Former Armenian restaurant, pumphouse and orchard up for sale in Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill

A former Armenian restaurant, pumphouse and orchard in Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill are being put on the market for sale through Allied Surveyors Scotland.

Opening in 1980 as The Armenian Aghtamar Lake Van Monestary in Exile Restaurant, 55 Abbeyhill gained a reputation as one of the city’s most formidable and mysterious eateries under its eccentric Armenian owner.

With cyrillic letters across its grand doorway (spelling Gastronom Aghtamar), the 2,200 sq ft property is instantly recognisable due to its red sandstone construction, castle-like turrets and animal gargoyles.

Designed by Robert Morham in 1896, it was originally used as a police station and is category B-listed. After it closed in around 1932 the property was owned by the Edinburgh City Mission and the United Pentecostal Church. 55 Abbeyhill re-opened in the 1980s as The Armenian Aghtamar Lake Van Monastery in Exile Restaurant but ceased trading in 2012.

On the western fringe of the plot is an orchard and a former pumphouse with a long history of brewing. A capped well, thought to be at least 12 foot deep, and original machinery remain in the building.

During Abbeyhill’s period of heavy industry the pumphouse served both Robert Younger’s St Ann’s Brewery and Scottish & Newcastle’s Holyrood Brewery.  It may date even further back to Archibald Campbell Younger’s Croft-an-Righ brewery of 1786.

“These are fascinating properties rarely seen on the open market in Edinburgh and we are delighted to be entrusted with their sale,” said Allied Surveyors Scotland’s head of commercial agency – Scotland, Iain Mercer.

“For years people have driven past these properties and often wondered about their past and, indeed, their availability.  As such, we anticipate they will pique the interest of domestic and international buyers such is their rich and colourful history.

Whilst preserving their historic interest, the buildings would now lend themselves to a range of potential uses such as residential, gallery, museum, brewing or restaurant.”

This BBC report – finding Edinburgh’s reclusive restaurateur behind “the Amrmenian restaurant” provides fascinating insight into the history of 55 Abbeyhill.

Offers over £500,000 are being sought for the properties.