‘We don’t really know what’s happening’
Jane was forced to shut the pub after a massive leak saw her roof cave in(Image: Edinburgh Live)
An Edinburgh pub landlady has been left at a loss after the roof of her venue caved in from a ‘massive leak’. Jane Scally was shocked on Saturday morning after the structure collapsed as she was getting ready to open Porters Bar on Piershill Place.
Having first noticed a few drips coming from the ceiling in April, Jane was told to keep an eye on it and had been leaving a bucket out. On Friday, May 8, she noticed the leak getting worse.
By Saturday morning, she was preparing to open the bar when the ceiling gave way. Jane told Edinburgh Live it’s ‘all being left to her’ to fix as she continues to do her best to keep the pub running.
On Tuesday, May 12, she managed to open a small lounge area of the venue ‘for the regulars’. When we spoke to Jane, she was hoping to be open by Friday in time for the weekend.
Jane took over Porters Bar in November, and hasn’t even been running the pub for a year before this setback. Speaking to Edinburgh Live on Tuesday, Jane said: “I’ve been shut for three days now. I opened a wee safe section of the pub at lunch today for the regulars.
Builders have been in fixing the pub(Image: Edinburgh Live)
“We’ve got to make it all safe, put a bit of plasterboard up. We don’t really know what’s happening. I would like to be open by Friday. The week before we had a funeral arranged, if it had happened then it would’ve been a disaster.
“We do have a wee section through the back, because they’d have to come in the main bar. It was April 17 that we had the first leak, so it’s been almost a month. Last Tuesday, a drip started again so I put out a bucket and that was doing okay.
“Friday it was leaking more, so I put the bucket out again and thought we’ll leave that overnight and see what happens.
Jane was shocked when the roof fell in on Saturday(Image: Edinburgh Live)
“Saturday morning around 11am I came in to get ready to open and then the roof just collapsed at about 12.30pm. The barmaid was in because we were going to open.
“It’s ridiculous, and it’s all being left to me when I’m trying my best to run the place.”
On Tuesday, the bar posted on their social media: “Our lounge is open today, pop in and support the local pub, your support is really appreciated.”
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