Edinburgh pub used as filming location in hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer

An Edinburgh pub has featured in a hit new Netflix series, with owners describing it as an "absolute pleasure".

The Hoppy in Meadowbank is used as a Fringe venue in the show, where the main character (Donny) performs. Filming took place towards the end of lockdown, with other spots in Edinburgh used including the Grassmarket and Royal Mile.

The series follows Donny, played by Richard Gadd, and his harrowing experience with a stalker. Mostly set in London, the series was written by Gadd himself and is based on his own real-life trauma.

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Posting to Facebook, The Hoppy said: "Towards the end of lockdown we were lucky enough to have been asked by Netflix to use The Hoppy exterior in the brand new Netflix series Baby Reindeer.

"The cast and crew were an absolutely pleasure to have in, what a great opportunity to see the pub on the big screen."

While the scenes in the pub are relatively upbeat, and show the main character peforming his comedy routine to very small audiences (a relatable scene for many) - the episode as a whole is perhaps one of the most disturbing.

For those who haven't watched yet, spoilers ahead. The show goes into how Donny meets a successful writer and producer named Darrien while performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, and forms a friendship with him.

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Their relationship turns dark, when Darrien pulls him into a life of drugs and sexually assaults him. This is shown in a flashback, as the main character explains how he became intertwined with his stalker.

Donny soon meets Martha, who 'feels sorry for' and offers her a free cup of tea at his workplace pub. Viewers quickly see how this kind gesture becomes a twisted and disturbing tale.

Martha would send Donny more than 80 emails a day, "continuing long into the night". Over the course of five years however, she would send as many as 40,000 emails, 740 tweets, 100 pages of letters, 45 Facebook messages and leave 350 hours of voicemail.

Martha's messages were ruled as not "overtly threatening or violent", so the police weren't able to do much to stop Martha and her intrusive behaviours. Recalling his plea for help at the time, Richard once said: "The laws surrounding harassment and abuse are so stupid because they look for black and white, good and evil, and that's not how it works."

Speaking to Netflix, series writer Richard Gadd said: "Stalking on television tends to be very sexed-up... It has a mystique. It's somebody in a dark alleyway. It's somebody who's really sexy, who's very normal, but then they go strange bit by bit.

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"But stalking is a mental illness. I really wanted to show the layers of stalking with a human quality I hadn't seen on television before."

Viewers have been sharing their opinions of the show since it aired, with many finding it "difficult, but important". Vicky posted to X/Twitter: "I’ve just watched the whole of Baby Reindeer in one go. Unbelievable. Would really recommend it."

Another user added: " I thought I knew what I was in for, but it’s even MORE disturbing with Martha personified, if that’s possible. Am feeling sick, on edge, scared for Richard, but can’t stop watching it. Think I’m going to have to binge the lot in one go."

Luke Hennessey commented: "Finished Baby Reindeer last night and have a lot of thoughts about it. It was not at all what I thought it would be. A very difficult watch but ultimately a very important program. Definitely proceed with caution!"