Rose Street up for a re-vamp

Edinburgh’s Rose Street is set for a major facelift in order to attract more shoppers and tourists.

Essential Edinburgh has announced £400,000 worth of renovations to the street, which would see better street lighting, upgraded pavements and information boards placed at entrances to entice more customers.

The street is home to dozens of restaurants and shops, including popular restaurant The Mussel Inn and Fopp Records, but is often bypassed by shoppers in favour of neighbouring Princes Street and George Street.

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh believes the revamp will make Rose Street “a much more attractive environment” for tourists and shoppers.

He told The Journal: "These [improvements] are likely to focus on...sorting out traffic management issues – ensuring less traffic uses the street – making more creative use of entrances to make them more interesting and inviting, enhancing street furniture and encouraging restaurants and cafes to spill out more onto the street and improving the lighting.

"While we await the final recommendations, we are excited about the prospects for Rose Street and look forward to taking things forward with the City of Edinburgh Council in the New Year."

The improvements come as part of £908,000 of initiatives planned for up until June 2012, designed to increase customer numbers and revenue for city centre businesses. The funding comes from a levy paid by firms that lie within the “business improvement district” between Princes Street and George Street.

Rose Street is also popular for hen and stag parties, owing to the number of bars, pubs and private saunas. Although brothels remain illegal in the UK, the 1982 Civic Act of Government classified saunas as “places of entertainment”, which allows them to unofficially function as brothels.

Edinburgh City Council decided not to comment on how increased tourist traffic might affect the business of saunas such as Angels Sauna & Massage or Executive Sauna, both of which operate on Rose Street.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, Convener of the Economic Development Committee, focused instead on the aesthetic improvements, saying: "We are very supportive of Essential Edinburgh's plans to further develop the Rose Street area.

“Match funding will be provided as the work is part of the Council's city centre improvement plan to make the area more attractive for residents, retailers and visitors.

“We look forward to working with Essential Edinburgh to shape these plans, which we hope will be implemented in the summer."