Deacon Brodie’s Tavern in Edinburgh links a real-life gentleman thief to ghostly legends and the tale of Jekyll and Hyde
At the corner of Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket, where the Royal Mile narrows into the Old Town, stands Deacon Brodie’s Tavern.
With its ornate frontage and painted sign, the pub welcomes visitors into what looks like a traditional Scottish bar.
But behind the clinking glasses and lively atmosphere lies a tale of duplicity, theft, and death on the gallows.
A Pub with a Notorious Namesake
Deacon Brodie’s Tavern is one of the most popular stops for those walking the Royal Mile.
It sits just a short stroll from St Giles’ Cathedral and the heart of Edinburgh’s historic quarter.
The bar itself has become a tourist attraction, not only for its location and atmosphere, but for the sinister story of the man it is named after.
History of the Tavern
The building dates back to the 19th century and has served as a pub for well over a hundred years.
By dedicating itself to the memory of William “Deacon” Brodie, the tavern has kept alive a legend that has fascinated locals and visitors alike.
The interior is decorated with references to its namesake – a man who epitomised Edinburgh’s Jekyll-and-Hyde character.
Who Was Deacon Brodie?
William Brodie (1741–1788) was, by day, a respectable cabinet-maker and locksmith.
He became a member of the town council, held the title of Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights, and was trusted by Edinburgh’s elite.
By night, however, Brodie led a double life.
Using his locksmith’s trade, he would copy the keys of wealthy clients and return later to rob them.
He used his ill-gotten gains to fund a gambling habit, maintain mistresses, and indulge in a secret life of crime.
Eventually, his crimes caught up with him.
In 1788, after a botched raid on the General Excise Office, Brodie was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death.
In keeping with his character, he attempted one last trick: he wore a steel collar and hidden tube under his clothes, hoping it would prevent his hanging.
The device failed, and Brodie was executed before a crowd of thousands at the Old Tolbooth.
His story later inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Hauntings of the Pub
Deacon Brodie’s Tavern doesn’t have the same catalogue of ghost stories as nearby vault pubs such as Whistlebinkies or the Banshee Labyrinth, but that doesn’t mean it is free from paranormal associations.
Paranormal researcher John Tantalon points out that while the pub itself is not famously haunted, the alleyway across from it, leading to a tea room, has a strong reputation for strange encounters.
Visitors have reported feelings of unease, sudden chills, and the sensation of being followed.
Others believe the restless spirit of William Brodie himself still lingers in the Old Town.
His death was not straightforward: the failed attempt to cheat the hangman and the unmarked grave in Buccleuch Kirkyard have added to the mystery of his final resting place.
Some traditions even place his ghost in Greyfriars Kirkyard, one of Edinburgh’s most haunted cemeteries. (But this is not the case, confirms John Tantalon!)
Patrons of the tavern have occasionally spoken of shadowy figures glimpsed on the stairs, or of sudden drops in temperature near the back of the building.
Staff over the years have also reported objects being found moved without explanation after closing time, fuelling whispers that Brodie – the man who lived a double life – may continue to slip between the worlds of the living and the dead.
While not the most active haunted pub in the city, Deacon Brodie’s Tavern is steeped in the uneasy atmosphere of its namesake.
Visitors who stop for a drink are not just raising a glass in his memory – they may, perhaps, be sharing the room with his ghost.
Visiting Deacon Brodie’s Tavern
Deacon Brodie’s Tavern
435 Lawnmarket
Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NT
A bustling bar in the heart of the Old Town, the tavern serves traditional Scottish food and drink.
For visitors to Edinburgh, it’s a fantastic place for a pint – it’s a chance to step into the story of one of the city’s most infamous residents.
