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Frankenstein, the popular themed bar on George IV Bridge, which advertises itself as "the original horror pub", was originally built in 1859 as Martyrs' Reformed Presbyterian Church. Much later, the gothic building was home to Edinburgh's Elim Pentecostal Church, which later moved to Morningside. The building was converted to a pub in 1999.Frankenstein, the popular themed bar on George IV Bridge, which advertises itself as "the original horror pub", was originally built in 1859 as Martyrs' Reformed Presbyterian Church. Much later, the gothic building was home to Edinburgh's Elim Pentecostal Church, which later moved to Morningside. The building was converted to a pub in 1999.
Frankenstein, the popular themed bar on George IV Bridge, which advertises itself as "the original horror pub", was originally built in 1859 as Martyrs' Reformed Presbyterian Church. Much later, the gothic building was home to Edinburgh's Elim Pentecostal Church, which later moved to Morningside. The building was converted to a pub in 1999.

13 Edinburgh former church buildings which are now familiar in new roles, including theatres, galleries, bars

Old churches have been converted to a wide variety of different uses
By Ian Swanson
Published 20th Aug 2023, 04:45 GMT

Edinburgh has lots of churches – and there used to be even more. Many church buildings have closed over the years. And while some have been bulldozed and replaced by other buildings, many have survived and been converted to other uses.

And some – like West Register House in Charlotte Square or the nearby Ghillie Dhu at the West End – have become so familiar in their new guise that most people will not give the building’s origins a second thought.

So here’s a look at some of Edinburgh’s repurposed churches and their history.

Edinburgh construction projects: Here's an update of what's going on behind all that scaffolding

So here’s a look at some of Edinburgh’s repurposed churches and their history.

Ghillie Dhu in Rutland Place at Edinburgh's West End is a popular bar, restaurant and live music venue - and it is housed in a former church. It was built as St. Thomas' Church in 1843 for a breakaway congregation from the Scottish Episcopal Church which allied itself with the Church of England. The church moved to Corstorphine in 1938 and the Rutland Place building was eventually converted in 1958 to serve for a time as a heritage centre, a tourist information centre and then the Berkeley Casino before being remodelled for its current use and opening as Ghillie Dhu in 2010.

13. Ghillie Dhu, Rutland Place

Ghillie Dhu in Rutland Place at Edinburgh's West End is a popular bar, restaurant and live music venue - and it is housed in a former church. It was built as St. Thomas' Church in 1843 for a breakaway congregation from the Scottish Episcopal Church which allied itself with the Church of England. The church moved to Corstorphine in 1938 and the Rutland Place building was eventually converted in 1958 to serve for a time as a heritage centre, a tourist information centre and then the Berkeley Casino before being remodelled for its current use and opening as Ghillie Dhu in 2010. Photo: Google

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