Pubs and shops around Bristo Street

© Thank you to Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh for allowing me to reproduce this map
from the 1950s on which he has marked the Argyll Arms and the Empire Palace Bar

This map was added to the web site on 4 November 2014. It was created as part of a discussion of:
"Where was Parker's Store?" but the map also shows the positions of 'The Argyle Arms' and
'Empire Palace Bar', the two pubs discussed below on this page.

© Thank you to Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh for allowing me to reproduce this map
from the 1950s on which he has marked the Argyll Arms and the Empire Palace Bar

Recollections

Neil Lawrence

Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

Thank you to Neil Lawrence for providing the map above.

Neil wrote:

The Bristo Street / Potterow Pub

"There seems to be a bit of confusion about the pub name at the corner of Potterrow and Bristo Street. It was called:

- The Argyle Arms,

formerly:

- 'The Gushet'.

It was demolished in 1970.

The Nicolson Street Pub

"The other pub people mentioned was:

- The Empire Palace Bar

which was on the corner of Nicolson Street and Nicolson Square

Other names for that one were:

- The Palace Bar

- The Rat Trap

and latterly

- Doolittles

before it was converted into Ladbrokes betting shop."

Other Pubs

"As you can see (if you click on the thumbnail image above), there were a good many other Public Houses (marked 'PH' on the map) all around that area."

Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh: August 3+6, 2010

Recollections

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote:

More Pubs

"No doubt, you will be flooded with letters about this subject."

Bristo Street

"Plot No 17 was known as The Long Bar.
It was reputed to have the longest single bar around.

Plot Nos 9-10 was The Woolsack. ***
The sign outside had three bales of hay in the shape of a pyramid on it."

Marshall Street / Potterow

"Plot No 25 was another Empire Bar.
I don't remember seeing the one on the SW section of Bristo Street. All I remember in that position was one of several entrances to Parker's Stores."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: August 6, 2010

*** Thank you to Stuart Lyon for pointing out that the name of this pub was, in fact, The Woolpack and for sending me an old photo of The Woolpack.

Acknowledgement: Stuart Lyon, October 27, 2010

Recollections

Terry Cox

Fairmilehead

Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote:

Argyle Arms

"I bought a book yesterday entitled 'The South Side Story', published in 1961. It had the following to say on the subject of the Argyle Arms:

"A few yards from the gates of Chapel House at the junction of Potterrow and Bristo Street stands another old and somewhat dilapidated looking building containing a public house styled 'The Argyle Arms', a printing works and some houses.

Only the public house is now occupied , and the upper floors which contain the printing works & the houses have been shut up and access cannot now be obtained."

Alas, I never saw the inside of the pub, being too young, but I do remember the building before it was pulled down, to become a car park for many years - another example of the University sweeping all before it.

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh: August 31, 2011