This 'A' listed building, on the west side of Blair Street, was built by the Edinburgh Merchant Company as a Merchant's Hall in 1788-90 from plans by John Baxter, who acted as architect/contractor.  Two centuries later the building had fallen into serious disrepair, lying empty with a leaking roof and extensive dry rot.

The EDI Group acquired the building in 1991 and commissioned Gray, Marshall & Associates as architects for the restoration.  As well as restoring the building itself, the project was seen as part of a concerted effort to revitalise the surrounding area from the High Street to Nicolson Square.

At the same time, The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian were committed to stopping up the top of Blair Street running onto High Street, and creating a new civic square, Hunter Square, directly to the rear of Tron Church.

This allowed EDI to create two new restaurants spaces on the ground floor of Dolphin House.  Hunter Square is now used by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a live performance space, whilst the restaurants at the bottom of Dolphin House spill out onto the pavement, allowing people to dine outside during good weather throughout the year.

The project was completed in 1996 and Dolphin House, 4 Hunter Square, Edinburgh is the headquarters of the EDI Group.

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