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The pub’s story
Old Eastway Tap is Cross Borders Brewing’s second pub, opened in the former Four in Hand on Easter Road in November 2021. Its name pays tribute to the lost Eastway cinema at the top of the road, rather than claiming a cinema history for these premises. That cinema began as the Picturedrome in 1912, was renamed Eastway in 1943 and closed in 1961; it supplies local memory, not building continuity. The brewery’s own account records the 2021 takeover and refit, while CAMRA independently describes the present split-level, L-shaped bar, cask and craft-keg range and neighbourhood role. The result is a young, brewery-owned local bar with a well-chosen historical reference point, not an inherited cinema or a revived old pub.
What to notice
- 01
The Eastway reference is a neighbourhood tribute to a former cinema, not a claim that this bar occupies the cinema building.
- 02
Look for the split-level L-shaped layout and the brewery’s changing cask and craft-keg board.
- 03
CAMRA records that children are not admitted; confirm current entry policy directly if visiting with family.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The Picturedrome opened at the top of Easter Road.
The Picturedrome was renamed the Eastway cinema.
The Eastway cinema closed; this cinema history informs the later pub name only.
Cross Borders took on the former Four in Hand premises and refitted them.
Old Eastway Tap opened as Cross Borders Brewing’s second pub.
CAMRA updated its current venue record after a January 2025 survey.
Sources & confidence
Cross Borders provides the present operator identity and official venue page. CAMRA’s national and branch records independently support the November 2021 opening, second-pub status, earlier venue names, cinema-derived name and 2025-26 current survey history. Earlier businesses are kept separate from the current operation.
Research reviewed
- Old Eastway TapCross Borders Brewingofficial
SupportsCurrent brewery-owned pub identity, address and published opening hours.
- Origin StoryCross Borders Brewingofficial
Supports2021 takeover of the former Four in Hand and brewery refit account.
- Old Eastway Tap, EdinburghCAMRAspecialist
SupportsNovember 2021 opening, earlier pub names, bar layout, drinks offer and dated survey/update.
- Old Eastway TapEdinburgh & South East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsIndependent local guide entry, venue layout and weekly opening times.
- Thelma Magazine, Issue 12Living Memory Associationarchive
SupportsPicturedrome’s 1912 opening, 1943 Eastway rename and 1961 closure.
- Places of Entertainment in EdinburghScottish Cinemasarchive
SupportsIndependent historical reference for Picturedrome/Eastway chronology.
