Overview

We at Euan's Guide were invited to visit The Resident, a newly opened hotel in Edinburgh’s city centre. The hotel has brand-new facilities and is taking access seriously, though there’s still work to be done. The manager was refreshingly open to feedback and enthusiastic about joining Euan’s Guide, which in itself speaks volumes. It’s rare to meet someone genuinely excited to hear criticism. Each room includes a sink, microwave, and mini fridge - intended to help “everyone feel like a resident.” There’s no in-house dining, as the manager noted they wanted to highlight Edinburgh’s vibrant food scene instead.

Transport & Parking

We walked from the Euan’s Guide office, which is nearby. Being in the city centre, public transport links are likely to be good. The hotel has a small private car park at the rear with two disabled bays, though one was occupied by a non-disabled vehicle at the time. The manager mentioned she usually challenges this when she sees it. A major issue was the pavements: there was no easy dropped kerb nearby, so we had to take a 5–10 minute detour just to get up the pavement with a powerchair. We were told there are plans to resolve this via the council, but there’s no clear timescale yet. Guests arriving by car can access the hotel via the level back entrance.

Access

Once inside, access is generally good. There are two compact lifts that still accommodated my small powerchair with no issue. We viewed two accessible rooms - both with fantastic city views and low, wide windows, making them ideal for wheelchair users. The rooms included accessible sinks (with knee space underneath), low-positioned fridges, and microwaves placed higher up. The sink height might be too high for some, as it was for me, but it depends on individual needs. Power sockets were thoughtfully placed and red emergency cords were installed on both sides of the bed (though tied up on our visit). Staff will untie them if notified in advance. The room size was just about comfortable for manoeuvring a small powerchair. The accessible rooms are part of their Deluxe category and are located across various floors, so disabled guests don’t miss out on the views. This is a plus, although I did note the potential tension between access and room pricing. The manager also told us that these accessible rooms are quite popular, partly because they’re more spacious than the standard deluxe rooms. While it’s great that there’s an accessible room on every level, I did wonder if this setup could lead to a conflict of interest. Since these rooms offer more space (a necessity for many disabled guests), they might be booked by non-disabled visitors simply seeking a larger room, potentially leaving fewer options available for those who genuinely need the accessible features. The lobby and adjacent lounge area were cosy and stylish but dimly lit, which could pose issues for visually impaired guests. Coffee tables were a bit too low - I had to hold my drink through the whole conversation. One drawback: only the main entrance has automatic doors. All others, including internal doors leading to lifts or the back entrance, require a keycard scan at a height difficult to reach from a wheelchair. This might not be a huge problem on entry as the desk is always manned, but it will likely pose issues if you're exiting, as you would not be able to see the desk and vice versa. There was also a fire extinguisher obstructing the door release panel going into the lobby from the sleeping area, which could cause problems for users who need to park close to press it.

Toilets

Every accessible room includes a well-designed wet room with two sinks (one lower, one standard) and a grab rail integrated into the higher sink. Red emergency cords were placed in appropriate locations by the shower and toilet. Fixtures had a modern, non-clinical design - no white plastic here. There was a fold-down shower chair and well-positioned grab rails. The handheld shower could be lowered on request in advance, though it was mounted slightly far from the shower chair, which may be an issue for some depending on specific access needs. You would need to slightly bend forward from the chair to use the shower, which might pose a safety hazard for some disabilities.

Staff

The manager was brilliant - proactive, engaged, and sincerely interested in feedback. She seemed genuinely committed to improving accessibility and had a great follow-up conversation with us. Her positive attitude made a strong impression and left me optimistic about the venue’s access journey.

Photos