Edinburgh entrepreneur Billy Lowe, the owner of Black Ivy Hotel, steps up to make dream holiday a reality for 12-year-old Misi

On Wednesday we reported how László Bona and his 12-year-old son Misi had created their very own virtual stay in Edinburgh after their long planned trip to the city fell foul of the coronavirus pandemic. László told the News, “Misi and I had been planning the trip since Christmas. We were to visit some nice places. As we are not a ‘travelling family’, this would have been my son’s first flight... a real milestone.”

Instead, the father and son ‘visited’ the Capital from the comfort and safety of their own home, recreating the situations they would have found themselves in, taking photographs and then super-imposing themselves onto images of Edinburgh attractions. Their efforts caught the attention of local hotelier and bar owner Billy Lowe who has now offered László and Misi a free stay at his award-winning Black Ivy Hotel in Bruntsfield when travel returns to normal.

He continues, “It was an inspiring story. It was great what his dad did and he did it brilliantly. I thought, ‘Imagine if we could make these photographs happen for real’.”

Planning ahead, Billy adds, “László can experience a nice whisky and we can organise trips to the likes of Edinburgh Dungeon, Mary King’s Close, and make sure Misi gets to the One O’clock Gun.”

The story was also spotted by Nick Finnigan, executive manager of Edinburgh Castle, who says, “It was a lovely story and we would be delighted to welcome Misi and his dad to Edinburgh Castle when things return to normal.”

On Twitter, Major General Alastair Bruce, the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, also wrote, “Please convey to the young lad that, if he and Dad come to Scotland after #COVID19 and I am able, it would be a pleasure to welcome them as Governor.”

Reacting to the offer from his home in Budapest, László says, “Wow! That’s amazing. We really appreciate Mr Lowe’s offer and the Castle’s kindness.

“Misi has suggested I make this fake photo of us in Black Ivy (above) as a way to say thanks to Mr Lowe for his generosity.”

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