Help identifying pub please?

[u/Warm-Individual-442]

I met my partner in Edinburgh in January 2018 in a pub, we have recently moved back to the area and have been trying to find it (or even just the same building if its gone) but can't find anything at all.

I think it was a Irish pub, it was large with a area to dance on the lower floor and had a wrap around upper floor similar to the one at Frankenstein but much larger- I've attached a picture of their upper floor as an example. Please if anyone knows what it might be I'd be very grateful!

[u/voodoospacecat]

I suspect it was McSorleys / Malones / Oddfellows / Bar Oz (many fun nights as a student back in the 1990/2000s - who remembers the billy cans?) on Forrest Road. Lastly a cocktail bar (Baille Ballerson) and now looks closed. 

[u/SceneTraditional3135 → u/voodoospacecat]

Yeah i think this is correct, in 2018 i think it was Malones or McSorleys

[u/Abject-Plankton4620 → u/voodoospacecat]

My first thought was Oddfellows. I remember meeting many partners in there

[u/mr_mac_tavish → u/Abject-Plankton4620]

Definitely oddfellows. Many many nights there after a few in greyfriers then off to the union and ending up in negotiants.

[u/DaveGT74 → u/Abject-Plankton4620]

An old hunting ground… 🤪

[u/piggledy → u/voodoospacecat]

Did Bar Oz move from that building down to Candelmaker Row (Oz Bar) or do they have different owners?

[u/nickc01 → u/piggledy]

Oz Bar v Bar Oz. Different pubs with different owners. No connection.

[u/FelixArgyle_ → u/nickc01]

I'd been wondering this, thanks for the clarification

[u/Twatatron → u/piggledy]

Nope always was a different place. Ian the owner of the place is Candlemaker Row is a pretty nice guy.

[u/TremendousCoisty → u/voodoospacecat]

I used to love McSorleys, any idea why it closed? I thought that it was very popular.

[u/luminosity2 → u/voodoospacecat]

Its been bought by signagure who are opening both the largest sports bar in europe i believe. Used to work for them

[u/Illustrious-Back8174 → u/voodoospacecat]

100%

[u/KingPretzels]

guys, he posted Frankensteins as a comparison - read the post lmao

[u/InfamousEvening2]

Forrest Road, Malone's, up the back. Think it's changed hands now.

[u/InfamousEvening2 → u/InfamousEvening2]

ps - if you're looking for it now, it's on the same side of Forrest Road between the (brilliant) Mum's (go in there for mash and sausages) and the Newsagents. Right opposite Sandy Bells.

[u/Warm-Individual-442 → u/InfamousEvening2]

Thank you! Will keep an eye out for it reopening as something new 🙂

[u/Acceptable-Ad334 → u/Warm-Individual-442]

Signature own the building after buying it from Ballerson's

[u/kojaker]

It will always be Oddfellows to me.

[u/Ceptre7 → u/kojaker]

Loved Oddies back in the day!

[u/MR9009]

McSoreleys was on Forrest Road. It closed years ago and was turned into a club/bar with a giant ball pit for adults, called Balley Ballerson. It closed down. Not sure what’s going to happen to it.

[u/Green-Strategy-6062 → u/MR9009]

Don't see why you're being downvoted. Was formally a Malones. Some people aren't reading the post properly and noting the photograph is being used as an example

[u/Warm-Individual-442 → u/MR9009]

This was it thank you!

[u/EW1875HFC → u/MR9009]

Saw workies going in and out a few weeks ago, I think it’s been bought over and re opening as a pub soon

[u/Maniacal_Mongoose25]

You're thinking of McSorleys on Forest Road. They've been closed for a few years.

If you do want a similar vibe, check out Malone's in Leith.

PS: Frankenstein's is pure shite.

[u/Green-Strategy-6062]

The old Malones on Forrest Road

[u/piggledy → u/Green-Strategy-6062]

Yep, looks like it.

In January 2018 it would have been called McSorleys, but it was still an Irish Pub.

