. A later third floor/attic has punched windows, a cornice, and a blocking course.

No. 25 has rendered upper floors and a projecting tripartite ashlar front to function rooms at ground level. This features a broad central entrance bay with panelled pilasters, an entablature, and a balustraded parapet. First-floor windows have raised architraves and consoled cornices with blocking courses. Upper floors are rendered with punched windows and feature a cornice and blocking course that continues those of No. 23.

The rear elevations are two to three storeys high with attics, built on raised basements, and are constructed of ashlar. A variety of timber sash and case windows are present, along with some casements. The interior is lavishly decorated, including an entrance hall with a single row of columns and a former banking hall with windows to the rear featuring Corinthian columned aisles and a glazed saucer dome, plus fitted restaurant seating.