The Burke & Hare has had the same name since at least the 70s or 80s.
The same name, yes, you’re right. But the inside has gone through many changes, as has the service. I don’t know if you remember when it was a simple and rather unpretentious if tacky joint, a small, barely held-together ‘booth’ to the right as you went in. The girls were a lot freer in what they could and couldn’t do. Now it’s got fancy fittings, an upstairs bit with several booths, and prices to match (at least last time I looked, probably a year or more ago).
The one on Lothian Rd was Bottoms Up. It looks like its closed. Fantasy Palace is in Shandwick Place, but I've only seen it from the outside. IMO a stag night in Edinburgh would be more fun going to a sauna first rather than bother watching dancers, and paying for a private dance. Finish the night in a nice bar with character, like this one.
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In a way it’s good to hear Shandwick Place is still on the go. You go upstairs and it’s quite big inside, suitable for a largish stag I suppose if they don’t mind rip-off prices. I think going to a sauna would be a good idea if they’re all up for it, which of course they might not be. London Street has the biggest and plushest waiting room but again it depends on numbers.
I am quite fond of Bennetts Bar and would hesitate to see it invaded by a stag party personally. It depends if it’s a smaller group and not too loud; otherwise I think I’d feel a bit pissed off if I were having a nice night out there with a friend or a date and a rowdy stag party came in. Not that sort of place in my opinion. Any of the larger bars could handle it though. That one next to the Sheraton for instance. Or, slightly more downmarket but ok for a group after a few drinks is the one on the corner of Lothian Rd / Shandwick Place (I call it the blind-date-wannabe bar). Or after LSS there are many very good bars in the vicinity, from the nearby Cask to the more drunken ones in the Omni.
