Edinburgh Retro: 21 brilliant pictures of city restaurants and eating out in the late 1980s

Here is a selection of photographs drawn from the Evening News archives, showing just some of the restaurants that were popular places to dine out in the late 1980s.
There are nostalgic shots of the Maybury Roadhouse, pictures from the launch of Tommy Miah's Curry Club at The Raj Indian restaurant in Leith and more.
Scroll through and get a taste of what it was like going out for a meal in Edinburgh nearly four decades ago.
1 . Meteora, Cockburn Street
Chef Michadis Mikroulis and owner Thynio Anglis celebrate Greek Easter with lamb, eggs, koftas and bottles of Retsina and Metaxa at the Meteora Greek restaurant in Cockburn Street Edinburgh, March 1988. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell Photo Sales
2 . Maybury Roadhouse
The exterior of the Maybury Roadhouse in Edinburgh, July 1988 | TSPL Photo: Denis Straughan Photo Sales
3 . Maybury Roadhouse bar and restaurant
The foyer bar and the restaurant area at the Maybury Roadhouse in Edinburgh, July 1988 | TSPL Photo: Denis Straughan Photo Sales
4 . The Maybury Roadhouse ballroom
The staircase and ballroom at the Maybury Roadhouse in Edinburgh, July 1988 | TSPL Photo: Denis Straughan Photo Sales
Related topics: MemoriesNostalgia

