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Former cinema and nightclub where AC/DC and Queen played named Scotland's best Wetherspoons
Former cinema and nightclub where AC/DC and Queen played named Scotland's best Wetherspoons

Daily Record

time08-07-2025

  • 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%)

Best Wetherspoons in Scotland named – check if your local is on the list
Best Wetherspoons in Scotland named – check if your local is on the list

Scottish Sun

time04-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Scottish Sun

Best Wetherspoons in Scotland named – check if your local is on the list

And none are in Glasgow PUB LEAGUE Best Wetherspoons in Scotland named – check if your local is on the list Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTLAND'S best Wetherspoons have been revealed after punters left their views of the bargain boozers. The popular chain pubs are a staple for the start of a night on the town. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Scotland's best Wetherspoons was revealed Credit: Alamy With cheaper drink and simple pub bites, it's no surprise so many people stop by when they hit the town. And some folk were so impressed with their local Spoons they left a great review after their visit. Casino comparison site Suomicasinot scoured the reviews of every Wetherspoons in Scotland and found the ones with the best reviews. The league was compiled based on the number of five star ratings on Google. And the Spoons that got the best reviews in Scotland was the Caley Picture House in Edinburgh. More than half (57%) of the reviews for the Lothian Road pub were five stars. The pub is located in an old cinema, which opened in 1923, and is a Grade B listed building. Despite the cinema closing down the building has lived on as a nightclub, music venue and now Scotland's best Wetherspoons with 6,661 reviews, with 3,852 of them being five stars. The number two spot went to a pub further west. The Prestwick Pioneer in South Ayrshire has raked in plenty of reviews and 48.5% of them were five stars from well-impressed punters. The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu It has 913 reviews in total, and 376 visitors gave five stars. Coming in third was a pub not far from Glasgow. The John Fairweather in Cambuslang received 933 reviews and 451 (48.3%) of them were top reviews. It went back to the capital for the fourth place prize. 3 The Caley Picture House was named Scotland's best Spoons Credit: Michael Schofield Edinburgh's Standing Order had a five-star ranking of 47.3%. The city centre pub received 10,951 reviews, and 5,185 of them had five stars. Finally, The Corryvreckan in Oban came in fifth with 47% of top reviews, with 1,930 out of 4,104 being the top score. Markku Kanerva, a spokesperson for Suomicasinot, said: 'Wetherspoons is one of Scotland's most loved pub chains, and with summer approaching, many Scots are looking for the perfect spot for a pint. 'While many of the top ten venues are located in the major city of Edinburgh, it's interesting that some of the most loved Wetherspoons in Scotland are in smaller towns, like Oban and Largs. 'With 60 Wetherspoons locations in Scotland, anybody is within reach of one, whether you're in a big city or a small town.'

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