This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-64811601
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| I finally saw inside my area's best-kept secret after 12 years | I finally saw inside my area's best-kept secret after 12 years |
| (3 months later) | |
| Sheila Noble (left) said she was delighted to finally see inside the Morningside Club with her friend Heather Robinson | Sheila Noble (left) said she was delighted to finally see inside the Morningside Club with her friend Heather Robinson |
| For more than a decade, Sheila Noble has longed to find out what went on behind the doors of an ordinary-looking flat in her part of Edinburgh. | For more than a decade, Sheila Noble has longed to find out what went on behind the doors of an ordinary-looking flat in her part of Edinburgh. |
| A brass plaque at the door was the only clue that the tenement was home to The Morningside Club. | A brass plaque at the door was the only clue that the tenement was home to The Morningside Club. |
| The ground floor property at 3 Morningside Park, with frosted windows and a white ivy-covered extension, has been described by locals as the area's best-kept secret. | The ground floor property at 3 Morningside Park, with frosted windows and a white ivy-covered extension, has been described by locals as the area's best-kept secret. |
| "I have been wondering what is behind that blue door for 12 years now and dreaming of what is inside," said 62-year-old Sheila. | "I have been wondering what is behind that blue door for 12 years now and dreaming of what is inside," said 62-year-old Sheila. |
| "I've marvelled at the door every time I walked past it and I have wanted to become a member." | "I've marvelled at the door every time I walked past it and I have wanted to become a member." |
| But try as she might she had been unable to find anyone who knew anything about the secret club. | But try as she might she had been unable to find anyone who knew anything about the secret club. |
| The blue door at 3 Morningside Park | The blue door at 3 Morningside Park |
| The NHS service manager had asked people in the area and researched the club online, but always came to a dead end. | The NHS service manager had asked people in the area and researched the club online, but always came to a dead end. |
| After she spoke to BBC Scotland, we also asked local traders and business leaders - but they had never heard of the club, despite it being on their doorstep. | After she spoke to BBC Scotland, we also asked local traders and business leaders - but they had never heard of the club, despite it being on their doorstep. |
| Then finally, after a chance encounter with the president, Sheila was invited in for a sneak peek. | Then finally, after a chance encounter with the president, Sheila was invited in for a sneak peek. |
| "I was so excited I couldn't sleep," she said. | "I was so excited I couldn't sleep," she said. |
| Inside is a long corridor leading to a large hall with two full-sized snooker tables, a lounge, bar, darts room and board games room. The white extension holds a beer cellar. | Inside is a long corridor leading to a large hall with two full-sized snooker tables, a lounge, bar, darts room and board games room. The white extension holds a beer cellar. |
| President Graeme Ritchie has been a member of the club for 55 years. | President Graeme Ritchie has been a member of the club for 55 years. |
| "Not many people know about the club, it's a bit of a hidden gem within Morningside," said the 78-year-old. | "Not many people know about the club, it's a bit of a hidden gem within Morningside," said the 78-year-old. |
| Number 3 Morningside Park looks like a residential flat with a ivy covered extension attached | Number 3 Morningside Park looks like a residential flat with a ivy covered extension attached |
| He said at one time there was a seven year waiting list to become one of its 150 members. Until a few years ago, it was a men-only club. | He said at one time there was a seven year waiting list to become one of its 150 members. Until a few years ago, it was a men-only club. |
| "There is not the demand for it that there used to be, so we now have 90 members," he said. | "There is not the demand for it that there used to be, so we now have 90 members," he said. |
| "In its heyday it was great as everybody knew everyone, you could turn up on your own and you always had all your friends there. | "In its heyday it was great as everybody knew everyone, you could turn up on your own and you always had all your friends there. |
| "It was smoky and very busy and there was a real buzz about the place. | "It was smoky and very busy and there was a real buzz about the place. |
| "We even had a steward who lived in the back rooms with his wife to look after the place. | "We even had a steward who lived in the back rooms with his wife to look after the place. |
| "But that has all dwindled now." | "But that has all dwindled now." |
| Graeme Ritchie said he hopes to recruit new members | Graeme Ritchie said he hopes to recruit new members |
| He said the only way to become a member was to know someone at the club who would put your name forward. | He said the only way to become a member was to know someone at the club who would put your name forward. |
| That application then had to be seconded, before the potential new member would be interviewed by a panel on the committee. | That application then had to be seconded, before the potential new member would be interviewed by a panel on the committee. |