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time Out

an hour ago

• Time Out

The 11 best budget restaurants in the Winelands

1. Gino's, Stellenbosch Gino's in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch opened its doors in the Winelands in 1996; they're still going strong. Gino's is situated in an atmospheric historical building on a quiet werf (a yard of sorts). Nothing trendy here; it's a true Italian restaurant where they believe in family values and good food – think pizza, pasta, oven-baked melanzane, hearty Italian bean soup at good prices. The recipes have never changed so you know exactly what you're getting. No-one even minds that they don't take bookings; you can wait with a drink in hand served by the friendly staff, some of whom have been there for more than two decades. Once a Gino's follower, always a Gino's follower. 2. Zuus, Paarl Zuus, a Greek restaurant on the Main Road in the heart of Paarl, is the new(ish) kid on the block in this town. They describe themselves as 'a culinary haven of Urban Greek Cuisine' and 'a celebration of the Greek way life'. Potted bougainvillea greet you at the door, with Greek music wafting from the inside. Once inside, blue and white checked table cloths and a delectable Mediterranean menu awaits you with dips like tzatziki, tarama (salata) and skordalia en melenzana. Starters include halloumi and spanakopita, 'in the hand' or 'on the plate' dishes like souvlaki, bifteki or a mixed grill for mains, and desserts such as baklava and phyllo pastry with Greek custard and honey finish things off. 3. Blue Coriander, Franschhoek Blue Coriander is a hidden gem in the true sense of the word. It's unassuming from the outside and inside, it's in a side street and has no bells and whistles. What it does have is North Indian cuisine with bold flavours that deliver above what you expect at their prices. I can definitely vouch for their palak paneer with homemade cheese and spinach cooked in onion masala with fresh cream, something I try wherever I happily stumble upon it. The Aleppy prawn curry was recommended to me; once tasted I understood why! 4. Simondium Country Lodge, Simondium Simondium Country Lodge, on the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek, has the charm of yesteryear coupled with warm hospitality and the added bonus of magnificent peacocks strolling around on the grounds. On weekdays, daily lunch specials at the quirky Gordyntjies Restaurant are on offer. Better value for money you will really struggle to find. On Mondays, they have chicken schnitzels with chips and sauce of your choice, Tuesdays wholesome pastas and burgers, Wednesdays pizza, Thursdays – wait for this – afval (tripe) and oxtail with rice, but also burgers for less adventurous eaters, and Fridays a steak special, again with chips and sauce of your choice. Please note that on Saturdays, only breakfast is served until 12:00. 5. Man'oushe Restaurant, Stellenbosch Man'oushe (plural 'manakish') is a popular Lebanese street food, in essence a piece of dough, crispy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside, topped with an aromatic spice blend, usually za'atar in olive oil, sometimes together with cheese or ground meat. It's usually eaten as breakfast on the go. At Man'oushe Lebanese Bakery in a leafy street in Stellenbosch, doing a brisk trade since 2007, you can not only indulge in traditional man'oushe but also in classic mezze platters, falafel salad, home pickled olives, scrumptious babaganoush, a smoky aubergine dip and many more Levantine delicacies. The owners use some of their grannies' recipes and everything is always served with warm bread. Don't miss the delectable Lebanese pickles. Man'oushe welcomes walk-ins at all times. No wonder there is always a buzz at this street café, with seating inside and outside. 6. Eikehof, Franschhoek Eikehof farm has been in the ownership of the Malherbe family since 1903. It's situated on the R45 less than a 10 minutes' drive from the town of Franschhoek. Under old oak trees as a wisdom of owls peer down at you, a variety of platters are served. If the weather does not allow for this, cozy inside seating is available too, but don't neglect to wander outside to greet the owls. On their cheese platters you will find four different cheeses from Dalewood Fromage; there are also charcuterie, fruit and nut platters on order. 7. Lanzerac Deli, Stellenbosch Driving up the tree-lined avenue leading into Lanzerac prepares you for the spoil that awaits you at the deli at the bottom of this heritage property. On a wintry day, a table upstairs next to the fireplace is ideal; you can even play a game of chess that is all set up for whoever feels like a brainy challenge before or after their meal. Opt for an all-day breakfast (I have my eye on the toasted banana bread for my next pop in), gourmet sandwich or a mac and cheese bowl (I devoured mine with pork and miso mayo smothered with creamy cheesiness). At Lanzerac Deli the team of chefs deliver good food with fresh ingredients and interesting flavours. 8. Perdeberg Wines, Paarl At Perdeberg Wines at the foothills of the Paardeberg Mountain, you can take the whole family – it's truly child-friendly – for a casual meal, seated on wooden benches on the open lawn in summer or at the relaxed bistro-style restaurant. On the menu you will find tapas or sharing plates, hot sandwiches, platters, pizzas, lunch specials such as chicken schnitzel, beef or chicken burgers, rump steak, fish or vegetarian curry, eisbein and a special kids menu. 9. Leopard's Leap, Franschhoek You don't get better than what you'll find at Leopard's Leap Rotisserie Restaurant just outside Franschhoek! This is a spacious establishment where it's easy to chill out. Not only are you in for a relaxing environment with a view over the garden, vineyards and the life-sized bronze sculpture of a leopard by internationally-acclaimed sculptor Dylan Lewis, but here you enjoy tender, juicy roast meats with an array of side dishes from seasonal salads like Asian stir-fry or ingenuous combinations with artichokes, beetroot or blueberries, to roasted veggies such as curried potatoes or creamy vegetable bake, all from their own garden. Your plate of side dishes is weighed, whereafter you choose between pork belly with loads of crackling, lamb, beef or chicken. If you can still manage dessert, there are mini portions of peppermint crisp tart, cheesecake or lemon meringues. A bottle of wine comes at R80 whereas in the rest of the town that is often the price for a glass. 10. Under Oaks Pizzeria, Paarl Under Oaks on the Agter-Paarl Road in Northern Paarl is a bit of a hidden gem, but those in the know, know that this is where you go for delicious thin-crust pizzas baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. There's also a range of pastas and a few a la carte items. In winter, you sit next to cozy fireplaces in an old homestead, while in summer you have an uninterrupted mountain view. The service is warm and friendly, and the atmosphere also warm and inviting. 11. Hudsons The Burger Joint, Stellenbosch Hudsons prides themselves on their 'seriously good burgers'. Let the good times roll, says Hudsons. Everyone who hangs out here, seems to agree. All their patties, beef and chicken, are free range (there are four plant-based burgers too) and come with a range of toppings, including different cheeses, homemade pickles and garlic sauteed mushrooms. All the burgers are served with skin-on fries. On different days there are different specials too, and happy hour is every weekday from 16:30 to 18:30. Head to Hudsons for a casual night out.

