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The pub’s story
Central Bar was not inserted into a redundant station later on. The North British Railway acquired the Foot of Leith Walk site in 1898, replacing John Doig’s earlier bar with larger premises completed in 1899 within the developing station-office range. Leith Central opened in 1903. Behind the two mosaic entrance lobbies, Peter L. B. Henderson’s interior carries Minton Hollins tiles from floor to ceiling, four sporting panels, bevelled mirrors and an oak gantry held by carved griffins. A rear stair once linked the bar directly to the platforms, making the railway connection functional as well as visual. Passenger service ended in 1952 and depot use in 1972, but the offices and bar survived the 1985 trainshed demolition. It is not frozen in 1899: CAMRA dates the present counter and tabletops to about 2003. The surviving room is Category A listed and has CAMRA’s three-star heritage rating.
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.
T2 Trainspotting
On screen: Central Bar
Central Bar appears under its real identity while Begbie has a beer. Film Edinburgh identifies the venue directly; the checked account does not establish exterior filming, so this connection is limited to the public-bar interior.
Filming footprint: Interior only
- On Location with T2 Trainspotting Film Edinburgh’s production account identifies Central Bar as the place where Begbie has a beer.
T2 Trainspotting
On screen: Port Sunshine. Cellar only
A cellar or secondary part of Central Bar supplied the cellar for Simon’s fictional Port Sunshine. This does not mean the whole active pub was renamed or used for every Port Sunshine scene.
Filming footprint: Cellar or secondary room
- On Location with T2 Trainspotting Film Edinburgh identifies Central Bar’s cellar as the cellar used for the fictional Port Sunshine.
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.
- Edinburgh Waverley Station concoursePublic during opening hoursWaverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BB
Avengers: Infinity War 2018
The station concourse near platform 2 appears in the Edinburgh sequence. Treat it as a working transport space, not a set to recreate.
Avengers: Infinity WarT2 Trainspotting 2017
Film Edinburgh records Waverley Station among the city locations in T2.
On Location with T2 TrainspottingAccess: A working railway station. Step-free routes exist but depend on entrances, lifts and platforms; check National Rail assistance and do not linger on operational platforms.
- Calton RoadPublic outdoor locationCalton Road below North Bridge
Trainspotting 1996
Calton Road forms part of the officially identified Edinburgh opening sequence.
TrainspottingAccess: A sloping road with narrow sections, active traffic and limited stopping space. Use pavements and crossings; do not recreate the chase in the carriageway.
- Port O’ Leith (former pub)Historical site (closed)58 Constitution Street, Leith EH6 6RS
Sunshine on Leith 2013
The official movie map pairs Port O’ Leith with Nobles for Ally and Davy’s favourite-watering-hole material and the “I’m On My Way” sequence. The former pub is now a historical waypoint, not an active venue.
Sunshine on Leith Movie MapAccess: Closed long-term since 3 May 2026. View only from the public pavement, do not attempt entry, and do not plan a drink here. Recheck current status before visiting.
- The Shore and Commercial StreetPublic outdoor locationThe Shore / Commercial Street, Leith
Sunshine on Leith 2013
The official movie map places the song “Letter from America” at the Shore and Commercial Street.
Sunshine on Leith Movie MapAccess: Canal-side and street pavements are generally level but include crossings, bridges and busy hospitality frontage. Keep waterside edges and traffic in mind after dark.
- Sandport PlacePublic outdoor locationSandport Place, Leith
Sunshine on Leith 2013
The official movie map identifies Sandport Place for the conversation in which Liz encourages Ally’s ambitions.
Sunshine on Leith Movie MapAccess: A residential and hospitality street. View from public pavements, keep entrances clear and respect homes.
What to notice
- 01
Enter through the two mosaic lobbies marked “The Central Bar”, at numbers 7 and 9.
- 02
The four tiled scenes show Cowes yacht racing, hare coursing, golf and hunting with pointers.
- 03
The counter and tabletops are c.2003 additions; the remarkable late-Victorian tile-and-gantry scheme is older.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The North British Railway Company acquired the Foot of Leith Walk site.
Peter L. B. Henderson’s replacement Central Bar was completed within the developing station-office range.
Leith Central Station opened to passengers.
Regular passenger services at Leith Central ended.
Use of the former station as a diesel-maintenance depot ended.
The former station-office range, including Central Bar, was added to the statutory list.
The station trainshed was demolished while the offices and Central Bar survived.
CAMRA dates the present counter and tabletops to this later interior phase.
The statutory listing category changed from B to A.
Sources & confidence
Historic Environment Scotland is the strongest source for the 1898-1903 office range, the separately authored 1899 bar interior, original platform stair, listing and later site changes. Trove resolves the operating chronology: regular passenger service ended in 1952, while diesel-depot use continued to 1972; CAMRA’s compressed “finally closed in 1972” is not used as a passenger-closure date. CAMRA and the Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society independently support the nationally important Minton Hollins scheme, while CAMRA identifies the c. 2003 counter and tabletops. Council and recent visitor records support the present name and address. The former venue-named domain now carries unrelated gambling content and is rejected. Conflicting phone numbers remain null; hours also remain null because CAMRA's structured field says unavailable while its legacy text gives only a 9am Monday-Saturday opening. No tile, restoration or alteration date is inferred from appearance alone.
Research reviewed
- Former Leith Central Station Offices, including Central and Northern Bars (LB26781)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsStatutory identity, 1898-1903 station-office range, 1899 Central Bar interior, platform stair, 1985 trainshed demolition and 2008 Category A upgrade.
- Edinburgh, Leith Central StationTrove / Historic Environment Scotlandarchive
SupportsLeith Central’s 1 July 1903 opening, 7 April 1952 passenger closure and 1972 end of diesel-depot use; this is wider station history.
- Central Bar, EdinburghCampaign for Real Alespecialist
SupportsCurrent pub identity, three-star historic-interior status, 1899 design, tilework, gantries, c.2003 fittings and the caveat that its full hours are unavailable.
- Real Heritage Pubs Online GuideCAMRA Pub Heritage Groupspecialist
SupportsNational Inventory guide entry for the bar’s 1899 Henderson interior, Minton Hollins tilework, sporting murals, gantry and 2008 listing upgrade.
- Tile Gazetteer: ScotlandTiles & Architectural Ceramics Societyspecialist
SupportsIndependent tile-specialist account of the 1898-99 replacement bar, Minton Hollins scheme, sporting murals and restoration context.
- Licensed premises name, address and on-sales capacityCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsCouncil premises record naming The Central Bar at 7-9 Leith Walk and recording on-sales capacity.
- Leith Conservation Area Character AppraisalCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsOfficial area context for the former Leith Central Station as a landmark at the Foot of Leith Walk.
- The Central BarEdinburghGuide.comeditorial
SupportsRecent venue listing confirming the name, address, interior summary, live-music context and published daily opening pattern.
- Scotland’s True Heritage PubsCAMRA Pub Heritage Groupspecialist
SupportsIllustrated specialist guide to Central Bar’s station origin, tilework, sporting panels, oak gantry and Category A status.
- On Location with T2 TrainspottingFilm Edinburghofficial
SupportsOfficial production-location account confirming Central Bar’s on-screen appearance and its cellar’s use for fictional Port Sunshine.
