Jenners, Edinburgh 1984

For more than 180 years, Jenners stood as a grand fixture on Edinburgh’s Princes Street—an institution known affectionately as the “Harrods of the North.” Established in 1838 by Charles Jenner and Charles Kennington, the department store quickly earned a reputation for luxury, elegance, and customer service, attracting generations of shoppers from across Scotland and beyond.

The original Jenners building was destroyed by fire in 1892, but it rose again in style just three years later. Designed by noted Scottish architect William Hamilton Beattie, the new building opened in 1895 and remains one of the most impressive examples of Victorian commercial architecture in the city. Its distinctive sandstone façade, carved decoration, and the stunning three-storey central atrium—once filled with light from a huge glass dome—became defining features of the Edinburgh skyline.

Jenners held a Royal Warrant from 1911 and was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988 to mark its 150th anniversary. Though it remained under independent ownership for much of its history, it was eventually acquired by House of Fraser in 2005. The store continued trading until its closure in December 2020, bringing an end to its long retail legacy.

In 2017, the building was purchased by Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, who has embarked on an ambitious plan to restore and revitalise the structure. Working with David Chipperfield Architects, the project aims to transform Jenners into a mixed-use space that includes a boutique hotel, rooftop restaurant, café, and retail offerings—while preserving its historic grandeur. Key architectural elements, including the ornate façade and the famous central atrium, will be retained and restored.