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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
David McLean

The lone Edinburgh pub on Princes Street that locals remember fondly

While it's the city's main thoroughfare, Princes Street has never been a great place to stage a pub crawl.

Sure, there have been plenty hotel bars and private clubs to choose from down the years, but traditional boozers have long been prohibited from occupying the famous shopping stretch.

Back in the 1970s, however, there was one establishment that managed to sneak in undetected: the Mons Meg Tavern at 120 Princes Street.

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Named after the giant Mons Meg cannon at Edinburgh Castle, the tavern appeased the city authorities by doubling up as a steak joint, with an adjoining café and bistro.

The venue was owned by UK chain Henekey Inns, which operated scores of pubs, hotels and steak bars up and down the country.

With its classy interior and jaw-dropping views over Edinburgh's Old Town from its first floor restaurant, the Mons Meg Tavern was hugely-popular in its day and became a favourite for people marking special occasions.

We asked Edinburgh locals if they could recall the Princes Street watering hole, which closed down more than 40 years ago.

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Writing on the Lost Edinburgh Facebook group, Maxine Adam said: "Oh, yes! I loved going there, my dad loved it too on his visits to Edinburgh from Canada. Great lamb chops and mixed grills."

Chaya Robertson wrote: "Used to go there regularly in the late 70s. There was also a little bistro type place on the ground floor. Must have been Italian because they did the best ever zabaglione."

Gary Hunter commented: "My sister and her friend worked there when they were teenagers- which would be 40yrs ago - they loved it."

"I was talking about Mons Meg the other day," said Carol MacArthur on another post, "and nobody could remember so good to see it mentioned here.

"It was the go to place for special occasions in 70s for us. Fond memories."

Gerry Smith added: "I went there a few times in the early 80s with my then girlfriend and it was a nice place to eat - with the stunning vista of course a strong selling point. I remember fondly my staples of a mixed grill and rum baba! Sophisticated palate - not."

The unit once occupied by the Mons Meg Tavern is now home to Starbucks coffee shop. While the amazing views from the art nouveau windows on the first floor remain the same, it's fair to say the venue has lost its 'special occasion' appeal it once enjoyed.

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