Exactly 20 years ago tonight the Cowgate fire broke out, leaving a gaping wound in Edinburgh's historic heart that would take more than a decade to fill.
Just after 8pm on December 7, 2002, smoke began billowing out from the vicinity of Hastie's Close and within hours a raging inferno would engulf the entire block, much of which dated back to the 18th century. The cause, it later emerged, was a single spark from a faulty fuse box.
The premises of multiple businesses, including the original La Belle Angele nightclub, Leisureland amusements, and iconic comedy venue the Gilded Balloon, were lost to the blaze which took firefighters more than two days to extinguish. Edinburgh University's entire artificial intelligence archive, which was stored in the informatics building at South Bridge, was also destroyed.
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A total of 13 buildings were left wrecked by the fire, and while there were thankfully no human casualties, the obliteration of such a huge chunk of Edinburgh's Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site was a bitter pill for capital locals to swallow.
We take a look at some of the businesses and institutions that were claimed by the flames that fateful evening - many of which were able to rise from the ashes.
The Bridge Jazz Bar
The Bridge Jazz Bar had only been open a matter of months when the Cowgate fire broke out. Its destruction caused major heartache for club organiser Bill Kyle who reportedly received a pittance in insurance due to the Jazz bar being so new at the time of the blaze. Kyle did eventually manage to make a comeback, opening a new jazz bar in Edinburgh in 2005 on nearby Chambers Street.
Leisureland Amusements
The giant Leisureland amusements was one of the larger businesses obliterated in the Cowgate fire. The slot machine palace was massively popular among amateur gamblers in the capital for a number of years. A new Leisureland later opened on the opposite side of South Bridge.
Gilded Balloon
Many tears were shed at the news legendary Edinburgh comedy club Gilded Balloon had been among the worst-hit by the Cowgate fire. Karen Koren's iconic establishment, which helped launch a host of household names in the comedy industry, was thankfully able to make a comeback.
La Belle Angele
Music fans were distraught at losing La Belle Angele to the 2002 blaze, a venue that had played host to the likes of Radiohead, The Libertines and Oasis down the years. There were early reports that the fire had started at the Hastie's Close venue, but these rumours were later laid to rest. La Belle Angele returned to the Cowgate in 2014 following the completion of the new buildings on the site.
Faith nightclub
While it did not burn down in the fire, Faith nightclub, which was sited in a former church, was badly damaged by smoke and water ingress from the fire hoses. Previously known as Wilkie House, Faith had only been open for a few week prior to the blaze. The club eventually reopened and is now called Stramash.
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Biblos
Similar to Faith nightclub, Biblos bar and restaurant, which was situated on the corner of South Bridge and Chambers Street, was not destroyed by the fire, but sustained significant damage from smoke and water. The popular foodie spot was able to make a comeback, however, and is still on the go to this very day.
Edinburgh University AI department
It wasn't just businesses that were destroyed by the Cowgate fire. Edinburgh University's renowned informatics building was located at 80 South Bridge and bore the brunt of the blaze that December evening. Invaluable archive materials were destroyed in the process, including more than 40 years worth of literature relating to artificial intelligence, 150 workstations and other research papers. A new School of Informatics now stands at Bristo Square.
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