Teviot Row House, Edinburgh University Student Union
Created | Updated Dec 2, 2004
Overview
Edinburgh's oldest student union1 (doors first opened in 1889 making it the oldest purpose built Student Union not just in Britain but in the world2) has gone through many upgrades and refurbishments over the last year, however, despite the addition of a new wheelchair access lift at the side of the building, it's outer shell has managed to retain its original character.
As with many student unions Teviot is suffering from increased competition for the student pound with other nightclubs, and as a result is not as busy as it once was. However midweek Teviot's main bar fills up nicely and there is a good atmosphere in the building with a majority of staff students themselves and looking to enjoy their work.
Teviot's main draw would appear to be it's two main poolrooms which are often at capacity. Drinks are reasonable - not cheap, but reasonable compared to some Edinburgh prices (the cheapest lager3 will set you back about £1.70, and a spirit and dash will be around the £2 mark).
Teviot also puts on regular events in its many rooms, with entry to these not always restriced to students. Regular events include Fiesta Latina, Goth and Rock evenings, and live bands. Whilst an extremely popular and well attended pub quiz takes place in the main bar on Sundays4.
Entry in the evenings is by way of student id, and up to two guests can be signed in per person. At the time of writing there are no entry charges.
Wheelchair and disabled access available throughout the building.
More Detailed Introspective
Unlike clubs which are traditionally one large area, Student Unions are formed from a tight confederacy of rooms which in Teviot number ten (in the main) or more (if you include toilets and staff areas).
Lower
The bottom floor of this Union has undergone a recent renovation and contains a medium dance floor/ bar area imaginatively entitled "Underground" (formerly the Park Bar) which on Friday nights plays Indie music, and is home to one of Edinburgh's largest Goth and Rock nights most Saturdays. This room can also be hired out midweek, and every second Thursday has a live band night.
Of perhaps greater interest to visitors on this floor is the neighbouring Sportsmans Bar, containing a large projector TV, numerous arcade machines (traditionally the new "gimmick" arcades rather than your basic varieties) and access to twelve pool tables. This bar is open every night, although it traditionally closes about an hour before the rest of the building on nights other than a Friday.
Nestled in the corner of this ground floor you will also find the Teviot Library. Whilst the books in the cases that line the walls are far too valuable to be loaned out, or even removed from their protective case, the library is a popular place for students to come and revise. In fact during the weeks running up to exams this is the busiest room in the entire Union. During the Edinburgh Festival this room is transformed into a celebrity bar for VIPs (and those who know the staff) only.
Also needing mentioned at this point is that the main ladies and gents are both found on the bottom floor. Though the gents must come with a warning. These are bad toilets. Even for a gents they are bad. Even for a gents in a pub they are bad. Even for a gents in a Student Union they are bad. They are bad. The ladies is nice though, with a big seating area.
Ground
On the ground floor you will find the main reception, a plethora of management offices and entrance to the upper floor of the library. The reception staff are nice - and frequently bored - say hello to them and you'll be amazed how helpful they can be. A cloakroom is available at reception and costs 50p for up to three items on a hanger.
First Floor
Up a semi set of stairs to what can only be referred to as the halfth floor (shades of Being John Malkovich5 here) and you will come across the main refectory area known as the Mezzanine (formerly the Snack Bar). This serves food from about eleven until around four in the afternoon and is best described as a good school canteen. Food is good value for money and is popular amongst those who have lectures around George Square. The corner of the Mezzanine also features a fully functional small bar (called Mezz 2) which doubles as a Costa Coffee outlet.
Also on this middle of a middle floor is the Wine Bar6 (access through Snack Bar), which can be used to hold ceidlehs and small parties. Traditionally this is closed except for private functions and is only rarely open on Fridays.
On the first floor proper we come across the main Teviot Bar which was redecorated after the 2003 festival and is a nice old fashioned bar. Food is served in the form of pizzas and provoncette rolls, and before four you can normally get other food as well. The bar no longer sells sweets. A popular pub quiz, going by the almost litigious name of Teviot Pursuit, takes place in this bar on a Sunday evening at 8.30 and normally draws a large crowd.
This floor also features the Dining Room and Middle Reading Room. Harking back to the olden days these rooms are impressively decorated and lend meetings a certain gravitas. No wonder therefore that these are traditionally booked most evenings for society meetings or for dinners. More upmarket food is served in these rooms during the day and this is popular with life members and the lder members of the University.
Top Floor
The top floor is dominated by the Debating Hall - a large dance hall ideal for ceidlehs, fiestas and just about anything you could imagine; and at one stage considered as a setting for a scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. When it is open this room is normally very popular, but there has been a move in recent years for this room to be available for hire to outside parties on a Friday night. A very useful and versatile room, the Debating Hall is also the scene for some Edinburgh University exams during June - handy to drown sorrows after that particularly hard paper.
Also on this floor you will find another set of toilets. Beware: the curse of the gents still applies!
Edinburgh Festival7
During August Teviot Row House is taken over by the Gilded Balloon company and transformed into one of Edinburgh's largest venues. Home of Late and Live, Teviot can lay claim to attracting arguably the best names outside of the Pleasance (ironically another converted Union) and at night it is often full to bursting. Unfortunately student drink prices don't extend into this period and drink prices can easily double during August.
When the festival is on there is an outside bar set up in addition to the transformation of the library.
The Ghost
Legend has it that the ghost of an old Major still haunts Teviot. Though it has been many years since an actual sighting, sometimes the old building can let out creaks and groans that can't quite be explained. Whether this is a ghost or just a serious flaw in the structure of the building I will leave it to you to decide...
1A5319652Although certain people from Glasgow University will argue differently, rest assured they are just jealous.3A26691548.30pm for those that are interested.5A9083816Also sometimes known as the Terrace Bar and occassionally as the Annexe.7A784866
