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The pub’s story
Kay’s Bar occupies an early-nineteenth-century former mews building for India Street, rather than a purpose-built Victorian pub. Historic Environment Scotland records it as one of the few surviving original Jamaica Street buildings after most of the street was demolished in 1960. The same record fixes the crucial business date: the former shop became a public house from Kay’s Wine Shop in 1975. A CAMRA guide says John Kay & Sons had traded here as wine merchants for 150 years; that long merchant lineage is therefore presented as a specialist guide’s account, not as an undocumented pub-opening date. The current rooms still make the earlier trade visible through the safe, bottles, labels, panelling and cast-iron columns, with a small rear snug called the Library. Recent CAMRA Real Ale Quality Awards show that the building’s merchant history and its present beer-focused use are both living parts of the venue’s story.
What to notice
- 01
Look for the old safe, cast-iron columns, bottles and labels: they keep the former merchant use visible in the present bar.
- 02
The rear panelled snug is called the Library in CAMRA’s current record.
- 03
The pub is in one of the few surviving original Jamaica Street buildings, so the building’s survival is as important as the later pub conversion.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The building was erected as a mews building serving India Street.
Historic Environment Scotland records that nearly all of the original Jamaica Street was demolished; Kay’s is one of the few survivors.
The building was added to the statutory list at Category B.
Historic Environment Scotland records conversion from Kay’s Wine Shop to a public house.
CAMRA records a Real Ale Quality Award for Kay’s Bar.
CAMRA records a further Real Ale Quality Award.
CAMRA records another Real Ale Quality Award.
The venue’s own site publishes the current bar opening hours and contact details.
Sources & confidence
Historic Environment Scotland supplies the decisive distinction between the former wine shop and its 1975 conversion to a pub. Operator and CAMRA sources corroborate the merchant lineage, surviving features and current operation, while CAMRA branch records support the recent ale-quality awards. The profile does not imply pub use throughout the merchant period.
Research reviewed
- 39 Jamaica Street, Kay’s Bar (LB29188)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsEarly-nineteenth-century building history, Category B listing, survival after Jamaica Street’s 1960 demolition and conversion from wine shop to pub in 1975.
- Kay’s BarKay’s Barofficial
SupportsCurrent independent venue identity and the operator’s presentation of its merchant character.
- Contact Kay’s BarKay’s Barofficial
SupportsCurrent address, contact details and published weekly opening hours.
- Kay’s Bar, EdinburghCAMRAspecialist
SupportsCurrent pub record, the small panelled Library snug and retained merchant features.
- POV84: Kay’s Bar profileEdinburgh & South East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsThe guide’s account of the John Kay & Sons wine-merchant period and 1975 conversion.
