A POPULAR pub in Edinburgh has closed its doors for the final time following a shock announcement.

Shandwick’s, at Charlotte Street in Edinburgh, permanently closed at the weekend after owners Mitchells & Butlers Plc made the decision not to renew the lease.

The pub’s management said they “hope to redeploy as many employees as possible” to nearby businesses.

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Mitchells & Butlers manages a variety of bars and pubs in the Scottish capital, including The Last Drop, Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar and the Rose Street Bar.

On social media, owners described Shandwick’s as “the best and cheapest pub in Edinburgh” where “the banter flows as freely as the drinks”.

A spokesperson for Shandwick's Edinburgh said: “We can confirm that Shandwick's has now closed and we would like to thank our customers for their loyalty over the years. “This decision has been taken after careful consideration and as part of the continual review of our estate.”

They added: “We have consulted with the team at Shandwick's and we hope to redeploy as many employees as possible at our other nearby businesses.”