Teviot re-opened its doors this morning, after a two and a half year-long renovation.
Opened in 1889, Teviot is the oldest purpose-built student union in the world.
It closed in September 2023 for the extensive renovations, leaving students with significantly less social and study space on campus.
At the heart of the space is the all-new Union Bar, which is space-themed and open all day and into the evenings for food and drink.
The Gallery Café and Commons is a large space for socialising and studying. It is accompanied by the Gallery Studio, intended for hosting a programme of mindfulness and community-focussed events.
A large Lounge space provides a relaxing environment, complete with ‘heat and eat’ facilities. Reading rooms offer even more places to study, socialise, and book society events.
Teviot also features the beloved Library Bar (which is not open yet), complete with a Robert the Moose-themed IPA on tap.
A deck bar and rooftop garden will also open shortly.
Students welcomed the “gorgeous” new space, piling in to order pints as soon as the doors were opened, and felt that the revival of Teviot “feels like a real social space… it isn’t a space which I feel like I have had during my time at university.”
Another student, who had never been in Teviot before the renovation, commented that “this is the Edinburgh I was promised.”
Building work aimed to improve accessibility, installing lifts and an increased amount of accessible toilets. Around 80 per cent of the building is now fully accessible.
The renovations also aimed to improve sustainability, through improving insulation, and refreshing and modernising the building to keep it operational.
However, original features have been maintained, including the stained-glass windows of the Debating Hall, and the intricate architecture — the historic feel has been maintained.
Students’ Association President Ash Scholz told The Student: “It’s a really nice open space. Before where it was a dingy club and sports bar, we’ve now brought it together to be something really nice.”
“The accessibility features are really great [….] having access consistently everywhere is so needed, and we didn’t have that before.”
“It’s great to have more space on campus that students can use — not just for studying but to be able to hang out.”
“[I love] the fact that you can stay here all day — have your coffee in the morning, have lunch in the Lounge, and in the evening you can have a pint with your friends.”
Free Teviot-themed merchandise was given out to the first visitors, including glasses, pin badges, keyrings and postcards.
An audio guide is also available around the building, which is presented by two current students and outlines the history of the building and the Students’ Association.
A EUSA representative said: “We have tried to work out how best to tune the building to students.
“One of the focuses was making the space as flexible as possible […] the next few months are for taking student suggestions.”
Students highlighted how nice it was to have an increased amount of space, after a crammed library and lack of study and social spaces has dominated recent years.
“We really wanted to open it whilst students are still around, before they start going home for the summer,” said a EUSA representative.
Scenes of students queuing around the corner for a first peek this afternoon demonstrated their excitement at getting their beloved Teviot back.
Image by Hugh Shilson.