Clark Bar

[AugustaHibs]

Another great pub closing, after 125 years.

Anyone got any stories?

Loved it in there, although going to the toilets could be treacherous after a few…

[Bostonhibby]

Another great pub closing, after 125 years.

Anyone got any stories?

Loved it in there, although going to the toilets could be treacherous after a few…Used it quite a bit in the mid /late 90's when we were based in an office in the same street. Proper old pub, great beer. Guess the world's changing and looks like it's prime for becoming another ubiquitous Edinburgh location.

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[Pretty Boy]

Always felt like it was on borrowed time after it narrowly escaped closure a few years back. I think the bank across the road closing had a big impact on their regular/passing trade.

One of the incarnations of St Bernards used to drink in there post match many years ago (an under 21 side iirc) and always had a bottle raffle every Christmas. I was a semi regular visitor when I had a flat on Broughton Road. Would flit between Clarks and Smithies (also sadly gone) on a Friday after work. Good band of regulars in both but it feels like the days of the traditional pub are numbered. People's habits have changed and a regular post work pint or quick half on a midweek night seem very much a thing of the past.

[Ozyhibby]

Always felt like it was on borrowed time after it narrowly escaped closure a few years back. I think the bank across the road closing had a big impact on their regular/passing trade.

One of the incarnations of St Bernards used to drink in there post match many years ago (an under 21 side iirc) and always had a bottle raffle every Christmas. I was a semi regular visitor when I had a flat on Broughton Road. Would flit between Clarks and Smithies (also sadly gone) on a Friday after work. Good band of regulars in both but it feels like the days of the traditional pub are numbered. People's habits have changed and a regular post work pint or quick half on a midweek night seem very much a thing of the past.

Netflix, Prime, Disney + etc are keeping people home midweek with a glass of wine rather than venture out to a pub. Dodgy firesticks with the football on them don’t help either.
The pubs surviving are stripping their prices to the bone and cutting out subscriptions on TV packages.


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[Lendo]

Living on borrowed time after RBS, Standard Life and Royal London all moved away from Dundas and Henderson Row. Shame, i used to enjoy post-work pints in there. Always felt like an old school boozer.

[Bishop Hibee]

I was in there with my brothers and cousins after my Uncle Willie’s funeral back in the mid 90’s. The wake was at his flat in Dundas Street then on to the pub. Left to go to Hibs v Motherwell and heard later those that stayed were asked to leave due to uproarious behaviour! Uncle Willie, a huge Hibs fan, would have approved.

[alhibby]

From their FB page

AMAZING NEWS ON CLARKS BAR
Firstly we would love to thank everyone that came down yesterday to celebrate this fantastic bar and all the kind words and memories shared!
An agreement has been made for clarks bar to continue trading! Clarks bar would like to thank everyone for their support and continued support in the future!
Love Clarks bar.

[Jim44]

I know this bar is/was in Dundas Street, but can anyone confirm that, back in the 60s, there was also a bar called Clarks at the top of Lady Lawson Street across from the Art College.

[Just Alf]

I know this bar is/was in Dundas Street, but can anyone confirm that, back in the 60s, there was also a bar called Clarks at the top of Lady Lawson Street across from the Art College.I remember the bar, for the life of me though I can't mind it's name!

[Jim44]

I remember the bar, for the life of me though I can't mind it's name!

Somebody told me that it was called the Tap O’ Lauriston but I think it was called something before that.

[speedy_gonzales]

Jackson's, or was that further down the road?

[Hiber-nation]

Somebody told me that it was called the Tap O’ Lauriston but I think it was called something before that.

I asked an old mate about that and yes there was a Clark's Bar where the Tap was back in the early 60s. He's not sure if it was the same pub but definitely in the same place!

[Bridge hibs]

I asked an old mate about that and yes there was a Clark's Bar where the Tap was back in the early 60s. He's not sure if it was the same pub but definitely in the same place!David Clarks bar . Same place on the corner but the Tap O Lauriston was in the more recent building that was part of the Coal Board offices.

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[Hiber-nation]

David Clarks bar . Same place on the corner but the Tap O Lauriston was in the more recent building that was part of the Coal Board offices.

28237

Cheers 👍🍺

[Jim44]

I asked an old mate about that and yes there was a Clark's Bar where the Tap was back in the early 60s. He's not sure if it was the same pub but definitely in the same place!


