Brave tourists can spend the night in a former jail and courthouse in Edinburgh this Halloween - if they dare.

CODE Pod Hostels are inviting 'inmates' to spend a night in the cells during the scariest time of the year at their new luxury hostel, The CoURT.

Located at 1A Parliament Square on the Royal Mile, the site was previously a place where dozens of executions that date back centuries took place. Today the building has been transformed from a courthouse and jail to a world-class boutique hostel.

Travellers from around the world have the chance to spend a night in the slammer and walk the corridors that some of the most notorious criminals in the city's history have trodden.

Among these criminals is Eugene Marie Chantrelle, a man sentenced to death by execution for poisoning his wife by giving her lemonade and pieces of orange laced with opium. Chantrelle was rumoured to be the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson's character Dr Jekyll, featured in 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'.

Brave souls will be able to explore the 19th-century A-listed building by day and sleep in the cells by night, choosing between a plush private cell room and one of CoDE's innovative pod beds. 

It's fair to say that doing time has never been so good with each pod bed equipped with comfy mattresses and pillows, power and USB sockets, an LED light, hooks, a shelf and curtains for privacy. The pods feature in shared dorm rooms and CODE also offer female-only shared dorms.

Guests will also have the chance to learn about the fascinating history of the building through displays in reception which showcase the criminal past and interesting events that took place there.

Opening this summer, The CoURT is CODE's second property in Edinburgh which they have brought their pod concept too. CODE were the first to bring the pod hostel trend - which originated in Asia - to the UK.

While you could mistake The CoURT for a five-star boutique hotel, a night's stay shouldn't scare you too much as it will only set you back around £28 per night.

So, will travellers be brave enough to enter The CoURT this Halloween? No arrest required…

ENDS. 

For more information and high-res images, please contact Charlotte Hall at charlotte@staythenight.net or 07947919613.

Notes to editors:

- Pod bed dorms start from £28 per night.  
- Private rooms start from £120 per night.
- Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at 11am. 

Facilities include: 24-hr reception, free WiFi, breakfast from £4, free city tour, underground beer tasting room

Address: 1A Parliament Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF

Famous landmarks including Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland and St Giles Cathedral are just a short walk from the hostel. Edinburgh Airport is 6.8 miles away and Edinburgh Waverley station is 0.5 miles away.