Edinburgh pubs: City 'hidden gem' cocktail Domes on rooftop Waverley Mall forced to close this month

Owners said they are reviewing their position and hope to reopen the Domes in future.

A ‘hidden gem’ pub venue on top of Waverley Mall rooftop is being forced to close this month, after three years of trading.

Owners of the Cask Smugglers domes which offer an 'open plan cocktail experience' said they are ‘heartbroken’ after the council refused planning permission for them to stay open. A petition has been set up to appeal the decision and call for the reopening of both the Domes and Festival Village pop-up bar.

It comes after the Festival Village pop-up bar also located on top of the city centre mall was ordered to close after trading for five years. The popular bar has been dismantled by owners, after they were threatened with a £50,000 fine if they didn’t take down the temporary venue. The council served them with an enforcement notice and said that the structures disrupted "key views" of the Old and New Towns.

Cask Smugglers Domes on Waverley mall rooftop

The family business said they are ‘reviewing their position’ but told customers there’s no hope of the domes being reopened for the Christmas period. They will be dismantled on 23 October.

The last day of opening for the Secret Domes will be October 22nd, with the breakdown due to start the following day.

Owners said in a Facebook post to customers:

“We are extremely disappointed to announce that due to the refusal of our planning application, and changes to post-covid flexibility for temporary pop-up venues, we will no longer be trading our Secret Domes at Cask Smugglers. We cannot stress enough how much this decision is out of our hands. We are devastated. There are no words that can fully express how truly heartbroken we are to lose such an integral part of Cask and the city centre of Edinburgh.

"This is not the end for Cask, or the Secret Domes. We are currently reviewing our position with a view to bringing the Domes back in future but sadly this will not be before the Festive Period.

Simon Keane, Director of Keasim Events, operators of Cask Smugglers and Festival Village, said: “We are very disappointed to announce we’re closing the Secret Domes at Cask Smugglers.

“Following the refusal of our planning application, coupled with changes to post-COVID flexibility for temporary pop-up venues, unfortunately we can no longer continue operating the Secret Domes.

“Since the decision, we’ve been inundated with well-wishers, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for getting in touch and our loyal customers who have supported us over the years.

“We will be reviewing our options over the coming weeks and months with a view to bringing the Secret Domes back in future.”

Edinburgh council has been contacted for comment.

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