Pub Surveys

Pub Feature

I need more pub reports ..... please

This section is dedicated to giving you information about pubs. Mostly the pubs will be in Edinburgh but it depends where my friends and I are.

If you would like to do a report on a pub, it could be your local or the trendiest bar in town then please send it to me and I will put the report here ... now I just need to get some commission from the bar owners and I will be on to a good thing here !!

Thanks to Sarah, Anthea, Kev, Gaza, Jimmy, Matt, Diane, Brian & Phil and for the reports they have provided ..... you didn't think I drunk that much did you ???

Click Here for Pubs Near Tynecastle

Picture/details of the pub will go here	Details of the pub and our verdict will go here, but I can guarantee that unless there is something REALLY wrong, then the end result will be that this pub provided a place for us to get pissed in !!!
Biddy Milligans by Gaza	Click here to read pub report
The Craigmile Bar, Blackburn, Aberdeenshire.	This traditional village pub is beautifully situated in the heart of the picturesque don valley approximately 9 miles form the centre of Aberdeen. It comprises of three distinct, yet interconnected areas, each with their own unique ambience and clientele. The cocktail lounge offers the most luxurious and sophisticated surroundings, as well as an exciting dinner menu of created by the celebrated Betty Craigmile, while the main bar has a less conservative, party atmosphere with two pool tables and a large screen television. This part of the pub is where you might catch a glimpse of Sean Connery, Michael Jackson or even the legendary SRI man. Finally there is a night-club next door which attracts a clubby up-for-it crowd each weekend and provides a handy extension to licensing hours. All in all a great pub with different faces to suit whatever mood, and there is usually a fight at the weekends.