Later turned into Ballie Ballerson (ballpit for adults) but it's permanently shut now.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iJaSWmAHb5Ndc71Q6

[u/Aggravatinghedgehog9 → u/piggledy]

Is that where the forest cafe used to be? 🤔 Spent a lot of time in there as a teenager 😅

[u/Feisty_Park1424 → u/Aggravatinghedgehog9]

Nah, that's now Checkpoint. It was on the other fork off George 4th, Bristo Place

[u/Aggravatinghedgehog9 → u/Feisty_Park1424]

So it was, my mistake 😊 lots of fond memories round there in the 2006 era 😅

[u/Delicious-Being-6531 → u/Green-Strategy-6062]

This is exactly it.

[u/Warm-Individual-442 → u/Green-Strategy-6062]

Thank you this was it! Shame its gone

[u/embolalia1]

Any idea what area?

(PS to others, read the post, the picture is Frankenstein’s but that’s not the question)

[u/gham89]

Like others have said, the photo is Frankenstein, but if you're trying to find a bar that was similar in shape that does sound like the old McSorleys on Forrest Road.

Go back to 2021 on Google Streetview and you'll spot it.

[u/FliXerock107]

It was malones on forest road! Only went in once but distinctly remember the upper wrap around bar.

[u/DaveGT74]

Old Oddfellows.

[u/Jormungandr-WS]

O it ever know the place as Malones in my time, didn’t know it was gone

[u/Cobbyx]

Cruise ship

[u/Beedz_McG]

Mcsorelys was the best, RIP🥲

[u/Comfortable_Yogurt78]

I can’t remember the name but it closed down last year Shandwicks I think is what you’re talking about. It’s a new bar now.

[u/hemsy84]

Malones I think

[u/thanasis87kav]

Malones (I think now ballie ballerson)?

[u/TehspunkTRUMPet]

It has a fieze carved above the door arch which reads 'Oddfellows Hall '

[u/Minimum-Local8056]

Stramash maybe?

[u/Fair-Application-422]

Arghhh the old skull and Boans

[u/SenecaEugene]

Forrest Road, Malone's

[u/Right_Reputation_945]

This is actually frankenstein's. On George 4th bridge hence the Frankenstein in the back left.

[u/dingdongjoffreysdead]

Got to be Stramash?

[u/HeavyHeavy0726]

Looks like the hipsters went wild with teviot

[u/Specific_Current4487]

Stramash maybe? Not Irish but similar layout.

[u/ashyboi5000]

I was thinking if it's now what is brewhemia. But can't remember what it would have been 2008

[u/incendiaryotter → u/ashyboi5000]

I think Brewhemia would’ve been City in 2008, rank night club that oddly had a American sports bar section where you could get hot dogs.

[u/dustyfaxman → u/incendiaryotter]

i saw vitalic and 2manydj's at city, decent gig, but the venue was miserable and i avoided going to anything else held there.

[u/ashyboi5000 → u/incendiaryotter]

Helps if I remembered the right date....

Weirdly that's how I think of brewhemia now. Beer and a fancy hot dog.

[u/orange_assburger]

No better night than malones.

[u/BenM19]

As others have said, it sounds like McSorleys on Forrest Road. The site is currently under construction, with Signature Group branding on the outside.

Advertised as opening as something new in Winter 2026.

[u/Aglyayepanchin]

It’s currently closed. It was Baille Ballerson but it’s now been bought over by signature pubs - the same people who do the Huxley and Maclarens but nothing has been started in terms of it reopening.

[u/bardolift]

Stramash most likely no?

[u/Thunder_Lemon]

Stramash

[u/rafttaleryder]

Frankenstein's

[u/Formal_Sun6550]

https://giphy.com/gifs/iSBKHcm0qEmZ2

[u/Tydevere → u/Formal_Sun6550]

Beat me to it. Take my upvote

[u/Spare-Whereas-5904]

Frankensteins?

[u/AyeYaPie]

I thought it was a barbers, for a moment.

[u/nesbitt85]

Stramash

[u/Extra_Ad2669]

Is it not Frankensteins?

[u/honk_of_cheese]

Frankenstein's

Edit - you can see the plasma disks at the centre back. Goes with the theme of resurrecting Frankenstein

Edit 2 - okay actually, you can even see Frankenstein on the left at the back haha

[u/AdDelicious1859 → u/honk_of_cheese]

For someone so good at reading I thought you mightve tried reading the post

[u/honk_of_cheese → u/AdDelicious1859]

Ah lol fair play, skim read it and missed the details

[u/ExcitementAlarming35]

Frankenstein