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Edinburgh Live
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David McLean

The lost Edinburgh pub that looked run of the mill - until you walked inside

It was the one pub in Edinburgh where you could enjoy a pint under the ever-watchful gaze of the Fab Four.

By and large, the Spiders Web on Morrison Street, was just like any other capital boozer, with its mostly local clientele, commercial lagers on draught, darts competitions and live sport on the telly.

But if there was one thing that set it apart from anywhere else, it was the wall-to-wall array of Beatles memorabilia that seemed to occupy every square inch of the establishment.

READ MORE: 18 Edinburgh places that have changed beyond recognition in the last 30 years

Wherever you looked, there seemed to be a framed photograph or poster of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr staring right back at you.

For any Edinburgh fans of the Fab Four and the music of the 1960s, the Spiders Web was a must-visit boozer.

Even the downstairs function room, which regularly hosted live music, private functions and party nights, was dubbed "The Cavern" after the famous gig venue on Liverpool's Mathew Street where the Beatles and their Merseybeat contemporaries played some of their earliest concerts.

First opened as the Spiders Web by publican John Mather in 1973, the pub briefly became the White Swan before reverting back to its earlier name.

In the 1990s, the Spiders Web became renowned as a venue for the Edinburgh Festivals, with the pub hosting events for the likes of the Jazz Festival and music during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe each August.

The Haymarket bar put on a whole host of music nights throughout the year, catering for fans of northern soul, rock and roll and country. There was also the regular Elvis fan clubs nights, that became a rites of passage for aficionados of the King.

It's understood that it was around this time that the pub's then owner, who clearly had a bit of a thing for the Fab Four, began plastering the walls in the Beatles' Merseybeat interviews, promotional photos and US stadium tour posters.

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Attracting a mixed clientele throughout the week, the Spiders Web opened early at 7am, with a late 1am finish on a Friday and Saturday to keep the good times rolling.

Recalling the legendary pub on the Lost Edinburgh Facebook page, Gordon Robertson wrote: "The Spiders Web, was a mystery Cavern. Different people, and different types of music was in the downstairs area.

"Was a good place until a person moved into a flat upstairs. Constantly complaining about the noise from the downstairs Cavern, and a Sound Limiter Light was fitted. That killed the place for any band/DJ."

Susan Downie said: "I had my 21st birthday party in the Spider's Web. Great night... I think!"

Louise Wilson recalled: "The Spider's Web was the place where local office staff used to hang out after work, and where many a night out out finished. That was away back in the late 70s."

Alan Yule added: "Great pub, I seem to recall loads of Beatles stuff in there in the late 90s."

While rock and roll was its specialty, the Spiders Web also reportedly held a weekly BDSM night. One local recalled: "I never set foot in it, but I'm told it was THE sadomasochist/fetishist hangout by the early 2000s."

Another added: "Spiders Web downstairs on a Wednesday night was a bit different, if you catch my drift."

Latterly owned by publican Peter Cruickshank, the Spiders Web closed its doors for the final time in 2015 to be replaced by gin bar the Jolly Botanist.

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