What's the Story?

Right then, where were we? A challenge to drink in (subject to conditions) every pub in Edinburgh was it? Having spent a lot of time drinking in familiar areas if not always familiar pubs, we decided it was time to head further out. So what was the fairest way to decide where to go? To wait at a bus stop, then travel for 15 minutes and go to the next boozer we saw, of course.

And so we hopped on a 16 in Princes Street and ended up in Morningside, at the Morning (side) Glory (Comiston Road-ish, 5/11/16/17/23/41). Anticipations were pretty high as it looked quite a smart wee place (as you’d expect in that end of town) from the outside. However, as is common, anticipation only led to disappointment. We ordered two pints of Deuchars. The IPA was off. I ordered a Furstenburg. It was warm. Nick ordered a Caley 80-/-. It wasn’t nice. The atmosphere was, well, a bit bland. Maybe it was just an off night but it didn’t fulfil its potential.

Onwards and outwards, and seeing as we couldn’t find anywhere for love nor money in the direction in which we were walking, we hopped on a bus. An age seemed to pass but eventually we ended up at Good Companions (Oxgangs Bank, 5). Although it looked less welcoming from the outside, it was far more enjoyable – better beer and (with due credit to whoever had just been to the jukebox) some brilliant choons being played (The Small Faces, Peter Bjorn and John, and the Klaxons’ one good song being amongst them). Whilst we just had a quiet pint, there was a darts league going on and a few games of pool and suchlike. There was a saloon bar round the front but we didn’t have time to go in.

Sadly as Nick had left some of his belongings in the Guildford Arms (ineligible but recommended) we had to return to town for a pint or three. At this stage it seemed as everywhere was beginning to shut but we eventually found ourselves in the Jekyll and Hyde (Hanover Street, 13/23/27), one of those tacky theme-pub things with ghost sounds in the bogs and eternal flames outside – it’s meant to be SCARY. However in reality it’s a pretty tame affair (like most New Town pubs) and there isn’t a lot to be said for it except that it served the lovely Finnish lager Lapin Kulta, which isn’t seen much around these parts. Oh, and if you’re looking for them, the gents is in the bookcase.

For our fourth and final (qualifying) pub of the evening, we were joined by Nick’s uncle, Calum Nicol, who was in town on business and also sporting an interesting hat. The Rutland (Rutland Place, 3/4/12/13/19/25/26/33/36/41/X48/100) is about as bland as the Morningside Glory but with higher prices. I honestly can’t think of anything interesting to say about it, but to be honest we were there for a chat rather than to review the pub. No apologies will be given.

Until the next time…

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: “Cathy Picante? Is she hot?” – Nick

CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 23