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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
David McLean

No-nonsense Edinburgh scheme pub that mysteriously burned down in the 1990s

It was the rough and ready Edinburgh pub that carried a reputation for the occasional outbreak of violence.

But while Granton's Willie Muir pub certainly had its moments, regulars have mostly fond memories of drinking there down the years.

Situated near the junction of West Granton Road and Crewe Road North, the notorious boozer opened in the late 1960s and had a clientele made up mostly of Granton locals and those who worked at the nearby gas works and Ferranti engineering plant.

READ MORE: The legendary Edinburgh theme pub where drinkers struggled to find the toilets

Named after a historic ferry called the Willie Muir that transported people between Granton and Burntisland, Fife in the 19th century, the flat-roofed watering hole was built over two floors, with a lounge, bar and upstairs function room and became known for its Northern Soul and disco nights.

The Willie Muir is also said to have been only the second pub in Scotland to install a karaoke machine. Drinkers of a certain age recall well the local football teams coming in after a match to down a few beers and screaming down the mics to their favourite tunes.

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But while plenty of regulars enjoyed themselves at the Willie Muir over the years, the pub wasn't always so welcoming to newcomers.

Writing on Hibs FC forum Hibs.net, one user recalled being dished out a less-than-friendly welcome on their first and only visit to the Granton boozer.

They wrote: "I walked in there once to meet a mate who hadn’t arrived yet. I went to the bar to order a pint and a guy at the bar said: 'who the f*** are you?'."

The Willie Muir was no stranger to the odd bar fight and the establishment's owners made sure to employ a bouncer on the weekends to quell any signs of trouble. The doormen weren't always effective as one might hope, however.

Willie Muir fire

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, one former visitor to the pub, who wished to remain anonymous, told us that it was the site of many dodgy incidents in the 1980s.

They said "It really was one of the roughest boozers in the city that I ever had the displeasure to step foot in. If the regulars didn't recognise you, they'd eye you up until you left. I was one of the lucky ones, but there were a few folk who got a kicking at the Willie Muir.

"It definitely had a bit of a bad rep. A lot of people who used to drink there had been barred from other pubs in the area like The Gunner in Muirhouse, and they really were just looking for bother.

"One time I remember being ushered out the pub by the police who were conducting a raid on the premises. This was quite a common occurrence."

The doors of the Willie Muir pub closed for good in 1998 following a serious blaze. Some say the pub was torched deliberately, but this has never been confirmed.

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