The signage of one of Edinburgh’s oldest and most legendary pubs has been uncovered during a recent refit.
A popular fixture in Portobello for the best part of a century, the Bluebell Inn at 227 Portobello High Street is said to have been the first licensed premises in the seaside district when it opened in the late 19th century.
It was the local boozer for generations of Portobello residents, and the place where many ordered their first and, inevitably, final pints.
Straddling two separate buildings of different ages, the Bluebell was a large venue with a lounge bar and public bar. The pub also had a beer garden to the rear.
The inn's name is thought to have been a nod to Portobello’s pottery industry, which was thriving when the pub was established. The ‘bluebell’ design is associated with Buchan stoneware.
Now, the years have been reeled back as the Bluebell’s old hand-painted signage, which has not seen the light of day in at least 20 years, has made a temporary comeback.
The dark blue signage and white lettering remains partially uncovered as the premises, which was latterly home to Oscar’s takeaway, embarks on a new lease of life.
Planning documents lodged with the City of Edinburgh Council last year confirm that the site is to be transformed into a restaurant.
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For the time being, however, the re-emergence of the Bluebell Inn signage has got people talking.
A photo of the uncovered signage was recently posted on the Lost Edinburgh Facebook group, and has sparked fond memories for former regulars and staff of the Portobello pub.
Gordon Lyon wrote: “[The Bluebell] was there for as long as I can remember and I’m almost 80 now.”
Brenda McNeill recalled: “My sister and her hubby ran the Bluebell in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s and I also worked there. We had some fabulous times.”
Another person commented: “I bought a pint of Tartan Special in there aged 15 n 1979 for 69p. Just don’t tell my mother that!”
