Abandoned Edinburgh wine merchant in upmarket community to become new bookshop

An abandoned former Edinburgh wine merchant in an upmarket community is set to be turned into a new bookshop.

Oddbins, on Bruntsfield Place, closed down in 2023 and has lain empty ever since. Now new plans have been submitted to the council by The Edinburgh Bookshop - the name of the new venture.

The applicant wishes to retain certain internal features of the previous wine merchants, such as shelving, and instead use them for books as well as maintaining the current open plan shopfront.

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As the site is located within a C-listed building, no major external works are proposed other than signs for the shop and the facade being repainted to include an upgrade to the signage colour and branding.

The existing awnings would be refurbished to function again. Internally, minor interventions are to be carried out for a comprehensive refurbishment and decoration. The existing cornices are to remain and be repainted as the main ceiling feature in the ground floor space.

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In terms of the interior of the bookshop, a planning statement on behalf of the applicant states: "Internally the proposals retain as much of the existing building features and fit out joinery as possible. The existing shelving will be reused or re-purposed and existing exposed cornicing and pendant lights will be retained and made good.

"Along with the adapted shelving and inclusion of booth and bench seating, additional display shelving will ensure that the main shop floor remains accessible to users. A new trolley lift is to be installed near the rear stairs, to allow transfer of deliveries and stock between the ground and basement floors.

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"The existing space to the rear of the property will be converted from an office space to children's corner, including shelving, seating and artwork." The application and supporting documents can be found online here.