Pablo D.
Yelp
Let's face it; all things must pass (good or bad) and the Portie is not exception. When Leith best known publican, Mary Moriarty ruled there from 1984 till 2009 (retirement day) the Port O Leith was one of my favourite bars in Leith. My mates and I used to meet there Fridays and Saturdays and it was always packed from 6pm!!! The crowd used to be uber-interesting, original and rather deranged. From Russian sailors to Uni professors, local winos to retired & active harlots, MPs to pushers... you name it. Scores of taxis came from Edinburgh town centre to drop scores of people specifically at the Portie's door. And yes, people used to jump on top of the bar to dance to whatever crap was played by the third class DJ (before he got arrested ... leaving the CDs console playing anyway, you know, show must go on), and yes, people used to buy and sell in the toilets whatever you can imagine, even though the Leith Police Station is 50 yards away... And yes, all things must pass; now the Port O Leith is just an average bar with un-welcoming, un-interesting characters after the diaspora of the valuable ones, just cheap drinks and bar staff trying their best to keep Mary Moriarty spirit rule... to no avail, though...