North Wales Chronicle

15 hours ago

• North Wales Chronicle

Mamma Mia! coming to Llandudno as extra dates announced

Mamma Mia! embarks on a new UK tour from October 24, and now further dates and venues have been announced - including Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The new dates and venues for 2026 are: Hull New Theatre (7 – 18 April), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (21–25 April), Blackpool Opera House (28 April –3 May), Birmingham Hippodrome (12–30 May), Hall for Cornwall, Truro (2 –13 June), Leeds Grand Theatre (16 – Sat 27 June), Norwich Theatre Royal (30 June –11 July), Eastbourne Congress Theatre (14 –19 July), Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre (28 July – 2 August), King's Theatre Glasgow (13 – 29 August 2026). Previously announced dates are: Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (24 October – 8 November 2025), Bristol Hippodrome (11 - 22 November 2025), New Theatre Oxford (25 November – 6 December 2025), Edinburgh Playhouse (9 December 2025 – 4 January 2026) Swansea Building Society Arena (13 January – 24 January 2026), His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen (27 January – 7 February 2026), Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 – 28 February 2026), Palace Theatre Manchester (3 – 21 March 2026), Curve, Leicester (24 - 29 March 2026). Mamma Mia! From West End to global phenomenon, Mamma Mia! is Judy Craymer's ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs with a sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads unfolding on a Greek island idyll. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there's never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical. Now in its 26th year, the show has been seen by over 11 million people and has played over 10,000 performances in London's West End. The international tour has visited 42 countries in the past 20 years, performed more than 3,800 shows and has been seen by over 7.3 million people. Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia became the 9th longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People's Republic of China. Produced by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, opened in July 2018 and became the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. Both films starred Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper, with Lily James, Andy Garcia and Cher joining them in the second film. With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch. Casting for the UK tour has yet to be confirmed.

Daily Mirror

19 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Andy Carroll and Lou Teasdale 'disappointed' after police called over row

Footballer, Andy Carroll, and his girlfriend, Lou Teasdale, admitted that the police were called after the couple had a 'heated discussion', which they say was 'blown out of proportion' Andy Carroll and his hair stylist girlfriend, Lou Teasdale, have admitted they were spoken to by police following a row between the couple on the Greek island of Mykonos. The pair, who have been dating since last year following the footballer's split with the mum of his three kids, Billi Mucklow, revealed they'd had a "heated discussion" while on the party island, but that things had been "blown out of proportion". Andy, 36, was reportedly questioned about a bust-up he'd had with Lou, 42, at a packed beachside restaurant and then at their hotel. One worker at the Nikolus Tavern said of the first argument: 'We recognised him as the footballer Andy Carroll immediately. He seemed very drunk and furious with his partner. He was using very bad words. It was improper behaviour. The woman looked very upset.' ‌ ‌ The Sun reports that police arrived and took the former West Ham ace, who was "very calm" to one side for a chat. He was later allowed to return to Lou, who is a well-known celebrity hairstylist. However, hours later police were reportedly called again by staff after reports of damage to the couple's room at a £500-a-night boutique hotel. Officers are said to have escorted Andy to a local station for questioning but no arrests were made. Another source claimed Lou did not stay with her boyfriend that night. They said: "After the restaurant episode, there was another incident at the hotel. This time, the footballer went to the police station. We know the woman stayed somewhere else that night.' Meanwhile, a British holidaymaker who reportedly spotted the pair while out for a stroll accused Andy of being "very drunk" adding that he shouted at Lou: "I'm done with us!" ‌ Responding to the reports, Andy and Lou admitted that the police were called following their "heated discussion", however they insisted things had been "blown out of proportion", issuing a joint statement, which read: "Whilst having a private dinner in a restaurant on a quiet holiday in Mykonos, we had a heated discussion of the sort that most couples have had on occasion. It quickly became apparent to the police that there was no reason for them to be there. 'We went outside the restaurant with them together as they insisted they wanted to 'look after' us. 'As far as we are concerned, the situation has been blown out of all proportion by an interested member of the public. No one was arrested, and no one was charged with anything. "We are very happy, in love and looking forward to our future together, and we are disappointed that a private disagreement has become a public matter.'