Fed-up Edinburgh residents take a stand against 'eyesore' abandoned pub
Edinburgh residents who have become 'fed-up' of a city pub that has been 'left to rot' gathered on Thursday.
The group branded The Busy Bee pub in Saughton Mains a 'blight on the local community' as they begged for the structure to be replaced. The once popular boozer shut down in 2016, and has featured in the Trainspotting sequel.
Since then, residents who live near the structure have claimed the abandoned building 'affects their daily lives with vermin thriving on the site'.
The pub was once the original home of the local Hearts FC supporters club before they merged with the Cross Keys, and has gone down in folklore among Jambos who used the place as watering hole before and after games.
It's understood to date back to the '50s, after being built as a church by Reverend Stanley Perkins and was called Saughton Mains Congregational Church.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Pat Carr, Chair of Stenhouse, Saughton Mains and Whitson Community Council said: "The Busy Bee has become a blight on our local community with the state of the building reflecting the lack of basic care shown by the leaseholder and the owner.
"It appears for years now that financial gain has been placed above the well-being of local residents. Following our meeting today we have found that the general consensus amongst residents is to replace the existing building with a new structure that better serves the needs of the community.'
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Independent councillor Ross McKenzie added: "Many of the local residents who came together today are really angry that this site has been left to rot in the middle of their community.
"For those who live next to it, this affects their daily lives as vermin thrives on the site. We're asking the landowner and leaseholder to find a solution."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Torched car found on Edinburgh housing estate near where 'firearm discharged'
Footage from Hailesland Grove shows what little remains of the vehicle which suffered significant damage while parked outside dozens of homes in the residential area. A vehicle has been left burnt out on an Edinburgh housing estate where a gun was reportedly shot. Armed cops swarmed Hailesland Gardens when a bullet was reportedly blasted at around 3.40pm, prompting police to lock down the residential street. Footage from neighbouring, Hailesland Grove shows what little remains of the vehicle which suffered significant damage from being torched while parked outside dozens of homes. A 23-year-old was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries following the incident. Images from the scene shows a police car behind the shell of the burnt out vehicle, although it has yet to be confirmed if the incidents are linked. One resident on the street, speaking anonymously, told Edinburgh Live: "It's absolutely terrifying to live here... we don't know if the car fire is related to the shooting but hopefully they find this person. "There are lots of children in the area and they need to be protected." Firearms officers were also pictured patrolling a footpath near Hailesland Grove with the area taped off. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A spokesperson for the force said: "Around 3.40pm on Thursday, 24 July, 2025, we were called to a report of a firearm being discharged in the Hailesland Gardens area of Edinburgh. "A 23-year-old man has attended hospital for treatment to serious but not life-threatening injuries. "Officers, including specialist firearms officers, are in attendance and extensive enquiries are ongoing."
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Daily Record
West Lothian shopkeeper bravely speaks out as meat cleaver robber is jailed
Abdul Manan, who owns the Premier store in Armadale, says his team are 'getting there' after a difficult few weeks. A West Lothian shop owner says he and his staff have found it 'hard' after an employee was threatened by a thug brandishing a meat cleaver last month. Abdul Manan, who owns the Premier store in Armadale, says his team are 'getting there' after a difficult few weeks in which one of his employees was pushed backwards by Greig Parker, who was holding a meat cleaver and demanding cash from the till. Parker, who was wearing a balaclava, was eventually traced and arrested by police. He pleaded guilty to several charges this week at Livingston Sheriff Court and was jailed for four years. Speaking to Edinburgh Live in wake of the armed robber being put behind bars, Abdul thanked the local community for their help and says people have been coming in to the shop to check on the wellbeing of staff after the terrifying incident. He said: 'It has been hard but we're getting there. I think he maybe should have got longer for what he did but I would say the police have been really good as it has been a quick turnaround. 'They worked on it very quickly and a lot of people tried to help out after it happened, there has been a lot of care. People still come and ask, especially now it has been in the news they have been asking if we're doing okay. 'Since it happened we're being a lot more careful and have been putting more staff on just in case something similar happens again. The staff member who was on is getting there and doing ok but is obviously still a little shaken up. 'Overall I'm happy he's behind bars and happy with the way police acted quickly and the community for helping so much.' Shortly after the attack on June 26, CCTV footage was uploaded to the store's Facebook account as they appealed for witnesses to come forward. A terrified member of staff could be seen opening the till as Parker brandished the bladed weapon and made off with a handful of notes. However, Parker's movements were captured on Ring doorbell footage and he was arrested by police at a friend's house. The 47-year-old admitted carrying out the robbery and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards his former partner before leaving her home in possession of a knife on February 10. He was also sentenced for offences including police assault and two counts of abusing retail staff.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Moment brawl breaks out on Edinburgh street as women trade punches
A TikTok clip shared on Monday shows two women – one in head-to-toe pink – perched on a wall on Portobello Road before a heated row erupts into flying punches. Shocking footage has captured the moment two women launched into a street brawl in broad daylight on a busy Edinburgh road. The clip, uploaded to TikTok on Monday, shows the pair sitting on a wall on Portobello Road, near Jock's Lodge, before tempers suddenly boil over. As they sit side by side, the women – one dressed head-to-toe in pink – begin grabbing at each other's clothes before springing to their feet, reports EdinburghLive. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A passer-by stands awkwardly just inches away, appearing unsure whether to step in, as the row quickly turns violent. The woman in pink swings a punch at her rival's face, only for the other to retaliate with a kick. Moments later both land heavy blows to each other's heads, snapping them backwards. The clip shows the onlooker filming from another angle as the fight is finally broken up, with the women seen gesturing angrily towards one another before walking away.
