Scottish Wetherspoons pub with unique history named among best in UK

Scottish Sun

19-05-2025

A POPULAR Scottish Wetherspoons pub with a unique history has been named among the best in the UK.
The Caley Picture House is the biggest of the Wetherspoons chains in Edinburgh and looks like something from The Great Gatsby.
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The Caley Picture House has been named among the best Wetherspoon pubs in the UK
Credit: Alamy
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The pub is located on Lothian Road in the Scottish capital
Credit: Trip Advisor
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The pub opened as part of the Wetherspoons chain in 2016
Credit: Trip Advisor
And it has been named in the top 10 best branches across the country.
Experts at Q.R. Code Generator analysed 869 of the chain's pubs and hotels in the UK to find out which ones are best rated by the average total percentage of excellent reviews on Google Reviews.
The Bishop Blazier in Manchester took top spot scoring 60.34 per cent, followed by the Royal Victoria Pavillion in Kent with 57.83 per cent, Edinburgh Evening News reports.
The Caley Picture House, on Lothian Road in the Scottish capital, took third place in the list with a score of 57.83 per cent.
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And the location has a unique history.
The pub opened as part of the Wetherspoons chain in 2016.
The Caley Picture House has fast become one of the most popular branches, thanks to the interesting interior which takes the pub back to its roots.
The Grade B listed building was originally The Caley Picture House cinema and opened on January 1, 1923 with Game of Life – a silent film.
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Over the years the building has since changed, becoming nightclubs and a live music venue throughout the 1970s and 80s under the name Caley Palais.
Notable past performers include Pink Floyd, Queen and AC/DC.
The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu
There are also records of Robin Trower, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, Hawkwind, Rory Gallagher, Beck, The Smiths, New Order, Bogert & Appice and Gentle Giant taking to the stage.
After years of providing entertainment, the venue finally closed after a farewell party on December 31, 2013 and became a Wetherspoons three years later.
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In keeping with its past, the pub has retained its theatre look, with navy and gold decor looking like a scene straight out of the 1920s.
The bar is found at the back of the pub where the screen of the cinema, and stage would have been.
No other Scottish branches managed to make the list.
The Greenwood Hotel, London, Stick or Twist in Leeds, The Golden Beam in Leeds, The William Adams in Norfolk, The Prense Well in Merseyside, The Velvet Coaster in Lancashire, and The Buck Inn inNorth Yorkshire completed the top 10.
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A spokesperson for Q.R. Code Generator commented on the findings: "Wetherspoons is a staple pub across the UK, loved by all age ranges for multiple reasons, such as its affordability, relaxed atmosphere and consistency.
"It's interesting to see which Spoons' have the best excellent rating based on the public's opinion and which areas of the UK have the highest standards of the pub chain.
"The research reveals that pubs located on the seaside are popular within the top 10 best-rated, and it's fascinating to see two Leeds Wetherspoons located 1.5 miles apart placed fifth and sixth."
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The Caley Picture House has fast become one of the most popular branches
Credit: Alamy