The Banshee Labyrinth makes a bold boast right on its sign: Scotland’s most haunted pub. And unlike the themed bars, this one has the setting to back the claim up – it is built directly into the notorious South Bridge Vaults.
The Vaults, sealed chambers beneath the 18th-century South Bridge, once housed the city’s poorest and are the star of Edinburgh’s underground ghost tours.
Inside the Vaults
The pub sprawls through a warren of low, stone-arched rooms hollowed out of the Vaults, so you are drinking in genuinely historic – and genuinely claustrophobic – underground space. Bare stone, dim light and dead ends give it an atmosphere no amount of fake cobwebs could fake.
The Banshee Legend
The name comes from a story that staff and drinkers have heard the wail of a banshee deep in the vaults, said to foretell a death. Add the general reputation of the South Bridge Vaults for cold spots, shadows and unexplained touches, and you can see how the “most haunted” tag stuck.
What’s On
For all the ghost talk it is a lively, welcoming pub. Rooms host live bands, DJ nights, karaoke and even a small free cinema, making it a favourite with a rock and alternative crowd rather than a hushed, spooky hideaway.
Visiting
The entrance is on Niddry Street, just off the Royal Mile near South Bridge. Entry is free, it is open late, and it sits right on the route of most Old Town ghost and vaults tours if you want to combine the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Banshee Labyrinth called the most haunted pub?
It is built into the South Bridge Vaults – long linked to hauntings – and takes its name from a wailing banshee staff claim to have heard in the underground rooms.
Is the Banshee Labyrinth free to enter?
Yes, entry is free. It is a working pub with live music, DJ nights and even a small free cinema.
Where is the Banshee Labyrinth?
On Niddry Street, just off the Royal Mile near South Bridge, on the route of most Old Town vaults and ghost tours.
Is the Banshee Labyrinth actually in the vaults?
Yes – its rooms are hollowed out of the genuine South Bridge Vaults, the same chambers featured on underground ghost tours.
