New Wetherspoons to open in student hot-spot area near Edinburgh Uni

A new JD Wetherspoon pub is to open at the former site of Revolution Bar near Edinburgh University.

The proposed pub will mark the city’s 9th Wetherspoons alongside city centre locations including: Waverley Bridge’s The Booking Office, Lothian Road’s Caley Picture House, and The Standing Order in New Town.

A spokesperson for Wetherspoons said: “Wetherspoon can confirm that it has purchased the Revolution Bar in Edinburgh and will be developing it into one of its pubs.”

The former Revolution Bar, located on Chambers Street, closed suddenly in August 2024 before hitting the market. The B-listed venue was one of 25 planned site closures by the chain that summer, as part of a “significant restructuring” at the company. 

The move has excited many students, with Emma, a third-year Geography student at Edinburgh University saying: “STOPPPP, OMG that’s so good”.

JD Wetherspoon venues, colloquially known as “spoons” are ideal for students in the city, with affordable pints and food deals and locations in hot-spots like George Street, Waverly Station and Lothian Road.

Their Edinburgh locations host a number of well known global brands like Guinness and Strongbow, hundreds of spirits like Tanqueray and Grey Goose as well as local Scottish ales and beers from brands like Stewart Brewing and Innis and Gunn.

The new spoons will be developed in the multi-story building, which has the capacity for 600 people alongside bar areas on both the ground and lower ground floors.

Dates for opening are yet to be announced, with a company spokesperson confirming: “At present there are no on site or opening dates.”