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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
David McLean

The notorious Edinburgh pub that was known for raucous gigs and wild fights

It was the biker-friendly Edinburgh boozer known for its nightly gigs, wild fights and male and female strippers.

For much of the 1970s, Eric Brown's on Dalry Road was among the most popular watering holes in the capital.

Opened in 1974, the pub was run by retired professional golfer Eric 'Bomber' Brown, a former captain of Britain's Ryder Cup teams in the 1960s, who duly stuck his name above the door.

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From the outside, Eric Brown's looked like any other ordinary local boozer, but in time it would prove to be one of the best small music venues in Edinburgh.

By the late '70s, live music became a nightly fixture at the Dalry establishment and many now legendary bands would go on to perform on its small stage, such as The Associates, The Exploited and Thompson Twins.

The bar also featured strippers - both male and female - and even became something of a popular hangout for bikers.

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Not surprisingly, this volatile mix of hard-drinking locals, punk rock fans, and bikers would often result in fisticuffs.

On at least one occasion there was a full-scale riot at the bar. Tables and chairs went flying, glasses were smashed and the police made several arrests.

Nevertheless, Eric Brown's had enough about it to keep punters coming back - some from the other end of town.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Graham McDonald, who took a photo of Eric Brown's interior in the 1970s, said: "It was a handy place to go to after a curry at Nadia’s in Dalry Road.

"Me and my flat mates used to go there around 1977. I can’t remember why - we lived in Paisley Avenue, miles away!"

The pub continued to thrive into the 1980s, but changed hands when owner Eric Brown's health began to wane. In 1986, the ex-golfing champion died of a stroke at his home in nearby Stewart Terrace at the age of just 61.

Eric Brown's pub was renamed Buggy's for a short spell, before being transformed again into a wine bar named Benson's. Former regulars at the Dalry Road establishment recalled the bar's glory days in a recent social media post.

Writing on the Lost Edinburgh group on Facebook, Keith Burns said: "Played there many times. Great gigs there. I seem to remember the Associates played there among other bands."

Neil Lawrence commented: "Remember going to see the Exploited there when I was about 16."

Jan Dishington wrote: "I worked in Eric Browns for a short while in 79. .It felt like having a night out.. Some good bands."

David Fox added: "I was there when two biker gangs clashed - totally wrecked the place on what was a great night with a rock band playing."

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