Fastfood lovers have been dining out at McDonald's in Edinburgh city centre for well over 30 years.
But there was a time when the American giant's long-time premises at 137-138 Princes Street was a decidedly more British affair.
Prior to becoming the capital's flagship McDonald's eatery in the 1980s, the unit was home to Beefeaters West End Food Hall.
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While the main component at the Beefeaters steakhouse chain was obviously beef, the menu was a continent away from the world of Big Macs, French fries and Happy Meals.
With a name that was a clear nod to the Tower of London's famous 'Beefeaters', the steakhouse chain was established by the then Whitbread Brewery in 1974 and soon spread to all parts of the UK.
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Its menu was distinctly British, with Beefeaters serving up simple fayre and traditional pub grub such as sirloin steaks, Sunday roasts and big breakfasts.
In addition to the main restaurant on the ground floor, the Princes Street unit also boasted a branches of two Edinburgh firms. The basement levels were occupied by supermarket Capital Meat Centre and cheese specialist Choosa Cheese.
The first floor, which today forms the main seating area for McDonald's, was not in commercial use in the 1970s.
As the 1980s wore on, the Beefeater franchise experienced some financial difficulties and many of its outlets were sold off and transformed into McDonald's - and Edinburgh was no different.
In June 1988, a few months after Scotland's first McDonald's opened in Dundee, Edinburgh welcomed the fast food chain to its main thoroughfare and the golden arches have remained in situ ever since.
Initially boasting three levels, the McDonald's restaurant now only utilises the ground floor and first floor of the premises.
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