Press Release

New events space to open off the royal mile

CODE Concepts, the pioneering Edinburgh boutique hotel & urban hostel business, has announced a new innovative project: a brand-new dedicated events, community and coworking space, to be called The Pend.

Occupying the historic Old Fishmarket Close site, formerly the headquarters of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, The Pend highlights CODE Concept’s ongoing commitment and investment in the city.

In Scotland, a ‘pend’ is a traditional passageway through a building that leads to a courtyard or street beyond. True to its name, the venue is designed to be both a literal and metaphorical gateway, aiming to bring together the local Edinburgh community with CODE’s global guest base. The name also reflects CODE’s ethos of preserving the city’s historic spaces while introducing modern, experience‑driven uses. The company’s wider portfolio includes CODE The Court—a former courthouse and jail—and The Lost Close, an underground historic chamber and whisky‑tasting venue near Parliament Square.

Meg Pritchard, Head of Operations, said: “The Pend is the culmination of months of brainstorming and really listening to what our guests want. Our team focused on creating something truly unique, while getting the fundamentals right in terms of what people value in their accommodation and social spaces. We can’t wait to see the result and hear about people’s experiences.”

As part of CODE’s commitment to supporting Edinburgh’s creative community, The Pend will bring together local creatives with international guests. The aim is to encourage grassroots experimentation and foster genuine interaction between locals and international visitors. A portion of tickets for every event will be reserved exclusively for CODE guests.

Katie Scott, Head of Events and Experience at CODE Concepts, said: “We are incredibly excited about this project. It reinforces our commitment to supporting Edinburgh’s creative community and offers artists and performers a venue right in the heart of the Old Town. We can’t wait to see how people use the space, and to give CODE guests truly memorable experiences and events during their stay in Edinburgh. It’s a perfect expression of CODE’s mission: ‘Travel far, share local.’”

The Pend’s events programme will feature a blend of local talent, showcasing the best of Scotland’s grassroots arts scene as well as international collaborators bringing touring artists and diverse perspectives to the Old Town. The space is designed as a year‑round hub for social, creative and community‑driven activity.

This project forms part of CODE Concepts’ long-term presence in Edinburgh, transforming an unused historic space into a year-round venue for social and creative growth. The new events space follows CODE The Loft on Rose Street recently reopening its doors after an extensive refurbishment including the creation of the UK’s first full-height Japanese capsule beds.

The new space is set to open late May, with updates to follow.

31st March, 2026

Renovation works

The works to transform this building to a Code property from inception to opening took 3 years. The doors officially opened in August 2019.

Pod dorms

The former courtroom has been converted to a shared dorm room with our signature pod beds.

Superior en-suite rooms

Inspired by historical characters from our building’s past, our Superior Rooms are all uniquely designed and full of personality. Each is en-suite with premium features for a stay that’s distinctly The Court.

private cells rooms

The previous holding cells are now converted to private rooms.

john's coffee house & Tavern

In 2025, Code refurbished the reception and common area to transform it into a new café - bar serving locally sourced food and drinks.