About us

Two ordinary guys (Dr Martin Rogerson on the left and Mr Brian Cunningham on the right), a sound friendship, no money, a hatfull of enthusiasm and the dream to open their own pub.

What happened?

The Illicit Still happened !!!

In January 2007 Martin and Brian discussed the possibility of starting a business together. Concluding that it would be a good idea but with neither of them having any money the project was to be put on hold until sufficient funds could be built up.

In February of that year The Illicit Still closed down. A short time later large metal shutters were placed over the doors and windows and a large sign was pinned up outside indicating that new tenants were welcome to apply to run the pub.

Martin already had a business in Tollcross and Brian knew from experience that The Illicit Still was in the past a very successful pub that drew clientele from all over the city. Although both were well aware of the changing market that is the pub trade, they decided that The Illicit Still was worthy of further investigation.

Initial analysis into the past trading of the pub showed a slow decline in takings over the years as the industries around Tollcross such as brewing, iron works, transport and health care closed down.

Much of the area had been bulldozed and left in a state of disrepair. The once thriving waterway of the canal had become neglected and overgrown since its closure in the 1960's and many of the original families had moved out of the area and been replaced with students attending Napier and Edinburgh Universities.

It all sounded pretty bleak, but more in depth research by Martin and Brian showed Tollcross was embarking on a period of regeneration unprecedented elsewhere in the city centre. New offices, housing and businesses were being built. Plans for the regeneration of the Canal basin were well underway and the first phase of the massive quartermile project was nearing completion.

After a lot of hard work Martin and Brian decided that there was a need for a good local pub, contemporary in nature but with traditional standards, to serve both the needs of the local community and the ever growing workforce now employed in and around Tollcross.

In the end the bank came up with some money, and when all the legal stuff was completed and after a total refurbishment The Illicit Still opened once again on the 5th of October 2007.