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Edinburgh Live
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Kris Gourlay

The lost Edinburgh nightclub that went up in flames after Western-themed party blunder

Edinburgh's Uptown Disco and Bar was one of the go-to spots in the capital in the 70s and early 80s.

Offering customers chicken in a basket as a means to serve alcohol later than 10pm, the site is now occupied by a KFC, in an incredibly fitting, yet ironic turn of events.

Located on Nicolson Street, it was the prime location for revellers to descend on over the weekend and enjoy a boogie.

READ MORE: The 1999 Edinburgh factory explosion that plunged a community into chaos

With regular DJs and an unforgettable atmosphere, the club is also known for the tragic fire that wiped out the building forever.

The fire occurred in 1982 after a Western-themed night turned into a disaster. Many people's recollection of the night correlates to the same issue of several stacks of hay located on each floor in the club, all of which caught fire with ease and became an impossible task to battle it.

Uptown Disco was an iconic Edinburgh bar and club in the 80's. (Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland)

It is believed that the fire was caused by a single cigarette that landed on one of the stacks of hay, a timely reminder of why smoking indoors was never a good idea - even when it was legal.

One person actually remembered how there was another fire drill the night before the building was lost forever, with everyone being evacuated but people were eventually given the all-clear to back in and continue the party. Little did they know that it would be the last time they stepped foot on the dancefloor.

Others remember how the fire in the building was so bad that it continued for four full days and was demolished whilst still being put out by the fire crews.

The four-storey bar and club stood tall amongst other surrounding Southside buildings, with various second and third level terraces with views onto the street.

The picture taken just a few days after the devastating fire shows the street littered with piles of rubble and debris that had fallen from the building.

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After the photo was posted recently in the Lost Edinburgh Facebook group, there were several memorable recollections of the venue and what happened on the night of the fire.

One user said: "Went there often with my future wife. It burnt down after it had a western themed night complete with hay stacks. Great nights there, had a restaurant as well."

Another said: "I was one of three that worked on the door, on the night of the second fire. After it had closed and the bar staff had cleared away all the bottles & glasses, we all went to Busters for a relaxing drink or two."

A third person added: "Used to go there for the 16-20 year old club night on a Saturday. If I remember right, it lost its license due to trouble. Went up there with the Leith mods. Great days."

This article was originally published on January 3, 2022.

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