What's the daftest idea you've ever had in the pub? Whilst enjoying a pint of Belhaven Best I once foolishly suggested that I'd love to experience every boozer in Edinburgh. This was, of course, dismissed as a silly and unattainable idea, but from it a plan was born. The plan was thus; that over a period of eight years we would attempt to visit all pubs in situ on Lothian bus routes. The rules were simple:
1) Guidance would be taken from official Lothian Buses bus maps - each route must be covered from start to finish, and pubs located on the named streets would be visited. Should routes be extended, we would endeavour to find any additional boozers; however should routes be shortened, there would be no obligation to visit any venues which would formerly have qualified;
2) At least one drink must be consumed per person in each pub;
3) Excluded from the Challenge are nightclubs, strip clubs, private bars in hotels (i.e. for residents only); sports clubs and bars which intend to deal exclusively with certain, ahem, niche markets;
4) There is no need for pubs to be visited consecutively according to their location nor for bus routes to be completed in numerical order;
5) The boundaries for qualification are the A720 City of Edinburgh bypass to the west and south, and the River Esk to the east; and
6) The closing date is August 31, 2015.
We hope that many people will join us on our travels, and that from the challenge we will gain a number of stories which we can recount to all and sundry for years to come (of course, by that point there will be no need for us to seek out the remotest of pubs to tell you these stories). Expect a phone call when we're in your local. Expect arguments about whether somewhere on a street corner counts (it does, by the way). And if you fancy joining us for a pint, whether it be in the neatest nightspot in Newington or a bizarre boozer in Blackhall, drop us a line. We'd particularly like to hear any anecdotes/folklore you have regarding Edinburgh's drinking spots. Until then, we shall be starting in Clermiston on Saturday September 1st 2007. You have been warned...
SMALL PRINT: The management supports (but does not always practice) sensible drinking.
