At the peak of its powers, ‘The Gunner’ was one of the most infamous pubs in Edinburgh and with good reason.
Located in one of the Scottish capital’s toughest areas, the boozer was certainly not for everyone.
The building on Pennywell Road in Muirhouse bizarrely lacked windows but that didn’t stop the clientele from creating an atmosphere almost reminiscent of the Cantina Bar in Star Wars.
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Punters did well to stay alert for their own safety, although as long as you had a few pals, you were usually safe to crack on with your pint, EdinburghLive reports.
(Image: EdinburghPubHistory/ Facebook)
‘The Boom Boom’ as the locals playfully referred to it, well and truly went off at the weekend. Masses of people would cram into the building to watch the pool team do the business, belt out ‘Sweet Caroline’ on the karaoke and inevitably kick off at closing time.
According to the customers, some of the regulars were more than open to launching a punch or two, and it wasn’t uncommon for an interesting-looking salesman to chance his arm in an attempt to flog electric equipment from a bin bag.
Eventually, the fights became so common, the pub had to install CCTV at the entrance and serve drinks in plastic cups to prevent head injuries.
However, this didn’t stop Jonathan Ross from downing his drinks in the pub, which has more recently seen Hibs stars, including Anthony Stokes and Derek Riordan, walk through the doors.
Despite the constant misdemeanours, the regulars have fond memories of the Gunner.
Writing on the Muirhouse Memories page on Facebook, as per, Edinburgh Live, Sam McIntosh said: “Loads of funny stories from the Gunner. A friend years ago was sold a leather coat in there by someone who rapidly disappeared only to find the owner of the coat had been in the toilet!”
Gordon Guthrie commented: “Worked for Punch Taverns in here! Walked in, in a high viz jacket and a mobile radio on! Cleared the bar in seconds.”
Half joking, Jackie Doig added: “If your house was robbed in the area, you could go there and buy it back.”
On Twitter, Mike Smart reminisced: “A mind of my first pint in there can’t remember if it was break time or dinner time fae craigie. Liquid lunch at 14/15 years old. Class.”
While Steven Burns summarised: “What a f***ing boozer. The boom boom.”
The pub regularly appeared in the papers, but usually for the wrong reasons. Eight years ago, the Daily Record published the story of a man who tried to sell Rolex watches just a few hours after an armed robbery of an Edinburgh jewellers.
One local said at the time: “No one could believe it. You’d think if it was connected to the robbery, he’d have waited until things calmed down.”
In 2015, a devastated landlady, Maria McGovern, closed the pub’s doors for the final time. Despite her best efforts, regeneration plans in the area left her with no choice. But while the venue is gone, it’ll never be forgotten.
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