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The pub’s story
Cabaret Voltaire opened in 2005 as a multi-disciplinary underground venue in the Blair Street vaults. Contemporary listings show that it was already hosting T on the Fringe concerts and club nights that year; later coverage describes its mix of gigs, electronic music and different rooms within the subterranean arches. Its history is cultural rather than ancient: the club’s name, programme and low-ceilinged vault atmosphere define it, but general stories about the wider South Bridge vault network should not be treated as a precise history of these rooms. Today the venue operates a café/bar and club space, with live events and electronic nights. The most useful way to visit is to choose the event first, then check entry and hours. The Fringe can materially change both.
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.
Clique
Cabaret Voltaire provides the backdrop when Holly first spots the group at the centre of the drama. The official city guide identifies the venue and season but not a precise episode or room.
Filming footprint: Exact scope not confirmed
- Clique Official Edinburgh screen guide identifying Cabaret Voltaire as a season-one location and describing the scene context.
Nearby screen locations
These are separate filming or historical locations. They are not extra pub listings, and they do not show that filming happened inside this venue.
- Niddry StreetPublic outdoor locationNiddry Street, Old Town
The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby 2005
Niddry Street is named in the official production location list.
The Adventures of Greyfriars BobbyAccess: Steep city street with service traffic and busy late-night venues. Use pavements and crossings and avoid blocking doors.
What to notice
- 01
This is an event-led club: use the event listing as the source of truth, particularly during August.
- 02
The venue’s current young-person policy allows 14+ at suitable live events, but general club access is adult-only.
- 03
The vaulted rooms are atmospheric but do not make every South Bridge vault story a proven fact about this venue.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Cabaret Voltaire opened as a multi-disciplinary underground venue.
T on the Fringe announced Cabaret Voltaire shows including Editors, Saul Williams and Regina Spektor.
The Skinny documented the venue’s established club-night and live-performance programming.
The Guardian described the club as a 2005-founded multi-disciplinary venue in the Cowgate area.
The Edinburgh Fringe handbook listed Cabaret Voltaire as a live performance venue at 36-38 Blair Street.
The operator continues to advertise club, live-event and private-hire use.
Sources & confidence
The official venue and Forever Edinburgh music map corroborate the current address, two-level layout and mixed arts/live/electronic programme. No independent architectural source was located for the specific vault chronology, so the profile states the physical setting without repeating general vault folklore as fact.
Research reviewed
- Cabaret VoltaireCabaret Voltaireofficial
SupportsCurrent venue identity and programme.
- ContactCabaret Voltaireofficial
SupportsCurrent address and published weekly opening hours.
- Book NowCabaret Voltaireofficial
SupportsCurrent events, private hire and young-person policy.
- Prodigy, Basement Jaxx head for T on the FringeNMEeditorial
SupportsNamed Cabaret Voltaire concerts in the 2005 T on the Fringe programme.
- Cabaret VoltaireThe Listeditorial
Supports2005 opening date and early club/live-music profile.
- 10 of the best clubs and music venues in EdinburghThe Guardianeditorial
SupportsIndependent 2011 account of the 2005 multi-disciplinary opening and underground setting.
- The Fringe Handbook for Choosing a VenueEdinburgh Festival Fringe Societygovernment
SupportsRecent festival venue listing, address and performance context.
- CliqueForever Edinburghofficial
SupportsOfficial city screen guide identifying Cabaret Voltaire as a season-one location.
