Teviot Row is the central focus of the Edinburgh University social life. It is home to bars, a coffee shop, society rooms, a debating hall, a very large catering operation and even a pool and games area. It is the oldest specifically built Student Union building in the world and by many is widely regarded as the best Union building in the university, if not even further afield.
The central focus of Teviot Row is the Middle Bar - a bar aptly named due to its position in the middle of the building. With sofas, a bar, jukebox, a food counter and a great atmosphere for socialising in its easy to see why Middle Bar is so popular among the student of Edinburgh University.
Up to the 1970's the Middle Bar area was used as a study space for students - however late in the decade it was changed into a bar. Having not been given an overhaul for many years it was renovated 4 years ago (or so). With the new sofas and a lick of paint Middle Bar had been transformed into the bar we now know and love.
But the renovation was just a small delay to the Unions ultimate plans for Middle Bar. A survey was taken and the teviot renovation project was formed - Middle Bar was to be destroyed, replaced by a new area with an outside smoking area. The library was to be transformed into this bar, sparking criticism from some students. However, whatever campaigns were launched to save the library failed and the library as a study space was destroyed in the summer of 2006.
When the 2006/2007 academic year started the student union sent out emails to the student body advertising a new committee, a committee which was to oversee the fundraising of the teviot redevelopment. The cost of renovations were huge, 3/4 of a million pounds needed to be raised - though earlier on in 2006 a third of this had been denoated by the University Development Trust.
For some though this email flicked a switch. Few knew of any plans to redevelop Teviot, and few remembered any form of student feedback on the matter - but bit by bit information was spreading and the most talked about issue was the destruction of Middle Bar. Thus the facebook group "We like MIddle Bar just the way it is!" (the MI is correct, oops :P) was formed.
The leader of this group Alex Bunting (me!) was contacted by a member of the students union who advised him on how he might go about saving Middle Bar, and thus the campaign was started. The Middle Bar may well be moved - i would even say it was likely, but as long as its standing and serving, theres still hope yet!
Teviot Row is the central focus of the Edinburgh University social life. It is home to bars, a coffee shop, society rooms, a debating hall, a very large catering operation and even a pool and games area. It is the oldest specifically built Student Union building in the world and by many is widely regarded as the best Union building in the university, if not even further afield.
The central focus of Teviot Row is the Middle Bar - a bar aptly named due to its position in the middle of the building. With sofas, a bar, jukebox, a food counter and a great atmosphere for socialising in its easy to see why Middle Bar is so popular among the student of Edinburgh University.
Up to the 1970's the Middle Bar area was used as a study space for students - however late in the decade it was changed into a bar. Having not been given an overhaul for many years it was renovated 4 years ago (or so). With the new sofas and a lick of paint Middle Bar had been transformed into the bar we now know and love.
But the renovation was just a small delay to the Unions ultimate plans for Middle Bar. A survey was taken and the teviot renovation project was formed - Middle Bar was to be destroyed, replaced by a new area with an outside smoking area. The library was to be transformed into this bar, sparking criticism from some students. However, whatever campaigns were launched to save the library failed and the library as a study space was destroyed in the summer of 2006.
When the 2006/2007 academic year started the student union sent out emails to the student body advertising a new committee, a committee which was to oversee the fundraising of the teviot redevelopment. The cost of renovations were huge, 3/4 of a million pounds needed to be raised - though earlier on in 2006 a third of this had been denoated by the University Development Trust.
For some though this email flicked a switch. Few knew of any plans to redevelop Teviot, and few remembered any form of student feedback on the matter - but bit by bit information was spreading and the most talked about issue was the destruction of Middle Bar. Thus the facebook group "We like MIddle Bar just the way it is!" (the MI is correct, oops :P) was formed.
The leader of this group Alex Bunting (me!) was contacted by a member of the students union who advised him on how he might go about saving Middle Bar, and thus the campaign was started. The Middle Bar may well be moved - i would even say it was likely, but as long as its standing and serving, theres still hope yet!