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The pub’s story
Volunteer Arms. Universally known as Staggs. Is a rare case where the building, pub use and interior survival can be separated with unusual clarity. Historic Environment Scotland describes a mid-nineteenth-century, two-storey public house, notes family ownership from 1858 and identifies an 1888 remodelling behind much of the surviving Victorian decorative scheme. The panelled walls, compartmented ceiling, glazed screens, bell pushes, former jug-bar panel, carved counter and gantry with spirit casks are evidence, not themed decoration. CAMRA gives the interior two-star heritage status and records the same family continuity, current cask focus and national awards. In Dept. Q the production used that variety deliberately: independent reporting based on the location manager says Staggs’ traditional front bar and more modern rear bar stood in for two different fictional pub interiors. The exterior seen as Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar was filmed elsewhere, so the real Musselburgh frontage should not be mistaken for that Edinburgh establishing shot.
Film and television details
Each entry separates the real venue from its fictional role and states which part of the site was filmed. Scene notes avoid major spoilers.
Dept. Q
On screen: Two fictional pub interiors
The production used Staggs for two different pub interiors: its traditional front bar and its more modern rear room helped distinguish separate story locations. One is presented with a Greyfriars Bobby Bar exterior filmed elsewhere; Staggs’ own frontage is not that establishing shot.
Filming footprint: Interior only
- Dept. Q (2025) Official city screen guide identifying Volunteer Arms/Staggs as a key production location and confirming it remained an operating pub.
- Dept. Q locations: the Edinburgh filming spots Interview-led report explaining that Staggs’ traditional front and modern back bars played two different fictional pub interiors.
What to notice
- 01
The inner door panel marked “Jug Bar” was re-sited after the former off-sales partition was removed.
- 02
Look for the compartmented timber ceiling, wall bell pushes and glazed seating screens with decorative finials.
- 03
The late-Victorian gantry’s large polished spirit casks are an unusual survivor, not modern set dressing.
- 04
Dept. Q used the contrasting front and rear interiors for two fictional pubs; the Greyfriars Bobby exterior was filmed elsewhere.
- 05
CAMRA reports level access throughout but no accessible toilet. Children are permitted in the snug or lounge until 22:00; food is occasional pop-up service rather than a daily kitchen.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Map evidence shows a building on the site in substantially its present central-close arrangement.
The property entered the family ownership that Historic Environment Scotland and CAMRA say continues.
CAMRA records the premises as licensed from this year.
The pub was remodelled; HES links much of the surviving Victorian interior scheme to this phase.
Volunteer Arms (Staggs) was added to the statutory list at Category C.
Dept. Q used the traditional front and modern rear bars as two different fictional pub interiors.
CAMRA named Staggs its Edinburgh & South East Scotland Pub of the Year and a National Pub of the Year finalist.
Sources & confidence
Historic Environment Scotland provides the strongest building and interior account, including the mid-nineteenth-century fabric, family ownership from 1858, 1888 remodelling and Category C listing. CAMRA corroborates the surviving fittings, two-star heritage rating, opening hours, current facilities and cask focus. Forever Edinburgh confirms Dept. Q production use; Time Out’s location-manager account resolves the two-interior technique and prevents the Greyfriars Bobby exterior from being misassigned to Musselburgh.
Research reviewed
- 79–81 North High Street, Volunteer Arms (Staggs) (LB51111)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsCategory C identity, listing date, mid-19th-century building, 1888 remodelling, family ownership and detailed Victorian interior fabric.
- Volunteer Arms [Staggs], MusselburghCAMRAspecialist
SupportsCurrent identity, contact and hours; two-star heritage interior, cask-beer offer, access/family facilities and 2025 awards.
- Volunteer Arms [Staggs]Edinburgh & South-East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsLocal-branch corroboration of current hours, family continuity, historic fittings, facilities and cask focus.
- Dept. Q (2025)Forever Edinburghofficial
SupportsOfficial city guide identifying the operating Volunteer Arms/Staggs as a key Dept. Q location.
- Dept. Q locations: the Edinburgh filming spotsTime Outeditorial
SupportsLocation-manager account of the traditional front and modern rear bars playing two fictional pub interiors.
