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Remembering the dodgy Edinburgh pub that stood in the middle of the bus station

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date23 June 2022
AuthorDavid McLean
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
Known by various names over the decades, the Highwayman pub at the Clyde Street end of the old St Andrew Square bus station was popular with generations of thirsty travellers, who would dive in to grab a quick drink before catching their coach

But while the pub is fondly-recalled by some, others say it was one of the dodgiest boozers in the capital.

Immersed in the pungent odour of diesel and the constant purr of SMT buses and coach engines, punters would stand and the staff would deliver at the famous pub, which featured a mural of the notorious 18th century highwayman Dick Turpin behind the bar.

Originally known as the Clyde Park Bar, the boozer had occupied the ground floor of a tenement, but this was demolished in the early 1970s when the bus station was remodelled. While the old tenement was swept away, the pub remained, with its exterior walls harled and its roof re-slated to match the new concrete surroundings.

The Dick Turpin theme ran strong throughout the interior of the Highwayman. The main lounge was done up to look like an old coaching inn, with rough plastered white walls, dark oak furniture and wooden beams overhead. Replica muskets, horseshoes and other related items adorned the walls.

We can but imagine the corny cries of "that's daylight robbery!" each time the price of a pint was raised.

The Highwayman had some competition with the Travellers Tryst, a pub located on North St Andrew Street at the other side of the bus station, yet both pubs managed to co-exist peacefully for many years.

Retaining its equestrian links, the Highwayman was renamed the Postillion in the 1980s. It retained this name until the 2000s when the bus station was again redeveloped and the pub finally...

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