A fascinating clip has emerged online that shows a string of popular capital bars and clubs that are no more, including Siglo and Espionage.
Filmed in 2002/2003, the 38-minute-long footage serves to show just how much Edinburgh has changed in the last 20 years.
It is understood that the video was made by a Greek student who was living and studying in the city at the time.
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The flashback, which has been uploaded to YouTube by user Haris Syntyhakis, begins in the gardens of the Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh campus before we are whisked into the centre of the city on board a double-decker bus.
Entering Haymarket, the first thing we notice is the trams - or rather the lack of them. It’s easy to forget that prior to their return in 2014, the idea that trams would be back trundling along Edinburgh’s streets for the first time in 60 years was decidedly outlandish in 2002.
Audible above the conversation between our two Greek amateur filmmakers, is a woman speaking on the phone - we are intrigued as to what it is she forgot to put in her bag.
A blast from the past occurs on Princes Street, where we can see cars travelling westbound alongside the buses and taxis. The city council banned eastbound car traffic in 1998, with westbound traffic following suit in 2005.
Eagle-eyed viewers will spot that Burger King still occupies the corner of Castle Street, while bus ads show that a day ticket for Lothian Regional Transport only costs £2.50.
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Following a sightseeing trip to a handful of traditional city centre landmarks, such as the Scott Monument and the Castle, we are soon taken into the real Edinburgh.
Starting at Victoria Street, our Greek student gives us the lowdown on the best that the capital’s clubland had to offer back in ‘02.
Nightclubbers of this era will recognise all their old haunts, including Espionage, Subway (Cowgate), Chaser’s, and Siglo.
All that's missing from this video is a round of cheap shots and a suitable soundtrack containing the likes of DJ Sammy and Liberty X.
Popular bar The Three Sisters and hard rock favourite Opium, which has since reverted back to an earlier name, Legends, also make an appearance.
Halted by a road closure at the east end of the Cowgate (caused by the famous 2002 fire), our Mediterranean duo head to other parts of the Old Town to continue their tour, before grabbing a bite to eat and then heading back to the Heriot-Watt student halls.