Electric Bar, Airbles Road, Motherwell by Matt	The ‘Electric Bar’ is situated beside Motherwell’s Airbles station and is frequented by many a ‘Well fan on match days. Though a certain Rangers supporters bus has been spotted leaving for Ibrox occasionally. It is a traditional ‘Old-man’s’ pub, often visited by Motherwell regulars at the weekend before heading for the bright lights of Hamilton or Glesgae. However, the appeal of the infamous ‘L-shaped’ pool table can mean an entire evening spent here. Look out for the gold plate above the bar which is awarded to Wimbledon’s finest lady each year. The ‘EB’ was recently featured on a C4 documentary, featuring Motherwell’s most famous band ‘The Delgados’ entertaining the one and only John Peel from Radio One. This was followed by a trip to the local chippie where Mr Peel indulged in a deep-fried Mars bar. Good Food, Good Beer and a warm atmosphere make this a brilliant local. However, visiting fans should tread carefully here. An alternative is the appropriately named ‘Sparks’ lounge bar where an abundance of top Motherwell totty can be found on weekend nights or during the week when school’s are on holiday.
The Three Sisters, Cowgate, Edinburgh	Quite recently opened pub in the Cowgate, it's big and busy and FUN ! Drink prices were on par for the area and the music was fun (Wham, Chumbawumba, other sing-along-and dance-drunkenly to songs). All in all a very good pub and as it is so big - good for large groups to go/meet in. There is also a large terrace area outside to drink in - good pub for the summer !
Queen's Arms Frederick Street Edinburgh	This pub is dangerous - it can make the difference between one drink after work on a Friday or 47 drinks after work on a Friday and a big hole in your purse/wallet !! After 5pm on a Friday evening it is jam packed with office workers drinking off the stress of the day (or week) and quite a few of them drift off between 6 and 7 p.m. to be replaced with the pre-club people. Sausage rolls and sandwiches are served free to tempt people in but there is no need it usually is very busy and you have to play a game of 'find the bar-staff' to get served. A good starting out place.
Bar 38, George Street, Edinburgh by Sarah & Anthea	Went to the recently opened Bar 38 on George Street last Friday. Apres-work drinking was on the clientele's mind thus giving it that 'suity' feel. We had to wait a horrendously long time to get drinks at the bar but, since it's just new and in the process of working out its kinks, we'll forgive them. Later, after finding a table, we had slow but steady table service all night -- not sure if this will be a regular feature but it certainly augmented our swilling potential! Bar 38 has a bright airy feel to it with wooden floors and colourful tapestries on the walls. The most notable design feature, however, was found in the toilets. The women's and gent's are connected by a large rotund wash basin which puts a twist on the gender specific drunken babbling that usually occurs. Now men can find out first hand what really goes on when groups of women go to powder their noses! This place is definitely funky. Didn't notice any menus but then how important is nutrition on a Friday night? ------------------------- Swanky place...pale wood floors, funky wall hangings and jewel coloured lighting....this place is mobbed on a Friday night. Come here to get energised! Seats are available (if you leave your job half way through the afternoon) and there's an impressive amount of talent (if you're after a man in a suit with a wandering eye.) The booze is unashamedly pricey and the draught beer is poured with the skill you would expect from a nineteen-year-old who's only ever drunk Moscow Mules. Sadly the potential buzz of having a unisex wash hand basin area doesn't quite work- the females go about their business as usual where men dash out, too embarrassed to glance in the mirror, let alone seduce someone! Practice required. Downsides to this otherwise smart environment are that the music is far too loud for decent conversation or even audible drivel and the table service is S-L-O-W
WILKIE HOUSE Grassmarket, Edinburgh by Kev	Wilkie House is a weekend club. Friday and Saturday nights usually has the club hosting a top DJ from around Europe. Set on three levels the bar prices are surprisingly reasonable and you don't wait long to get served, however, this is probably due to the fact that most of the clubbers in the place are on "something" that the bars don't serve. Despite this, it is a good spacious club with a large dancefloor and a second room upstairs devoted to those looking for an easier time. This area is also used for "chilling-out". On the 3rd floor is a cafe/bar where you can get a cup of coffee, sit and chat and is also used extensively in-between dances. Opening around 10.30 till 3am the night's vary from heavy house music to the more mainstream and popular dance music. Luvvly's nights once a month on a Saturday are especially different covering a very varied MIXED crowd including some real sights including transvestites of the Lily Savage type. Can be expensive (up to ?12) depending on who is hosting and the theme of the night although this can help to keep out the "young schemies" that often frequent such places. Dress smart and trendy to avoid a knock-back.
Breck's, Rose Street, Edinburgh by Sarah	The bar area is filled by a square island bar but the back room has plenty of space and large tables for a party. Breck's tends to pick up waifs and strays who make a beeline for Rose Street (Visiting rugby fans; the kind of drunken bums that are probably worse looking when sober; office people dressed up in ridiculous outfits for Comic Relief) but it's a normal, unpretentious, run-of-the-mill pub and excellent if, after consuming more than the odd glass of beer, you suddenly feel the need to dance....vague memories of old Nolan hits getting everyone up should indicate the level of drunkenness!
Po Na Na, Frederick Street, Edinburgh by Sarah	Hard to do a review of a bar/club you didn't even get into....but I feel motivated to do so....if you do try...get there early, feign sobriety and don't look the bouncer in the eye (This is the female perspective) Colleagues say this is a great place for a boogie but the 'doormen' can seriously upset your happiness even when safely inside the place. ------------------------------ (From someone who has managed to get in) Go early !! The best advice I can give. This is a great club, you can go early - get some food and then dance the night away, different music on different nights but dancey 80's predominates, cool and trendy crowd in here.
World's End, The Mitre - High Street, Edinburgh by Gaza	Click here to read report
THE CHESSER INN GORGIE ROAD, EDINBURGH (at the foot of Chesser Avenue) by Kev	The Chesser is a pub frequented primarily by the 20-30yrs age group. It has a large band of attractive loyal local lads who are very welcoming to strangers, particularly groups of women who are out for a good time. Thursday night is a Pop Quiz night from 8.30pm onwards followed around 10pm by the busy Karaoke session. Friday night is the busiest night of the week with the Karaoke on from 8.30pm till around 12am. The area at the front of the pub is usually used as a dance floor by locals and visitors alike. Saturday is quiet followed by Sunday when the popular Karaoke is in full swing again. One point worth mentioning is the Heart of Midlothian badge painted on the wall with two Hearts poems at either side. This is a pub in the true sense of the word. You won't find a cocktail list, fancy drinks, poseurs and definitely no modern art deco straight out of one of Llewelyn Bowen's "Changed Rooms". Good beer, good bar staff, good pool table, good atmosphere - what else do you want in a local ?
