Own a Piece of Edinburgh History: Famous Rose Street Police Box Heading to Auction

A prime piece of Edinburgh street history is officially going under the hammer on Thursday, December 14, 2023. Auction House Scotland has put up for sale an iconic former police box located on Rose Street, offering a unique opportunity for small business operators and commercial landlords. The historic property enters the market with an initial guide price of 25,000 pounds. This commercial opportunity follows a massive surge in demand for these micro-retail spaces, highlighted earlier in September when a similar box at Brandon Terrace and Howard Street fetched 38,500 pounds at auction, which was 16,000 pounds over its original guide price.

The Rose Street unit is currently operating as a successful takeaway food stop, having been completely transformed into a kiosk by local business Homies Pizza. The pop-up venture opened in August 2023, selling Detroit pizza by the slice alongside a branding focus on good vibes and pizza pies. Unlike the original empty structures of the past, this specific unit has undergone a complete revamp. It comes fully equipped with modern operational infrastructure, including an active electricity supply, a direct water connection, and functional drainage systems.

The asset benefits immensely from its strategic position on Rose Street, a thoroughfare famous for its lively drinking scene and heavy pedestrian footfall. The location serves as a popular destination for residents and visitors seeking food, particularly those participating in the well-known local tradition called The Rose Street Challenge. This high level of traffic makes the box an exceptional location for continued use as a food stop or alternative high-visibility retail concept.

These unique structures date back to 1933, when a network of 142 boxes was scattered all over the capital to support law enforcement on the beat. Designed by city architect Ebenezer MacRae, only 75 of the original landmarks remain standing as distinctive features throughout the city today. While they originally contained nothing more than a basic sink, a single chair, and a kettle for a brew, creative entrepreneurs across Edinburgh have systematically repurposed them. Across the city, these historic structures now house diverse business spaces, ranging from an ice cream parlour at the top of the Grassmarket to an art haven billed as the smallest gallery in Scotland on the edge of Meadows Park.