By stewartb

For a little light relief on TuS from countering the gaslighting of Scotland, this is to pass on the tale of a curious vexillological journey being played out in public view in Edinburgh. It’s about the flying of flags – big, brand spanking new flags – in front of a well known hotel that is situated on a prominent site in the Bruntsfield area of the capital.  The curious thing is that the choice of flags by the hotel’s management – its choice of what to fly from two long flag poles – has changed no less than three times over a period of probably less than two months. The decision making, and the influences bearing on them, are, you may agree by the end, ‘intriguing’!

For background, in late 2024 there was fairly extensive local and trade press coverage of the purchase of the Bruntsfield Hotel. This from Edinburgh Live on December 3: ‘Plush Edinburgh hotel bought by Dubai firm with massive refit planned – The Bruntsfield Hotel in Edinburgh has been acquired by the Dubai-based Dutco Group from previous owners Castleforge. Dutco’s portfolio includes luxury properties based in Dubai, the Maldives, and the Seychelles.’

The same investor earlier in 2024 purchased its first hotel in Scotland (and first in the UK), the Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort near Glasgow. The Chief Executive Officer at Dutco Group, is quoted making much of distinctive, attractive Scotland factors: “Expanding further into Scotland’s vibrant hospitality market so soon after acquiring Mar Hall reflects our strong belief in Scotland as a world-class destination. We look forward to bringing our vast hospitality expertise to reposition The Bruntsfield and contributing to its continued success as a cherished part of the Edinburgh hospitality landscape.”

DRAM – a Scottish licensed trade magazine – reporting the sale, notes that the hotel will be managed on behalf of the new owners by London-based Align Partners. The DRAM article has a picture of the hotel prior to the sale: it’s flying two modestly-sized, fairly scrappy-looking ‘commercial’ flags (see https://dramscotland.co.uk/2024/12/03/bruntsfield-hotel-acquired-by-mar-hall-owners-dutco-group/ )

Perhaps it is Align Partners – an asset management and business development company specialising in the hospitality and leisure sectors  – that has been conflicted in flag purchasing and flag flying? One wonders if it has its own (indecisive) vexillologist advising? Or has it been susceptible to influences – once or even twice in short order – by other interested parties?

The flagging!

The first change happened when two big new flags appeared in front of the hotel – one a Union flag, the other a Saltire.

After a few weeks, the hotel management decided on a change. The Union flag was replaced by a second Saltire. (I’m told the hotel’s appearance improved greatly!)

Another few weeks went by, and yet another change! The Union flag reappeared. But then perhaps we get to the oddest thing: rather than leaving one of the two Saltire flags it already possessed, the hotel used neither.

Up to this point all the Saltires flown by the hotel had conformed to the widely accepted and officially designated colour of Scotland’s national flag – a white cross on an azure/sky blue (Pantone 300) background. (See https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flags/scotland-flag/) But despite having a choice of two brand new Saltires available to accompany the now re-established Butcher’s Apron Union flag, the hotel management for some reason decided to purchase yet another, a fourth, flag, this time one with a white cross on a dark blue background. Grrrr!

What’s been going on?

When told this tale by a reliable local observer, I was intrigued! What has been going in the ‘repositioning’ of the Bruntsfield Hotel, in the decisions to alter its external appearance multiple times? What has led to the shifts from (arguably) ‘balanced’ symbolism, to (IMHO, appropriately) a wholly ‘Scottish’ presentation, and then to a (suspiciously) more ‘Unionist’ presentation – all over a matter of weeks? What diverse influences have been in play here over such a short period of time: who’s been responsible for the shifting choices – the Dubai-based owners, the London-based asset managers, local management and/or other unknown influencers within Edinburgh? Any local insights?