Edinburgh residents react to demolition of landmark Gorgie pub Last Furlong/ Westfield/ Murrayfield Sports Bar
Locals in Gorgie have been reacting to the long planned demolition of a landmark pub in the area this week.
Originally opened as the Last Furlong, and previously The Westfield and Mr Q’s, the demolition of the Murrayfield Sports Bar at Westfield Road took place this week.
The popular Gorgie pub at Westfield Road is making way for a new 80 student bed accommodation block across a six-storey building, with the sixth floor set back from the site frontage.
The sight of rubble where the one-storey pub once stood, just off Stevenson Road, led many locals to reminisce about past nights out there.
Commenting on the Gorgie, Dalry & Neighbours Facebook page, Bill Brown said: “Another sad day for the Gorgie area, my old watering hole is no more. Had many a good night in there from when it first opened as the Last Furlong, then it was the Westfield, now demolished as the Murrayfield Sports Bar.”
James Smith added: “I drank in the last Furlong the night it opened. Had lots of good times in the place.”
Frank O'Connor said: “I used to sneak in and play the arcade game in the lobby. Also part of our banana flats climbing shortcut route.”
While, Taylor Elliott commented: “I grew up in that pub when it was the Westfield or Mr Q’s? My grandad even had a memorial chair in there once upon a time, so sad.”
And Grant Inglis added: “I spent many a afternoon there and night, met some great people there. Will be sadly missed.”
The proposed accommodation, approved by the council’s planning department last summer, will include 73 cluster flat rooms and seven studios. The plans had been previously rejected due to flooding concerns.
The former pub, which closed its doors for good last year, was popular with Hearts fans before games at nearby Tynecastle, as well as rugby and music fans attending Murrayfield Stadium.