Brown's Close Apartment

12/03/2023

We have faced a few issues with our self-catering business over the last few years, including the lockdowns and the major upgrade works to the apartment and to the building as a whole; now the entire short-term let market in Edinburgh is under attack from the city Council. Rather than subject ourselves to the stressful business of applying to the Planning Department (at significant cost) for a "certificate of lawfulness", and then - if granted a CoL - having to regularly apply (at significant cost) for a licence to operate, we have decided to stop doing short-term rentals.

We have really enjoyed doing this for over 11 years, and we have met some really lovely people, so there is an element of sadness in making this decision. A big thank-you and farewell to all our guests over the years!

12/09/2022

We, and our guests, have been privileged to see many processions up and down the Royal Mile over the years, but today was by far the saddest, as we watched Queen Elizabeth's funeral procession make its way up the Canongate.

06/08/2021

The 2021 Edinburgh Festival Fringe begins today. It is, of course, a stripped-down version this year, but there are online events available for those who can't make it to Edinburgh in the flesh! Have a look at the programme on their web site:

Official website of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. Find everything you need, whether you want to take part or book tickets.

03/08/2021

It's been a while since we posted any updates for Brown's Close Apartment, for a couple of reasons. One was the lockdown restrictions which were put in place, which forced quite a few people to cancel their bookings, and which meant that we couldn't guarantee to our guests that they would be able to stay with us; the other was a major conservation and upgrade project involving the whole building.

The project was coordinated by Edinburgh World Heritage and involved funding from the Scottish Government, Scottish Power, Historic Environment Scotland, and the owners. The conservation targets were to upgrade the fabric of the building, making repairs where necessary, and to return it, as far as possible, to its original appearance. The other funding was focussed on determining the extent to which buildings of this type can be upgraded to make them more energy efficient, and more comfortable places to live. EWH have more information on their website at https://ewh.org.uk/project/canongate-housing-development/

What this means for us and our guests is that the building has a much smarter appearance, but the apartment is even more comfortable than it used to be. Double glazing means that the apartment is even quieter and stays warm longer; improved central heating is more efficient; and cavity wall insulation means the temperature is more stable. The new air-handling system draws air in from outside, warming and filtering it, and removes damp air from the kitchen and shower room. And just to finish it off, we have redecorated throughout.

We hope that we will continue to see the return of old guests and the arrival of new, and that all of you will enjoy the even better comforts of Browns Close Apartment - as well as its fantastic location!

08/09/2019

If you have never visited a whisky distillery before, you might be interested in the Holyrood Distillery, which is within walking distance of Brown's Close. There are tours of both whisky- and gin-making facilities, and tastings: note, though that the tradition of whisky-making here only stretches back a few weeks, and whisky cannot legally be sold until it has spent at least three years in an oak cask.

Holyrood Distillery is Edinburgh's first single malt distillery in the heart of Edinburgh for nearly 100 years.

14/07/2019

Malleny Garden is a National Trust property in Balerno, on the west of Edinburgh. Much smaller than the Botanic Gardens, but it has some lovely displays and is a tranquil spot for relaxing in.

www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/malleny-garden

14/07/2019

The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival was launched in the Grassmarket yesterday. The Festival runs until 21st July - see www.edinburghjazzfestival.com/ for details.

16/06/2019

The Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from 19th to 30th June 2019. For details of the line-up, including the Scottish premiere of Brightburn and the European premiere of "Boyz in the Wood", see their web site at

Discover an exciting high-profile line-up of award-winning filmmakers, acclaimed producers, on-screen stars and jurors appearing at the festival this year.

04/06/2019

Edinburgh Castle, viewed over the greenery of Princes Street gardens, looks lovely today in the sunshine. The cranes on the left are setting up the seating for the summer concerts and the Military Tattoo.

03/06/2019

The full Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 programme will be released on Wednesday. For those who are really excited about it, there is a live online presentation at 10.00 on Wednesday (5th June). See

Official website of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. Find everything you need, whether you want to take part or book tickets.