Traditional pub set to welcome in a new kind of Vintage

Published on Wednesday 4 February 2009 08:48

FOR many people it will evoke memories of "proper" pints, live music and good old-fashioned pub culture.

But things are to change at the Vintage Bar – one of Leith's longest-standing watering holes – as developers begin work on a 280,000 transformation to turn it into a classy seafood restaurant.

The Henderson Street venue, run by Hearts player Alan Anderson in the mid-1980s, is being stripped of its traditional surrounds, bar stools and beer pumps to make way for a 60-seater dining space, offering fresh Scottish fish dishes and wines from across the globe.

The new owner is Edinburgh businessman Richard Muir, who has years of experience in the dining trade and was behind the creation of celebrity chef Gary Rhodes' restaurant business in London – as well as award-winning eateries across the country.

He said: "The Vintage Bar was, and always will be, remembered as a real institution in Leith.

"And we welcome everybody who used to visit it to the new restaurant. In fact, one of the former managers has already given us his word that he will be one of our first customers.

"We are trying to take the whole dining experience and make it something casual that people can afford to do more than once a month."

Mr Muir bought the Vintage Bar last year and work is now under way to reopen it in March as Cafe Fish – a restaurant and wine bar.

Using a team of Edinburgh-based developers, the premises have been stripped back to their original blond and red sandstone. A concrete bar is also under construction and plans are in place for a bespoke work of art, made by a city blacksmith, which will hang in the venue.

The restaurant's kitchen will also be fully exposed to diners, who will be able to watch and hear chefs as they prepare dishes.

Mr Muir, 51, who will run the business with his wife Mary, is keen to embrace Leith's growing cosmopolitan culture as well as its traditional roots, believing it will cater for all tastes, including those wishing for a drink at the bar along with a light bite to eat.

He said: "Leith is quite like Chelsea was 20 or 30 years ago. It has a great village feel and it is very vibrant – people do not have to leave the community. It's a great place."

The Vintage Bar is steeped in history and has had many managers over the decades. It has been a popular hang-out for musicians from across the Capital and was well-known for its lively atmosphere. Many fishermen used the pub as their local, along with industry workers based in Leith.