Latest news with #CaleyPictureHouse
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Former cinema and nightclub where AC/DC and Queen played named Scotland's best Wetherspoons
The place has served as a cinema, a nightclub, and a live music venue in its past. A historic Edinburgh landmark has been named Scotland's best Wetherspoons. A new study analysing customer reviews from more than 800 pubs across the UK has picked out the top-rated bars in Tim Martin's empire. Known for their affordable pints, unique names, crazy carpets - and long walks to the toilets - JD Wetherspoons bars can be found throughout Britain. While some people may turn their nose up at a 'Spoons', others are more than happy to nip in for a cheap pint or two. And if you're keen to see the best of what Scotland has to offer, according to the research by Suomicasinot, then you'll need to head to the capital. The Caley Picture House in Edinburgh was our top-ranked Spoons, also claiming third place in the UK-wide list. The analysis found that 57.82 per cent of its Google reviewers awarded the former cinema a full five stars, Express reports. Built in 1922 on Lothian Road and opened on New Year's Day 1923 with the film Game of Life, the Caley Picture House has long been a fixture of the city's cultural life. Originally designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architects J.S. Richardson and J.R. McKay, it seated 900 patrons in its early days. A major expansion followed in 1928, led by James McKissack of John McKissack & Sons. He added a wing parallel to the road, shop units, and an ornate new entrance featuring a stained-glass window. The auditorium, given an Art Deco makeover, increased capacity to 1,900. With a grand 50-foot-wide proscenium, the venue was well suited to become the first cinema in Edinburgh to show a CinemaScope film when The Robe starring Richard Burton opened there in February 1954. In the 1980s, the curtain came down on its cinema days. The building was sold in 1983 and closed the following year. In 1986, it was transformed into a nightclub known as Century 2000, later Revolution, before falling into disuse. It was revived in 2008 as a live music venue called The Picture House, then rebranded as the HMV Picture House shortly afterwards. Huge acts like Queen, AC/DC, Rory Gallagher, Hawkwind, Gentle Giant, and Uriah Heep all performed under its roof during its heyday. JD Wetherspoon took over the site in 2014, and after careful restoration, reopened it as a pub on December 13, 2016. Despite the change in purpose, many of the original features and the building's grandeur remain, offering visitors a pint in one of the most atmospheric settings in the city. Suomicasinot's study ranked pubs by the percentage of five-star Google reviews. The Bishop Blaize in Manchester topped the list with 60.34 per cent, followed by the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate with 58.48 per cent. The Caley Picture House came in third at 57.82 per cent, comfortably ahead of the next-best-rated Scottish venue. Meanwhile, the bottom of the list included The Atrium in Birmingham, which recorded just 20.19 per cent five-star reviews. The Albany Palace in Trowbridge and The White Swan in London fared only slightly better, at 31.76 per cent and 31.86 per cent, respectively. 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'. The top 10 highest-rated Wetherspoons in the UK The Bishop Blaize, Manchester (60.34%) Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate (58.48%) The Caley Picture House, Edinburgh (57.82%) The Greenwood Hotel, Northolt (57.80%) Stick or Twist, Leeds (57.13%) The Golden Beam, Leeds (56.71%) The William Adams, Gorleston-on-Sea (55.53%) The Prense Well, Heswall (55.40%) The Velvet Coaster, Blackpool (55.07%) The Buck Inn, Northallerton (54.97%)
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Wetherspoons pub with unique history named among best in UK
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. Advertisement 4 The Caley Picture House has been named among the best Wetherspoon pubs in the UK Credit: Alamy 4 The pub is located on Lothian Road in the Scottish capital Credit: Trip Advisor 4 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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." 4 The Caley Picture House has fast become one of the most popular branches Credit: Alamy
