Former Press Club home to become offices

THE former home of the Edinburgh Press Club – which once counted the Duke of Edinburgh and Sean Connery amongst its members – is to be turned into offices.

Plans have been lodged to turn the former private members club on Rutland Street into a basement dwelling and offices.

The building was sold for 975,000 shortly after the club folded in 2007, marking the end of a 68-year history.

Honorary members also included Michael Heseltine, Kate Adie and Alistair Cooke.

In its heyday, the club had a reputation as one of the most sociable journalists' hangouts in Britain. Clubhouse games included "The Eiger", in which a brave hack would attempt to climb one of the bar's walls as his friends took bets on his fate.

The club's closure was put down to its dwindling membership and lack of resources.

The last chairwoman June Plank recently organised a reunion at the Scots Guards Association Club at Haymarket, which was attended by over 60 ex-members last month.