Cheers 👍🍺

Thanks, guys. That confirms what I thought. :agree:

[Godsahibby]

Clarkes is undergoing a refurb just now. Going to be reopened I believe same owners who have that small cocktail / speakeasy type bar in Stockbridge.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Clarkes is undergoing a refurb just now. Going to be reopened I believe same owners who have that small cocktail / speakeasy type bar in Stockbridge.

:agree: same guy that has the St Bernard’s Bar and the Brief Encounter above it. A shame what he’s done to that place, shame to see he’ll be doing the same to Clarkes.

[pollution]

Cheers 👍🍺


Are we sure this is the pub that the op had in mind ?

The photo shows the junction of Home street and Lauriston Place - all the buildings long gone except on the far left.

Tap of Lauriston was at the end of Lady Lawson Street, opposite the old Fire station.

[Hiber-nation]

Are we sure this is the pub that the op had in mind ?

The photo shows the junction of Home street and Lauriston Place - all the buildings long gone except on the far left.

Tap of Lauriston was at the end of Lady Lawson Street, opposite the old Fire station.

I didn't recognise the street layout but the photo is probably from the 50s. My mate wasn't sure if Clarks was in the same building as the Tap but he said it all looked very different back in the early 60s when he remembers it from.

Bridge Hibs will know better as he posted the photo (don't think he took it though 😂)

[Bridge hibs]

I didn't recognise the street layout but the photo is probably from the 50s. My mate wasn't sure if Clarks was in the same building as the Tap but he said it all looked very different back in the early 60s when he remembers it from.

Bridge Hibs will know better as he posted the photo (don't think he took it though ��)That building in the photo was demolished to make way for the office block which housed the Coal board offices and at the foot of that was the Tap O Lauriston, then that was demolished to make way for the now current hotel, and no I didnt take that photo ��

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[tamig]

:agree: same guy that has the St Bernard’s Bar and the Brief Encounter above it. A shame what he’s done to that place, shame to see he’ll be doing the same to Clarkes.

A shame in what respect? Times change and the model is obviously working for him. Clarks was kept alive for years by the RBS Dundas St/Fettes and other companies staff. They are all gone now and there appears to be little demand for these types of places nowadays.

[jamie_1875]

That building in the photo was demolished to make way for the office block which housed the Coal board offices and at the foot of that was the Tap O Lauriston, then that was demolished to make way for the now current hotel, and no I didnt take that photo ��

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Fascinating to see what it looked like before the Coal Board building as must have walked past that building thousands of times. My Dad worked at the Post Office which had an office block just down the road that looked similar to the Coal Board building so guessing they were built around the same time, but now also gone and replaced with a modern office block.

I love seeing old photos of Edinburgh and what it used to look like. Seeing like the Omni before it was built or what Lothian Road used to look like before Standard Life and all the other office blocks were built is fascinating.

[Jim44]

That building in the photo was demolished to make way for the office block which housed the Coal board offices and at the foot of that was the Tap O Lauriston, then that was demolished to make way for the now current hotel, and no I didnt take that photo ��

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The pub that I remember as Clark’s was definitely in the office block picture on the left.

[Paulie Walnuts]

A shame in what respect? Times change and the model is obviously working for him. Clarks was kept alive for years by the RBS Dundas St/Fettes and other companies staff. They are all gone now and there appears to be little demand for these types of places nowadays.

I suppose that’s the part that’s a shame. You’re probably right though, it may well be working for them.

I’ve been in the St Bernard’s once since its current incumbent took it over and it is absolutely insufferable. Give me the old school type of pub any day.

[pollution]

That building in the photo was demolished to make way for the office block which housed the Coal board offices and at the foot of that was the Tap O Lauriston, then that was demolished to make way for the now current hotel, and no I didnt take that photo ��

282382823928240

Thanks for the info, I see it now !

[Billy Whizz]

Fascinating to see what it looked like before the Coal Board building as must have walked past that building thousands of times. My Dad worked at the Post Office which had an office block just down the road that looked similar to the Coal Board building so guessing they were built around the same time, but now also gone and replaced with a modern office block.

I love seeing old photos of Edinburgh and what it used to look like. Seeing like the Omni before it was built or what Lothian Road used to look like before Standard Life and all the other office blocks were built is fascinating.

Brilliant photos, thanks for posting