The Situation Room, Bread Street

Wolf Blitzer of the US news channel CNN has been broadcasting from this hotel in Bread Street, Edinburgh over the first few days of the COP26 conference.  Wolf is the anchor for CNN's evening news programme 'The Situation Room'.

The Hotel started out as a St Cuthbert's Co-operative Department Store in 1892.  At its peak there was 3,000 employees here and it was the largest building in the British Co-op movement.  The store fell into disrepair in the mid 1990s and was converted to The Point Hotel.  It was then acquired by the Hilton brand a few years ago.

The penthouse event room and roof terrace has a floor to ceiling glass 'wall' that was originally constructed in 1937.  This gives a spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and the city skyline.  Hence it's popularity for news events (like CNN) as well for films and dramas. 

Walking up Spittal Street all I could see was a blaze of light coming from that top floor! 

I should note an interest in the penthouse venue and can testify to its excellence - we had our wedding reception here!