CC Blooms has been part of the furniture of Edinburgh nights out for as long as most of us can remember. Born in the early 90s as a wonderfully cheesy gay club, the venue recently came under new management and last month reopened following a brief closure to reveal its fancy new look.

‘We’ve had the place for four years,’ says venue co-director Tim Douglas, ‘and have been working towards renovation because bits of it were really falling apart, held together with sellotape and blu-tack.’

Unearthing a lot of the features within the building that had been hidden in previous years, the venue’s vibe is now a classy bar-cum-café by day and stylish club after nightfall, open from 11am–3am.

‘We uncovered a window which looks out over Calton Hill. The ceilings had been lowered, making the place feel a bit like a cave at times, so we reinstated all the original ceiling heights befitting of the Georgian building that it is.’ Plywood and mirrored walls have been stripped back to reveal the original stone and brick, as well as restoring the building’s original 18th century entrance.

To celebrate the relaunch, CC’s have started the Church of High Kicks, an afternoon tea dance club (eh?) which runs from 4–9pm, hosted by well known 80s and 90s drag DJ (and erstwhile clubbing pal of Boy George) Jon Pleased Wimmin. The new vibe, as well as pleasing regulars, have brought in a different crowd too. Tim says: ‘Where we are, next to the Playhouse, we used to get a lot of the late night trade as people head out of town to go home but now we’re a bit more of a destination, attracting more of the pub/bar scene earlier on.’