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The pub’s story
The Merlin opened in May 1963 as the Merlin Roadhouse, built for customers arriving by car. Its broad glass frontage, dining space and unusually large car park belonged to Edinburgh's late motoring age rather than the Victorian tenement pub. Most of the city's other roadhouses have disappeared or changed use, leaving The Merlin as the one still doing its original job. The Council's planning record traces later changes. Consent in 2001 allowed a replacement front conservatory and shopfront, and the rebuilt glass-fronted bar and restaurant opened in late 2002. A rear extension followed in 2010. In 2013 the Council allowed the car park to host an open-air market on selected days, although the record does not show whether a market actually traded. Belhaven has run the pub since at least 2003. A further refurbishment finished in June 2025, keeping the low modernist roadhouse shape while refreshing the terrace, frontage and falcon branding.
What to notice
- 01
The car park is part of the story: The Merlin opened in 1963 as a roadhouse designed to catch the motoring trade.
- 02
The glass frontage grew from a 2001 consent for a replacement conservatory and shopfront. The redesigned bar and restaurant opened in late 2002.
- 03
The Council allowed an open-air market in the car park on selected days in 2013, but the record does not prove that a market ever operated.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The Merlin Roadhouse opened with a large bar, dining area and car park, drawing motoring custom from across the region.
Consent was granted in January 2001 for a replacement front conservatory and new shopfront; the resulting split level, glass fronted bar-restaurant by Chris Stewart Architects opened in late 2002.
The Council granted consent to form a new extension to the rear.
The Council granted permission for the car park to operate as an open air market on selected days while remaining a car park at other times.
The pub reopened after a refurbishment.
Sources & confidence
The Council planning register anchors this record through eight applications at 168-172 Morningside Road from 1998 to 2019. Seven were granted and one was withdrawn. The withdrawn 1998 public-house alterations are therefore not treated as work that occurred. The January 2001 consent covers a replacement front conservatory and new shopfront. This is consistent with a refit, but the register publishes no drawings, so it does not establish the full scope or rule out other rebuilding. Later permissions cover a rear extension in 2010 and use of the car park as an open air market on selected days in 2013. The latter proves permission, not that a market operated. Edinburgh Live supports the May 1963 roadhouse opening and wider context; the operator supports current identity and hours; CAMRA supports the interior and June 2025 reopening. No reviewed source establishes the site's earlier use, original operator or original architect.
Research reviewed
- Planning: Results for Application Search, 168 Morningside RoadThe City of Edinburgh Council planning and building standards portalgovernment
SupportsThe enumeration source: a simple search on 168 Morningside Road returns all eight applications at this address between 1998 and 2019 with the decision status on each row, seven granted and one withdrawn. Each application is cited separately by its own record URL.
- Planning Application 01/00327/FUL, 168-172 Morningside RoadThe City of Edinburgh Council planning and building standards portalgovernment
SupportsProposal "Replacement front conservatory, new shopfront, as amended." Granted, decision issued 18 May 2001. The Documents tab publishes nothing, so the scope is not established.
- Planning Application 10/01149/FUL, 168-172 Morningside RoadThe City of Edinburgh Council planning and building standards portalgovernment
SupportsProposal "Form new extension to rear". Granted, decision issued 28 June 2010.
- Planning Application 13/00337/FUL, 168-172 Morningside RoadThe City of Edinburgh Council planning and building standards portalgovernment
SupportsChange of use to a mixed use as an open air market on selected days whilst retained as a car park at other times. Granted, decision issued 1 May 2013. Establishes that the use was authorised, not that a market operated.
- The Merlin Pub Restaurant in EdinburghBelhavenofficial
SupportsCurrent identity, operator and trading status.
- Contact Us | Merlin Pub in EdinburghBelhavenofficial
SupportsAddress, phone, the full weekly opening and serving hours read directly on 21 August 2026, the operator's own directions coordinates, and the venue's official Instagram handle merlinroadhouse.
- Merlin, EdinburghCampaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)specialist
SupportsCurrent record, map point, split level glass fronted description, facilities, and the June 2025 post-refurbishment reopening.
- Merlin Morningside Edinburgh pub, EH10Edinburgh Architecturespecialist
SupportsThe late 2002 opening of the present bar-restaurant by Chris Stewart Architects and Belhaven contact details documented in 2003.
