Have you ever found yourself standing in a Wetherspoon's boozer gawping at the grandness of one of their venues? You're not the only one.
It's no coincidence that Wetherspoon happens to own a long list of unique buildings up and down the country. Behind the brand known for its cheap drink is a pub chain that spares no expense in converting historic venues.
Love or hate it, Wetherspoon has an impressive portfolio. In Edinburgh alone they have: The Booking Office on Waverley Bridge, The Standing Order on George Street, The Foot of the Walk on Leith Walk and the Caley Picture House on Lothian Road.
Wetherspoon’s chairman and founder, Tim Martin, said: "We take immense pride in the restoration and refurbishment of wonderful buildings into Wetherspoon pubs. We feel that it is right to celebrate the history of the buildings."
Don't believe them? Check out these historic photos and the fascinating history behind four of the pub chain's watering-holes in Edinburgh.
The Booking Office
The Booking Office on Waverley Bridge is the perfect place to pass the time when you're waiting on the train - but have you noticed it is bursting with historical gems?
Its name pays homage to its past, as all that remains of North Bridge Station which was built in 1846 by the North British Railway Company, and even rebuilt in the 1890s.
Refurbished and opened as Wetherspoons in 2016, the pub chain had to take care with the structure, which boasts a grade A listed façade.
A plaque inside the pub gives customers an idea of what it once may have looked like. It reads: "Originally, it had nine arches at the front. The wings on either side were slightly set back. Each wing was three arches wide and seven arches deep."
The Foot of The Walk
The Foot of the Walk takes its name from its location on the corner of Constitution Street, at the end of the bustling Leith Walk. While it may have been dubbed the “worst” 'Spoons based on reviews, its interesting past doesn't dissapoint.
The building was once home to the 2,000 seater Palace Picture House and was later converted into a snooker hall. The last film to be screened at the Palace was was Trouble with Angels, in 1966, starring the 20-year-old Hayley Mills.
The Standing Order
If you're not too drunk off cheap wine to notice, the Standing Order pub is easily one of the chain's most impressive buildings - which also happens to be listed grade A.
Its name hints at its former life as the Union Bank of Scotland building on George Street.
The building was designed between 1874 and 1878 by David Bryce in a neo-classical style - the architect behind Fettes College - but was completed by his nephew after his death in 1876.
To this day, it contains the original CHUBB vault that has markings dating as far back as 1968 - the Chubb "Detector Lock" was known once famed as the un-pickable lock.
The Caley Picture House
Some people will remember the Caley Picture House as a once vibrant live music venue that hosted the likes of Pink Floyd and AC/DC, with many sad to see it go when it was converted into a Wetherspoon watering-hole in 2013.
But did you know that it started out life as a cinema in 1900s? Built in 1922, it opened on 1 January 1923 with a silent film called "Game of Life" and attracted hundreds of people on the launch night.
In 1928, the building was enlarged and the auditorium was given the Art Deco treatment that is now emulated in today's Wetherspoon pub - it remains a grade B listed building.
The pub chain are also looking to transform an existing balcony in .
If you're thinking of visiting one of these four Wetherspoons, or one of their Edinburgh venues, then you best check our handy guide with every Wetherspoons in Edinburgh, ranked from best to worst.
