The Pub in Scotland - One of the earliest mentions of the inn proper as part of Scottish life can be found in an Act passed in 1336 which announced that travellers who failed to 'pay their way' should be arrested in the King's name.

Further acts encouraged Chamberlains to build inns in their burghs, and in both 1424 and 1427 the Scottish Parliament passed acts promoting the establishment of inns throughout the country. These acts were not as benevolent as they seem. The government wanted inns built, not so much for the comfort of travellers, but in order to police them. Indeed, at this time fines could be issued to people staying with friends, if there was a public house nearby.

In the 15th Century, most of Edinburgh's alehouses were located below street level, and many doubled as thriving brothels. It is no coincidence that many Landladies - like "Luckie Flighter" in Walter Scott’s novel Rob Roy - had such a prefix to their name! At the end of the century, in an effort to “clean up” the public houses, a new law declared a fine of £3.00 be payable by the owner or manager of any public house employing a woman on the premises.