Bystanders in Edinburgh last night were in for a surprise as they were treated to an unexpected drop-in by President Joe Biden’s motorcade.

The American leader touched down in Edinburgh yesterday for COP26, and has already grabbed the attention of the nation with Air Force One, Helicopter Marine One, and a 20 car motorcade all part of his transportation plans

With Scotland’s attention focused on that, locals in Calder Road were treated to a surreal moment, when Biden’s car ‘The Beast’ parked up at a petrol station to re-fill.

READ MORE: President Joe Biden's motorcade, Air Force One, and helicopter in Scotland

 

 

During President Biden’s stay in Scotland he will travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow by road in The Beast, which weighs between 6.5 and 8 tonnes. 

The custom-built Cadillac 18ft limousine was seen rolling up to the BP garage, and footage was posted on social media which shows the unusual occurrence.

Local resident Gareth Mackie was the on who captured the footage of both presidential cars filling up

He told Edinburgh Evening News: "It was around 9.15pm when I was driving, and I could just see loads of blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror. I saw on the opposite side of Calder Road traffic had come to a standstill and at first I thought there was some trouble.

"I could see the Beasts, so I realised what it was. I saw what looked like a couple of quite heavy duty SWAT vehicles. There was a guy in green fatigues who was quite tooled up. The police motorbikes guarding the exit and it looked liked you wouldn't be able to get in while they were filling up.

"Both of the Beasts both had the same number plate. ‘800 002’ was on each - I'd heard there was something they did with a decoy car.

"Couldn't see Joe, maybe he'd popped into the Beijing Banquet nearby while they were filling up, because they'd probably be a while".

 

 

READ MORE: Where is President Biden staying? Dalmahoy Hotel features revealed

The President was understood to have been arriving in his accomodation around the same time yesterday evening. 

The Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club – once a venue for the Solheim Cup and no stranger to high-end guests – is hosting the President during his stay for COP26.

His stay at the Dalmahoy is quite the occassion – and guests booked in will no doubt have had their eyebrows raised over the high levels of security at the hotel.

An insider at the hotel told Edinburgh Live that the wine cellar, which usually hosts hundreds of high-end bottles, has been converted to a “nerve centre” to allow agents to monitor the activity surrounding the President’s visit.

They report that several secret service snipers have also been positioned at strategic points around the hotel.