Omni Centre, Edinburgh

The Omni Centre is an entertainment and leisure complex in Greenside, Edinburgh, at the top of Leith Walk. It attracts over 4 million visitors a year,^[5] and was acquired in April 2024 from previous owners Nuveen by a group related to the Bata Shoe business.^[2][6]

Omni Centre

Omni Centre, in 2011
Location	Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Coordinates	55°57′22.18″N 3°11′7.94″W
Address	Greenside Row Edinburgh EH1 3AA
Opening date	2002[1]
Developer	Pillar Projects, Parlison Properties Ltd
Owner	Triple B[2]
Architect	Allan Murray Architects
No. of anchor tenants	1 (Vue)
No. of floors	10 (including 3 sub levels).[3] 1 floor is used for retail space while 2 are used for the cinema.[4]
Parking	990
Public transit access	Edinburgh Waverley Picardy Place
Website	omniedinburgh.co.uk

Overview

The Omni was built on a steeply sloping site at Greenside Row, part of Edinburgh's New Town, on the location of a former church that was closed in 1978. It opened in 2002 creating a modern glass curtain wall, incorporating parts of the facade of the now demolished church.^[1] It is a five-minute walk from both Edinburgh Waverley railway station and Edinburgh Bus Station. Picardy Place tram stop is just across the road from the main entrance, with several connecting bus stops close by. The Centre is close by St James Quarter.^[3]

The complex is anchored by a 12-screen Vue cinema, a health and fitness club, a luxury five-star hotel (The Glasshouse Hotel) and has a multi-level underground car park. The complex has several bars and restaurants, including JD Wetherspoon, Nando's and a street food market.^[2] Outside the centre are two large scrap metal giraffe sculptures called Dreaming Spires, made by artist Helen Denerley as a result of a contest held by the Centre^[7] and installed in 2005.^[8]

In 2023 it was one of two main venues for the Edinburgh International Film Festival.^[9]

The Glasshouse Hotel

The Glasshouse Hotel
Glasshouse hotel looking up to Calton Hill
General information
Location	Edinburgh, Scotland
Coordinates	55°57′8″N 3°11′22″W
Opening	June 2003; 22 years ago (June 2003)
Owner	TripleB
Management	Autograph Collection Hotels
Technical details
Floor count	3
Other information
Number of rooms	77
Number of suites	20
Website
theglasshousehotel.co.uk

The Glasshouse Hotel is part of the Omni Centre complex, and opened in June 2003^[10] It is located on Greenside Place, next to the Playhouse Theatre, on the edge of Edinburgh's New Town. It was built on the site of Lady Glenorchy's Free Church incorporating the façade of the church as its frontage. The hotel has 77 bedrooms (of which 20 are suites, all named after a specific brand of whisky) and two acre roof garden, overlooking Calton Hill.

Edinburgh Street Food

Main article: Edinburgh Street Food

Edinburgh Street Food is a year-round, covered street food market in central Edinburgh, Scotland. It was opened in February 2023 inside the Omni Centre on Leith Street.^[11]