OUT WITH THE OLD

Sunday afternoons are generally times of boredom, making them ideal for visits to the pub, where we can both add to the total, and watch the football at the same time. Arsenal v Chelsea was the occasion this time, and the Windsor Buffet (Leith Walk, 7/10/11/12/14/16/22/25/49) was the venue. A cosy wee joint, the Windsor is usually fairly busy and does a good pint. Some quality armchairs around, too.

What’s the first thing you want to do on what is arguably the coldest day of the year? Have a beer outside, of course. Leaving the Windsor, we donned our beer jackets and headed to the Beer Stallin the German Market (Princes St Gardens, just behind the National Galleries, 1/3/4/10/11/12/13/15/16/17/19/22/23/24/25/26/27/30/31/33/34/37/41/42/44/45/47/100…phew) for a pint. OK, so it’s not really a pub as such but we’re trying to cover as many different things as possible here, so no arguments will be entered into. Notable not only for it being Nick’s first lager of the Pub Challenge, the Beer Stall may well prove to be the most expensive place we’ll visit – 12 pounds we handed over for two pints of Paulaner! (Don’t worry, a fiver of that was only as a deposit for the glasses and was duly returned.)

The one thing that the beer stall was lacking was a toilet, so we trekked up The Mound to The Wash (Bank Street, 23/27/41/42/45) for a swift Guinness. Notorious for attracting an, er, unique crowd, The Wash is one of those places which is dead during the day but can be mobbed at the weekend as suburbia descends into the City Centre. We were just about the only folk in, so we drank up and left.


Fast forward three days, and we found ourselves in All Bar One (George St, 13/23/24/27/29/42/45), our meeting point before heading to see local indie popsters Aberfeldy at the new-ish Voodoo Rooms on West Register St. I firmly believe that All Bar One is one of the best pub chains; my bases for this opinion are that 1) they actually offer a decent range of beers and serve them well; and 2) they have some very attractive barmaids. Our stay was short and sweet, many of the Pub Challenge regulars failing to show up; Adam Johns – working; Ian Davidson – MIA; Greig Bongham – actually I can’t remember what his excuse was but he wasn’t there anyway. Phil Brough managed to make an impact upon his arrival though, sadly also so did his pint glass when it smashed on the floor 30 seconds later. Oops.

Those of you who pay attention to these things may have worked out that All Bar One was the 50th pub on the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge. Our intention had been to wrap up 2007 on a round number, but like all good plans this soon went tits up. Brough started complaining (“Ere, I want a pear cider, me”, he said) that he hadn’t had enough to drink pre-gig. Now wanting a pear cider is rarely a valid excuse for anything (except perhaps being a homosexual) but we thought it justified going to Standing Order (George St, 24/29/42) where Phil could have his aforementioned Kopparberg and myself and Nick could act like real men and have a pint. Now, seeing as their cavernous venues are found around the country, I won’t patronise our readers and go into vast detail about the décor, but let me tell you that the Standing Order was in a foul state on the night of our visit. Opening the front door you were overwhelmed with the stench of vomit. This didn’t shift when you moved into the main room. Nor did it shift when you moved to the bar. I know that accidents happen, but I hope that Environmental Health didn’t pay a visit that evening.

And so that rounds off 2007’s activity for the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge, many thanks for reading and coming along on the way. The 2008 updates will commence shortly, watch this space…

Until the next time…


QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: "You've had enough, would you kindly leave the premises?" - Voodoo Rooms door staff (to Nick)
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 51