Bannerman's Bar to close for up to three months due to 'nightmare' water damage
The announcement comes weeks after Cabaret Voltaire lodged legal action against Scottish Water over alleged damage which forced over 30 closures
One of Edinburgh’s most popular live music bars has announced it is closing its doors for up to three months due to ongoing problems with water ingress.
Staff at Bannerman’s Bar on the Cowgate said the venue will shut at the end of the month to allow major refurbishment works to be carried out, including sealing the building from future leaks.
They claimed water had made its way into the venue from works taking place on South Bridge, leading to damage to its gig room and cellar, as well as the overhead projectors, lighting rig and amps.
Earlier this month, it was revealed the owners of the nearby venue Cabaret Voltaire were suing Scottish Water for £500,000 over similar alleged damage from recent works taking place on South Bridge.
A staff member at Bannerman’s, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We just had the gig room redone, the floors ripped up and the walls redone. And then another leak happened.
“We’re going to basically refurb the entire the building and seal it from any other potential leaks, divert it into the ground and fix the toilets while we’re at it.”
He said several businesses on the street had experienced similar issues.
“It’s been pissing us all off. Last year we had to close early a few times due to the leaks, it’s been a nightmare,” he said.
He said the latest ingress had been discovered between late February and early March.
In a statement on Facebook, the Bannerman’s team said the venue will host its last show on April 26. They said there are in the process of rescheduling planned gigs and are helping bands find alternative places to play.
They said in cases where gigs cannot be rescheduled, customers will be able to be refunded.
A staff member confirmed the venue is hoping to reopen by August.
A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of the concerns raised in relation to the South Bridge area and take these matters seriously.
“We have been carrying out ongoing assessments of our infrastructure to understand whether our assets could be contributing to issues being experienced locally.
“As part of a precautionary approach, we took the decision to prioritise rehabilitation works on sections of the water network in this area.
“Progress is being made, with works ongoing to help reduce the risk of any potential future leakage from our assets.”