| But Mr Ritchie said: "I'm waiving that rule now and going to start letting new members apply even if they don't know anyone at the club." | But Mr Ritchie said: "I'm waiving that rule now and going to start letting new members apply even if they don't know anyone at the club." |
| Robbie Mitchell, a reference assistant at the National Library of Scotland, researched old directories for the address and discovered it was first home to the Morningside Liberal Club in 1899. | Robbie Mitchell, a reference assistant at the National Library of Scotland, researched old directories for the address and discovered it was first home to the Morningside Liberal Club in 1899. |
| It then became the Morningside Club in 1950. Mr Ritchie said there had only been four presidents in its history. | It then became the Morningside Club in 1950. Mr Ritchie said there had only been four presidents in its history. |
| Sheila said that as soon as she had finished the tour, she had filled in her membership form and paid a deposit. | Sheila said that as soon as she had finished the tour, she had filled in her membership form and paid a deposit. |
| The club has a snooker room | The club has a snooker room |
| "It suits my mentality, somewhere I can go to sit and nobody will bother me or threaten me. | "It suits my mentality, somewhere I can go to sit and nobody will bother me or threaten me. |
| "I can go in and read the paper or a book, I like the thought of that. I want to be able to drop in on my way home from work. | "I can go in and read the paper or a book, I like the thought of that. I want to be able to drop in on my way home from work. |
| "I like to be comfortable with people, it's a nice wee place for me." | "I like to be comfortable with people, it's a nice wee place for me." |
| She was accompanied by her friend Heather Robinson, 58, an accountant who lives locally. | She was accompanied by her friend Heather Robinson, 58, an accountant who lives locally. |
| "Sheila sowed the seed in my head every time we walk past. She's always been asking 'What is that place'?" she said. | "Sheila sowed the seed in my head every time we walk past. She's always been asking 'What is that place'?" she said. |
| "To finally get to see inside after so long makes it even more exciting. The place is like the Tardis. | "To finally get to see inside after so long makes it even more exciting. The place is like the Tardis. |
| "I've filled in a membership form too and just hope we get through the interview." | "I've filled in a membership form too and just hope we get through the interview." |
| David Riddell, a former president, said they fitted a bar 10 years after moving into 3 Morningside Park | David Riddell, a former president, said they fitted a bar 10 years after moving into 3 Morningside Park |
| Former president David Riddell, 80, has been a member for 62 years. | Former president David Riddell, 80, has been a member for 62 years. |
| He said the club had been so popular in the past that they had a lot of money to refurbish it. | He said the club had been so popular in the past that they had a lot of money to refurbish it. |
| "It was extremely busy and we were making money hand over fist. We did the place up and even managed to pay the mortgage off in a year. | "It was extremely busy and we were making money hand over fist. We did the place up and even managed to pay the mortgage off in a year. |
| "We spent £3,000 on the carpet, which was the equivalent to the price of a whole flat in Edinburgh at the time. | "We spent £3,000 on the carpet, which was the equivalent to the price of a whole flat in Edinburgh at the time. |
| "It's still the same carpet today because it was such good quality that it hasn't worn at all." | "It's still the same carpet today because it was such good quality that it hasn't worn at all." |
| He said one of the reasons for its popularity had been its opening hours. | He said one of the reasons for its popularity had been its opening hours. |
| "We could stay open longer than pubs that had to close at 10pm. | "We could stay open longer than pubs that had to close at 10pm. |
| "Often we were still partying until 2am and 3am," he said. | "Often we were still partying until 2am and 3am," he said. |
| David Mitchell has been a member of the club for 25 years | David Mitchell has been a member of the club for 25 years |
| Anne Ness, the secretary of the Morningside Traders Association, told BBC Scotland that she had never heard of the club. | Anne Ness, the secretary of the Morningside Traders Association, told BBC Scotland that she had never heard of the club. |
| "It's Morningside's best kept secret," she said. | "It's Morningside's best kept secret," she said. |
| "It's a shame it's such a secret because it could be a wonderful utilised space for events." | "It's a shame it's such a secret because it could be a wonderful utilised space for events." |
| Donald Nairn, who has owned nearby Toys Galore for 17 years, had also never heard of the club. | Donald Nairn, who has owned nearby Toys Galore for 17 years, had also never heard of the club. |
| "Morningside is a funny place," he said. | "Morningside is a funny place," he said. |
| "It is quite possible not to know what some Morningsiders are up to. It's an odd community but it is all the more fun for it." | "It is quite possible not to know what some Morningsiders are up to. It's an odd community but it is all the more fun for it." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scotland | |
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| Scotland business | Scotland business |
| Morningside | Morningside |