Ormelie Tavern, Edinburgh

Originally a grocers shop at the base of a tenement it became a pub in c.1904. A photograph hanging over the gantry taken in about 1920 shows the present bar fittings but on the top of the gantry there were a row of spirit casks. The casks were removed in the 1970s when a false ceiling was added. The gantry has ornately carved pillars holding up the top shelf which are nicely painted in gold and black. The gantry has a new main shelf top and some lower shelving lost by the insertion of two small fridges. The old bar counter front has also been painted mainly black with vertical strips painted gold.

Originally there were four snugs including a small ladies one on the front right. It is good to see two snugs remain to this day – one on the front left slightly opened-out and one at the rear left with a doorway and housing a large Victorian ‘Campbell & Co’s Mils & Pale Ales’ mirror. Original seating was replaced in the 1970s and a fireplace removed.