I posted a positive review in October of 04 after a week-long stay at the Roxburghe, and am dismayed by some of the bitter reviews posted here.

First, I'd like to say, I was the Front Office Supervisor of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York prior to working in my current line of work, the entertainment industry. So I know something about hotels.

I went to Scotland to lecture on screenwriting and see some old friends. I scoured Edinburgh for the perfect hotel and found it in the Roxburghe.

Here's what I found: Despite what someone else wrote, dinner at the Roxburghe is absolutely delicious and the wait service was caring. My room was very well made up and was spotless.

For those needing a gym, try to find a hotel at this low a rate, in Edinburgh, with a full lap pool, and a fully equipped, roomy gym. YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. And if the lap pool weren't enough, they have a very affordable spa, offering excellent massages.

As for the staff, if you treat the staff with respect and kindness, you will get the same back. But if you are pernsnickity and difficult, well, who would want to give you good service. I also wonder if those complaining about the cleanliness of the rooms ever considered leaving a tip for the chambermaids. You treat people well, they will treat you well in return.

The other hotels in the area lacked the kind of intimate sitting rooms of the Roxburghe, where you can be served food and drinks. And nothing rivals the serenity of the Roxburghe sitting rooms, overlooking beautiful Charlotte Square. And the Roxburghe is very near to a lot of wonderful night spots for both drinking and dinner. It's so close to all the Saturday night drinking spots, that you can still stumble home by foot and not have to go hunting down a cab. THE LOCATION IS AMAZINGLY CONVENIENT TO EVERYTHING. You want to stay in Old Town instead and be in the midst of tourist hell, that's your choice.

The rooms in the new section are just fine and I don't know what the complaint there is about. The old rooms have more charm, certainly, particularly if overlooking the Square. As for spanking glossy renovation...this is an older hotel...its oldness gives it charm. Though the previous renovation to rooms is just beginning to show age, it's still quite pleasant. But I tell you, if you are not charmed by the sitting rooms and restaurant at the Roxburghe, then you will only be charmed by a hotel that costs twice the price. The breakfast that comes with the room is perfectly fine, it's not unlike the breakfast you might have at home and then some. I would agree they could use a finer sausage, but otherwise breakfast is fine and the breakfast room staff aim to please.

In the Roxburghe, you get an excellent gym, excellent spa, great dinners, a wonderfully clubby bar, great sitting rooms which film directors and film writers I entertained were charmed by, great proximity to everything....and a decent room rate as compared to any of the other hotels offering the same amenities. The general manager himself sent a lovely note to my room after my letter to him complimenting him on the staff.

You cannot go wrong here unless a speck of dust or a slow elevator has the effect of causing you distress.

It's homey and lovely and I fully intend on staying there again in September when I go back.

We booked a romantic night at the Roxburghe,expecting excellent service and quality,but were slightly let down.
We booked an executive room, but were given what we thought was a standard double>room size and quality was middle of the road.The room was clean,the sheets were fresh but the shower curtain badly needed a wash!
We specifically asked for a room in the old side(something with character)but were given a room in the new side.
We didn't eat breakfast in the hotel as it was £12 per head,which we thought very expensive as the rooms are expensive enough!
We were also taken aback when given our drinks bill,if we had realised just how expensive a late night tipple would be we wouldn't have bothered,perhaps some people wouldn't blink at paying £6.00+ for a spirit but we did!
Overall,a bit costly for what it is,certainly not 4* quality.

Don't go there !! Dirty hotel with very poor housekeeping.( worst I have ever experienced ) Staff who don't seem to care . Restaurant has mediocre food and wine at ridiculous prices.Parking very expensive. Not at all luxurious. Have stayed in better Travelodge hotels for a fraction of the cost.

My brother took me to Scotland and we stayed at the Roxburghe for a week. He had been some years earlier and stayed at the Balmoral. His reaction was that the only difference between the two was the price!

An aside to the negative reviews, I'd like to say that our last night in Scotland was at the Holiday Inn at Glasgow airport. The servivce was deplorable, the staff was not friendly nor helpful. The bar staff in particular was exceptionally poor. To those that found fault with the Roxburghe, I'd suggest that they stay at the Hiliday Inn Glasgow airport.

Our extended stay at the Roxburghe was exceptional. By the second day our staff knew us by name. By the end of the trip they asked about our particular excussions and just displayed an honest interest in our well being. At breakfast they greeted us by name.

Breakfast was included for us at no charge and it was teriffic. Whether we ate at 7 am or 9:30 am the food was hot, fresh, delicious and the selection was extensive!

We stayed on the 3rd floor of the "new" area of the hotel and our room was warm, comfortable,well made each day and quiet.

We had need of several services from the concierge and each request was performed professionally and expediciously. My special admiration goes to Scott who really went to extremes to make sure our needs were met. Later in our stay he would come to me unprompted to as if the arrangements had been satisfactory.

The bar staff was incredible whether we took drinks in the Atrium or the bar. On our first night we introduced our bartender Cameron to 'dirty martinis' and by the end our stay they [Cameron Martinis] were the talk of the staff.

The hotel is expensive with out a doubt, but it was worth every penny of it. Any one that would find fault with it must have some unresolved issues.

For a 4 star hotel, I'd give it a 5.