Minto Hotel, Edinburgh

Outlet profile

The 22-bedroom privately owned Minto, set on a main road into Edinburgh about a mile from the city centre, faces plenty of competition from neighbouring hotels lining this major route.

As well as providing accommodation, the hotel does good business from functions such as weddings. However, general manager Scott Cockburn says that before it changed ownership last November, the hotel's front bar was closed to residents and guests to allow functions to take place.

Steps taken

Following enlargement and modernisation of the front bar, an £18,000 investment -assisted by an undisclosed sum from brewer Scottish & Newcastle - helped transform an overgrown, paved space in front of the hotel into a superb al fresco area.

Three large canopies or "jumbrellas",

with integral heating units were fixed to

new slate paving and small ground-level uplighters installed to bathe the canvas in soft red light.

Sturdy, quality tables and chairs were provided to cater for 100 people. Attention to detail is demonstrated by the provision of ashtrays which have semi-enclosed tops that hide the cigarette butts and prevent ash blowing over customers.

Other initiatives

Before starting building work, the proprietors sent Christmas cards inviting local residents to attend a wine and canapé evening where the proposals were discussed. Says Cockburn: "Around 70 people turned up - they'd all heard we were planning to build flats or change the hotel into a super-casino."

End results

Cockburn remarks: "Before our jumbrellas were installed, we used to do between 20 and 30 meals a day - that has risen to between 80 and 100. Many office workers from Scottish Widows insurance company - only a block away - have started having lunch here as well as coming for a drink and maybe a meal in the evening.

"We are also attracting a lot of non-smokers and families with young children, and our hotel residents aren't going off elsewhere in the evening."

Cockburn says the jumbrellas act as a big advertising hoarding for the Minto.

And perhaps surprisingly he isn't too concerned about the onset of winter. "Scotland is a cold place and many smokers have got used to that fact. The jumbrellas' heaters are powerful enough to cope with all but the worst weather."

Unusually, the Minto's machine income hasn't been affected by the ban.