Edinburgh’s nightlife was once a much smarter affair – Steve Cardownie

The partial relaxation of the lockdown rules gave me the opportunity to catch up with a neighbour of mine.

Sitting in his back garden on Monday having a wee drink, my birthday provided us with the excuse to talk about the days of our youth and how things had changed over the intervening years. Hopefully more than a few readers will recognise the picture we painted of the Edinburgh we knew when we were teenagers.

Not for us the open-necked shirts or T-shirts and jeans which seems to be the dress of choice nowadays when embarking on a night out, no chance. No, our ports of call were John Colliers, Cowan Tailoring or Hepworth’s where we purchased our “made to measure” suits, Prince of Wales check, 12in or 14in side vents, 2.5in pocket flaps (including ticket pocket) set off with a Ben Sherman shirt and, in winter, a Crombie coat with a red handkerchief poking out of the top pocket. Shoes were usually crocodile or slip-on Weejuns, so polished they would make a Guardsman embarrassed and usually that was it, all set and ready to go.

Suitably attired we would make our way to meet up at one of our favourite watering holes before going on elsewhere. Anderson’s Copper Top on Lothian Road, The Green Tree in Gorgie, The International Bar in Tollcross or Pearce’s at the top o’ the Walk were all happy to take the risk and serve us, safe in the knowledge that we were not there to get blootered. No, we had other things on our mind and it was just a stopping-off point before making our way to our favourite nighttime destination.

The Cavendish (The Cav) or The Top Rank beckoned and, after a couple of drinks we would make our way there. All our powers of subterfuge were called upon if it was The Top Rank as one of the bouncers would walk up and down the queue asking to smell the breath of would-be patrons. Any hint of chewing gum, mint or alcohol and you were unceremoniously ejected and your night was over. However if you did make it you were greeted with the sight of a packed floor of people dancing to the latest music which would be deliberately rounded off with two tunes you could “moon” to. Last chance saloon, when Private Number by Judy Clay and William Bell and then Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross were placed on the turntable, usually dictated if you were going home alone or not. Modesty forbids me from boasting about my percentage of successful encounters (I wish).

As we got a wee bit older (and legal), our habits changed and we formed a new routine. Now it was Oliver’s in Rose Street, The Viceroy in Lothian Road and on to The White Elephant (Valentino’s) in Tollcross to see out the rest of the night. Live music was also not in short supply with the Usher Hall, the Empire, the Caley Cinema and the King’s Theatre hosting the big name groups of the time. Taste, Ten Tears After, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack and Led Zeppelin amongst others graced these stages before stadia became the go-to venues to see the so-called “supergroups”. All this provided light relief and a welcome diversion from the current health crisis as we reminisced and fondly remembered days gone by, when we were young, confident and ready to take on the world. Nowadays Edinburgh’s nightlife has changed and developed, with many more bars, restaurants and clubs plying their trade into the wee small hours providing great entertainment for locals and visitors alike, giving the city the vibrancy it has become known for.

Throngs of young people flock to these venues and although members of my generation have now reached a ”reasonable” age we are still more than capable of dusting off our Weejuns and hitting the streets of the Capital for a good night out.

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