In the heart of the Cowgate, sits La Belle Angele, a long-standing nightclub that’s been at the forefront of nightlife in Edinburgh for many years.
But for more than a decade the clubbers' haven was absent from the capital. On the night of December 7, 2002, a blaze broke out in the original La Belle Angele and quickly spread through multiple properties in the area.
Leaving a gaping hole in the city centre, the fire spread from Hastie’s Close up to Chambers Street and South Bridge. It took fire crews 52 hours to fully extinguish the flames. The Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh University’s School of Informatics, Leisureland Arcade and La Belle Angele were among the damaged structures, and many - La Belle Angele included - would later be torn down.
