Former bingo hall at 50 Nicolson Street could become café and bakery

A former bingo hall on Nicolson Street could be turned into a café and bakery, bringing a new public-facing food and drink use to a prominent Southside address.

The proposal concerns 50 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DT, a city-centre site close to the University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Clerk Street and the busy bus routes that run through the Southside. The building is described in the planning application as a former bingo hall, currently falling under Class 11 assembly and leisure use.

The new application seeks permission to change the use of the premises to a Class 3 café and bakery. The application is currently marked as awaiting assessment by the City of Edinburgh Council.

What is proposed

The plan is for a change of use from a former bingo hall to a café and bakery.

The application summary describes the intended arrangement as including a new kitchen, service counter and seating across the existing hall. In practical terms, that would shift the building from a leisure and assembly venue into a food and drink premises open to customers.

The planning description is:

Class 3 is the planning use class generally used for cafés, restaurants and other food and drink premises where food is consumed on site. The proposal is therefore different from a simple retail bakery or takeaway-only use, because customer seating is part of the intended operation.

The site

50 Nicolson Street sits on one of Edinburgh’s busiest mixed-use corridors. Nicolson Street links the Old Town and Southside and carries a steady flow of pedestrians, buses, students, residents, visitors and local workers.

The surrounding area includes shops, cafés, restaurants, student accommodation, university buildings, flats and cultural venues. A change of use at a former bingo hall is therefore likely to be noticed by people who live, work or travel through this part of the city.

The address is also within the Blacket Conservation Area, according to City of Edinburgh Council planning list information. Conservation area status does not prevent change, but it means the council will consider how proposals affect the character and appearance of the area where relevant.

Why it matters

The application is worth watching because it concerns the reuse of a sizeable former leisure space on a high-footfall street.

For neighbours and local businesses, the key change would be the move from an assembly and leisure use to a café and bakery. That can affect how a property is used day to day, including customer visits, servicing, food preparation, opening patterns and the relationship with nearby homes and businesses.

For Nicolson Street, the proposal would add another food and drink venue to a corridor that already plays an important role in the Southside economy. A café and bakery could bring daytime activity into a building that has been identified as a former bingo hall, while also raising the usual planning questions around amenity, ventilation, access and local character.

The application is also notable because it follows a related planning case for the same address. A separate application, reference 26/01757/FUL, is listed as awaiting assessment and described a change of use from former bingo hall to café with occasional events. The current application is framed as a café and bakery under Class 3 food and drink use.

What the council will consider

The application is for change of use, so the planning assessment is likely to focus on whether the proposed café and bakery use is acceptable in this location.

Relevant issues may include the relationship with neighbouring properties, the suitability of the premises for food and drink use, and any impacts linked to the building’s location within a conservation area. The council will assess the proposal against the development plan and any relevant planning policies before issuing a decision.

At this stage, no decision is recorded for the application. The status is awaiting assessment.

How to find the application

Residents, businesses and other interested parties can find the case on the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal by searching for the address or the planning reference.

Key details:

• Address: 50 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DT
• Proposal: Change of use from former bingo hall to café and bakery
• Planning use change: Class 11 Assembly and Leisure to Class 3 Food and Drink
• Status: Awaiting assessment
• Planning reference: 26/02688/FUL

The application was received and validated on 25 June 2026. The council portal entry is the place to check current documents, consultation details and any later decision.