Granton Hotel, 8 Granton Square, Granton, Edinburgh

The Granton Hotel, located at 8 Granton Square in Granton, Edinburgh, was designed by John Henderson around 1838, with a substantial mid-20th century addition at the rear. This three-storey building with a basement features a symmetrical, rectangular plan in a classical style and has been unoccupied since 1997. It is constructed of coursed, tooled sandstone with ashlar dressings and includes band courses above and below the piano nobile, V-jointed angle quoins, an eaves cornice, and architraved windows. The west elevation, which serves as the entrance, has a Doric porch.

The entrance elevation has three central bays that are recessed, with the entrance located at the center of the piano nobile accessed by a short flight of steps. The Doric porch features an entablature supported by two pairs of columns, leading to a two-leaf, panelled door with a rectangular fanlight that has border glazing. On either side of the entrance are 8-pane fixed lights flanked by pilasters. A decorative cast-iron balustrade runs along the outer edges of the steps, terminating in lamp standards beside the street. The fenestration is regular, including windows at the basement level, and there are cornices above the first-floor window architraves on the projecting bays.

The north elevation facing the harbour has three bays, featuring a tripartite central window on the ground and first floors, with cornices above the first-floor window architraves and a carved stone balcony supported by stone brackets on the first floor.

The south elevation has an entrance in the first of three bays, which includes a two-leaf panelled timber door with a rectangular fanlight.

The east elevation has a 20th-century three-storey rendered addition that covers most of this side, with the stonework of the original building being less finely coursed.

The hotel primarily features 12-pane timber sash and case windows throughout, a grey slate piended roof with a pair of coped ridge stacks and wall stacks on the east elevation, and cast-iron downpipes and hoppers.

Flanking the entrance on the west side are cast-iron torchere lamp standards with nautical finials. There is also a harled retaining wall with ridged coping on either side, which is slightly later in date.

Inside, there have been various alterations in the late 20th century, including the introduction of fire doors and changes to the plan of the rear adjoining extension. However, the original half-turn stone main staircase with a cast-iron balustrade remains intact within the central entrance hall.