IN WITH THE NEW

Having finished in 2007 in a beige Wetherspoons environment, it was imperative that 2008’s efforts in the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge should being somewhere with a little more character. The Grey Horse (Dalkeith Road, 2/14/30/33) was our opening pub for the year. Situated about three-quarters of the way down Dalkeith Road, just about opposite the junction with Prestonfield Road, The Grey Horse appears run down from the outside and that impression remains when you step across the threshold. However, the locals were friendly and the pints were good, so no complaints shall be heard. Sadly we didn’t get to speak to a man who was pointed out to us only by the name of Dick Savage, but I’m sure he had some fairly interesting stories. Not one for the faint hearted, but I kind of enjoyed it.

This opening junket of 2008 took place on a Sunday evening (a week ago tonight, no less), and so public transport wasn’t at its most efficient. We managed to finish our pints in the Grey Horse just in time to catch a 33 out of town, past the Infirmary, round the back of Moredun to Ferniehill and into Gilmerton. We thought that we could see a pub just around the corner and so we got off the bus at Hyvot’s Bank. Alas, it was just a corner shop and so rather sheepishly we got on the same bus as it caught up with us, probably much to the amusement of the peroxide heavy, high decibel, mobile phone “music” blaring ned types who were sat up the back. No big loss. We were only on the move for another two minutes or so, to Gracemount in fact, when we spotted The Marmion (Captain’s Road, 7/11/18), a John Barra’s pub. Being a chain effort it was mundane inside, and there is little to be said about it other than WOULD THEY PLEASE TURN THE MUSIC DOWN BECAUSE YOU CAN HARDLY HEAR YOURSELF SPEAK. High volume music isn’t necessary when there are 4 people in the bar at something past ten on a Sunday night. Oh, and there was a murder there not long back. Probably the most interesting thing about the place.

We’ve got friends from Liberton, so we missed out everything round that area on our way back in, and got off the bus at St Patrick Square in order to pay a visit to The Southsider (West Richmond St, 2). I’ve always had a soft spot for this pub; it’s lively (mobbed at the weekends) but usually there’s space if you want to just go for a few quiet jars. The beer is both good and reasonably priced – interestingly this is the only place of which I am aware that sells McLay’s 70 -/-. I am open to correction though, and I suppose as this Challenge goes on, I’ll find out. Nick challenged me to a game of pool – I accepted, subject to being allowed to have a game of fussball afterwards. I lost both (narrowly).

One of the problems with drinking around the university it that there are a lot of crappy, soulless, leather and chrome, pretentious, coffee serving type places. Both Native State (Potterrow, 41/42) and Assembly (Lothian St, 2/41/42) fall into this category. Now call me old for my time on this earth, but I prefer to go to a pub with a bit of character, where you can get a good pint of good beer, preferably costing under £3 than one of these plush joints with their chill-out music and extortionate bar tariffs. I’m sure they’re ok if you’re a cocktail swilling ponce though.

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME…

Cumulative pub count: 56