- HISTORY -

Before 1820, vessels on the Firth of Forth making for Edinburgh used Leith Docks or Newhaven Harbour. With the increasing use of steamships, a need was felt for another point where they could call, without the congestion which was developing in the existing docks.

A new Chain Pier at Trinity was built by a local businessman by the name of Mr Parrot, at a cost of £4000. It provided a new port of call for merchant shipping and also served as a departure point for sailing tours of the exotic Kingdom of Fife and other local coastal delights.

The pier consisted of a timber deck suspended from chains carried by timber towers & piles driven into the foreshore; the remains of a few can still be seen if the tide is very low.

The pier was opened on 14 August 1821 with a grand ceremony, including a trip on two steamers.

The Chain Pier was destroyed in a storm on 17 October 1898. It seems not to have been well maintained over the years, but the storm was a very severe one which caused a great deal of other damage. Ships were wrecked and driven aground, and much destruction caused.

The last remnant to be seen today is the heavy stone land-anchor, which forms the westward end of the bar to this day. An old photo of the chain pier can be seen in the hallway to the Conservatory.

Since it's former life as a ticket office for the Trinity Pier Ticket Booking office, the building found a new life as a well-frequented Trawlerman's "howff" and many a colourful tale is recalled in the bar to this day, often with Betty Moss, the legendary no-nonsense proprietor with her cutlass, starting pistol and trademark bamboo spectacles as the main character!

Nowadays as a seaside bistro with the best views of the Firth of Forth to be had anywhere in Edinburgh, we will do our best to make your visit one to remember.

Regrettably, current health and safety restrictions preclude the use of cutlasses and starting pistols.