Loanhead Miners Club, The Loan, Loanhead	Brilliant, cheap wee club. The band is really good and we all had a great time. They are very strict with their rules (i.e. ALL drinks must be carried on a tray - even if it's one bottle etc) but apart from that everything is cool. Quarter gills and very cheap, they sell stovies and things as well if you're a bit peckish. What a great time.
Tuxedo Royale, Newcastle	Great place to be if in Newcastle, loads of different levels of discos and bars, playing all different kinds of music. A bit of an eye opener as well with scantily clad women running about and hundreds of guys, a bit sleazy but good laugh if there is a big crowd of you.
The Formula & Firkin, Weybridge	Massive Firkin pub, with many small areas in which to sit inside and a large beer garden. Live music most nights which is nearly always Rock but this is one of the livelier pubs in Weybridge!
The Volunteer, Weybridge, Surrey	Recently refurbished and now owned by a younger person! Most of the pub remains typical Southern English - horse brasses, brick walls etc but there is a newly built patio outside and a sizeable area with benches to enjoy the warm summer air.
The Traverse Bar, Edinburgh	A good pint of lager, cheap and quickly served snacks (Cajun chips a speciality). Good, busy, sometimes arty but not posey.
All Bar One - Leicester Square (yes, there is a theme in these reviews)	Great food (just like the Edinburgh one)Good service, beer of good standard. Atmosphere lacking but nice and relaxing if you've got enough company to keep you entertained!
The Old Mill, Pitlochry	Total tourist trap (and expensive prices for a wee village pub) but there's a really lovely, relaxed atmosphere here, and it's lovely to sit outside in the fresh air. If you can ignore the loud Americans then this is a really mellow place to relax and get away from it all.
All Bar One, Soho, London	Not any different from the other All Bar One's in London, they played Carnival de Paris and it seemed strange as everyone was sitting being mellow when you should be dancing on top of the table, as usual loads of wine etc, good pubs and we will eventually get round to going to the Edinburgh one.
Montpelier's, Bruntsfield Road, Edinburgh	Well, if it's just a drink you're after then it's a fine place but don't expect to get a seat .... all the tables are kept for people who are eating, we decided we would get something to eat but after we'd sat for over half an hour and no one came to take our order we decided not to bother ! OK place but the staff were a bit rude and unhelpful.
The Garden Cafe (back of The Dome), Edinburgh	We sat and had a few bottles of wine here, and although we didn't eat, the food served to other people looked and smelt excellent. A really mellow place to unwind after work (and slowly get drunk ...). A bit expensive but it's table service and good quality. We liked it here.
Gorgie Suite, Tynecastle, Edinburgh Wedding (on the pitch - but not any if us getting wed) on 27th June 1998	Wedding on the pitch was amazing - especially when there was a guest appearance by the Scottish Cup .... The Gorgie Suite its self is a modern, spacey place and the drinks are all £2 .. perhaps a bit expensive for some drinks. the bar staff were very friendly and polite and the Hearts staff were only too willing to please, there seemed to no problem with us sitting in the stadium looking out at the pitch and taking photos etc as long as we didn't go on to the grass (after the initial photos) as the ground had just been re-laid. Very good place to have a function in my un-biased opinion ....
Physician & Firkin, Edinburgh June 1998	Big pub with friendly bar staff. Lots of students .... DJ at night played the right songs for the crowd that were there. Selling bottles of red wine for £5 - can't be bad. Even when we were jumping about furiously to 'Carnival de Paris' the bouncers didn't tell us to calm down although they did keep an eye on us. Would go back to this pub.
Frazers, The Dome, Edinburgh by Sarah & Jimmy	Stylish 30's decor, with luxurious seats, mellow atmosphere a good pint of Stella, although expensive not too much background noise free nuts & crisps, warm canapés brought round by waiting staff lovely toilets Newspapers available. Good pint of 80/-. Napkins used as beer mats. Selection of wines available Pleasant for relaxed d early evening drink with work colleagues. Dress code was casually smart. Closed Monday, Tuesday evening
Hard Rock Cafe, Edinburgh by Sarah	Nice bar area Inept waiting staff, badly poured drinks, very expensive, £3.65 for a Bloody Mary Extremely loud, bad rock music playing: Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart etc.
The Hog's Head, Leatherhead	Large bright beer garden Very busy at lunchtimes Serves a variety of beers, full of Southerners!
Pub(s) in Gay Paris, Scotland v Brazil 9-11 June 1998 And Arcachon (near Bordeaux), 11-15 June 1998	We were in several cafes and stuff in Paris but the only real 'pub' we were in was an English (boo) pub called the Long Hop. It was one of these pubs that seemed a lot bigger the more people that were in it. Great atmosphere and they let us away with nearly everything. Expensive wine but it was excellent quality. Served four pint jugs of beer for ten quid (but it was that crappy Kronenburg). No markings on the toilets and I assumed they were unisex until later at night I found out the girls were upstairs ..... Numerous pubs in Arcachon (mainly starting off in the bar in Camping Club D'Arcachon, or little Scotland as it looked like every night !! What an absolutely amazing place - cheap but good quality vin rouge, loads of singing and dancing, who could ask for more !!
Pub(s) in Reading, June 1st and 2nd !!	We didn't sample a huge amount of pubs in Reading mainly as there weren't many good pubs to choose from. The only really good one was The Purple Turtle, which was a good busy place, I suppose it was a Monday night so we shouldn't have expected too much. We were already drunk from the pre-dinner drinks and the two bottles of red wine we had with the meal but this place was noisy and busy. Loads of students. We also went into a strange place called the Allied Arms which was very dodgy and full of strange people. The chairs were held together with industrial tape and the tables were actually the old fashioned space invader machines. Spooky place.
Pub(s) in the Blackfriars area of London, June 3rd	The only pubs we were in was the All Bar One, which is a trendy wine bar near St Paul's Cathedral. Comments about it include the place was spacious and airy; the white wine was well-chilled; the music was good enough to get some people up and dancing; the noise level was such that using the payphone was a waste of time; wine expensive not much change out of £20 for two bottles of white or is this always the case - I never buy wine in a pub, staff friendly, open airy interior, good all-round pub, was there any music? it served alcohol indiscriminately;
Club 30, Frederick Street, Edinburgh Straight from work (5:30 .............). Friday 29th May 1998	No one liked it at first, some of the tabled were reserved and the woman who told us this was a bit snotty. However after we'd had more beer it was a good laugh and we were all up dancing and mucking about. They chuck you out at 9:30 to 'clean up' and then charge you a fiver to get back in later on, however we didn't like it that much and headed else where !! They advertised cheap(er) drinks for the after work thing but if they were cheaper none of us noticed. However their bouncers were friendly which is a bit of a rarity for these sorts of places !!