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	Picture source: Ian Chapman
The Land O'Cakes was situated at 48 Middle Hillgate. This pub was previously known as The Lower Packhorse.
It was first mentioned in the 1820s as the Lower Packhorse. Rebuilt in 1850 in what was known as the ‘gin palace’ style, it was given a new name, probably due to confusion caused by the plethora of Packhorse pubs in the town. At one point in the 19th century there were four Packhorses in the town centre, two of them on Hillgate. The new name was taken from a Robert Burns poem, ‘On the Late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations Thro’ Scotland’: Hear, Land o’ Cakes, and brither Scots, Frae Maidenkirk to Johnie Groat’s.' From 1904 until 1912 the landlord was Richard Price. The rebuilt pub stayed open little more than 60 years, closing shortly before the end of World War One, on 21 May 1918. After its closure, the building initially became a furniture shop. In the 21st century, the splendid Victorian corner building survives and is now office premises. It still retains the name Land O’ Cakes, which you can see inscribed in the tiled floor in the entrance way."
Dave Stearn, Opening Times magazine, July/August 2025
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