Worried Edinburgh barman says 'people don't bother' as pub choked by building works

An Edinburgh barman has told of his pub's struggles in the face of ongoing restoration work at Edinburgh’s iconic Jenners building.

The area in front of Abbotsford Bar on Rose Street is surrounded by scaffolding and barriers as noisy building work is carried out.

As previously reported by Edinburgh Live, road barriers and fences have been put in place as work has begun to turn the former Jenners department store into a hotel.

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The barriers stretch from South St David Street around the corner onto Rose Street, leaving the Abbotsford to deal with the disruptive effects on footfall in the busy summer period.

Luke Jackson, a bartender at the pub, told Edinburgh Live: "The last couple of weekends it’s been very quiet, as opposed to what we’d be expecting for July.

"I think people take a look at the roadworks and think ‘I’m not even going to bother heading up that way."

Luke said that concerns are especially high in the run-up to the city’s Fringe in August, an especially busy time.

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The unfortunate pub has been doubly hit, as it is also covered in scaffolding while work is being carried out on its premises – separate from the Jenners construction just outside its front door.

Luke added: “We meant to have outdoor seating, but we can’t with the scaffolding so that’s kind of affecting business as well.”

Currently in the midst of a five-year restoration project, Jenners was gutted by a fire in January last year which tragically claimed the life of firefighter Barry Martin. Victorian wiring and asbestos has been removed from the building, with the next phase having now begun.

Plans for the refurbished Jenners include the accommodation of a high-end hotel, restaurants, and bar.

Redside Property Consultants, which is working on the Jenners project, declined to comment on the matter of disruption to business in the area when reached out to by Edinburgh Live.

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Jenners is a category-A listed building which dates back to 1895. It was purchased in 2017 by AAA United, a real estate firm owned by Scotland's richest man, Anders Holch Povlsen.

On January 23 last year, a devastating blaze broke out in the building. Locals on Princes Street witnessed smoke so thick they "couldn't see through it". Photos from the incident showed smashed windows and charred furniture, while scorched debris was scattered over the floor.

Around 40 firefighters battled the blaze, with Barry Martin sadly losing his life. The 38-year-old's funeral took place at St Giles' Cathedral the following month. He left behind a wife and two children.