The Peartree (Chapel Street, 41/42) is one of the best known pubs in Edinburgh, simply for the fact that it sports a large beer garden. Sadly, the place seems to have capitalised on this by raising its prices to near-farcical rates, and seems to have forgotten the fact that it's actually pretty rubbish once you get inside. OK, it's nice to have a pint outside in the sun, and it can get fairly packed around exam time or during the festival – but the Peartree seems to thrive by serving people who don't know anywhere better to go. Don't fall into this trap, please.
56 North (West Crosscauseway, 41/42) was formerly known as The Human Be-in. Thankfully they ditched the horrendous name but what does the new one actually mean? 56 miles north? Of where? 56 degrees north? 56 North seems to be more focussed on the food side of things these days – and admittedly the menu did look fairly mouthwatering – but we managed to buy the most expensive round of the Pub Challenge to date, ringing in at a little over £8 for two drinks. Ouch.
The Meadow Bar (Buccleuch Street, 41/42) is affectionately known as The Moo Bar. Nick, who had been previously unaware of this fact, was delighted to discover this as he maintains a strange – but mostly healthy – interest in bovine creatures, and can often be heard performing impressions of such animals at inappropriate moments.* The Moo had been done up since last time I was in, but maintains its intimate atmosphere. Very much student-orientated, The Moo is the kind of place you'd always be happy to meet someone for a couple of drinks, but you'd never go out of your way to drink there.
The Dagda (Buccleuch Street, 41/42): now we're talking. A tiny little joint with about 4 or 5 tables and a central bar, The Dagda is equally devoted to good ales, strong Belgian beers and malt whiskies. As a partisan supporter of each of these causes I must applaud the landlord for his efforts, and also for his gargantuan sideburns. We were joined in the Dagda by Gillian Campbell, celebrity midget and not-quite-by-that-point-other-half of Phil “Gob” B. A notorious Bad Influence, Gillian's presence would have disasterous consequences as the day wore on...
Droothy Neebors (Causewayside, 42) is located in Sciennes, a sleepy part of Edinburgh between the student meccas of Marchmont and the Southside. Droothy's therefore attracts a slightly different crowd from many of the watering holes in this area, as students are joined by everyone from down-and-outs to young professionals. The pub itself is a Belhaven franchise, and offers a range of beers wide enough for you to shake a stick at. Lager fans will be pleased to note the availability of Furstenburg, Heineken, and,er, something else (Budvar?) on draft in addition to the usual piss.
The Junction (West Preston Street, diverted 14): Nick - being the eagle-eyed creature he is – had spotted a bus traversing the unusual territory of West Preston Street, and jumped at the chance for us for us to add another pub to the Challenge. After a brief pause for some debauchery (pictured below), we made our way into The Junction for a swift couple. The Junction is incredibly spartan inside – and not in a 1970s-formica-and-linoleum way. Ownership has changed about four times over the same number of years, and the place has alternated between being a cheap, slightly rough around the edges boozer and an absolute jake hole. Thankfully it is currently going through one of the former phases. From here we headed to a party somewhere in Boroughmuirhead, the rest of the evening becoming a blurry mess...
The Hebrides (Market Street, 36): Each May a number of T-Break showcase gigs are put on at the Liquid Room, with the most impressive performers winning a place at T in the Park. We had been at one such event (featuring amongst others, Alex Cornish(wearing his trusty red check-shirt, as ever), Haight Ashbury and Tommy Reilly), and decided to stop off for a quick pint or two on the way home, here being the first stopping point. A traditional Scots pub located round the back of Waverley station, The Hebrides was packed despite the late hour, with an impromptu folk session taking place by the bar. The sizeable crowd and intimiate nature of the pub gave rise to it being bloody boiling inside though! Worth a visit.
The Doric (Market Street, 36): In the absence of a true Aberdonian (they'd never have bought a round anyway), we were joined by Stonehaven's Flora Cook for our visit to The Doric.Last orders had already been called by the time we entered the place, and to be hones the place might as well have already been shut. We were the only punters in the place, and the bar staff seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of us. God knows why....
Grand Cru (Hanover Street, 13/23/27): Go into a New Town bar (you can't really call them pubs, can you?) on a Saturday afternoon and you'll generally find two groups of people; increasingly loud gaggles of women necking a lot of wine and discussing recent shopping purchases, and groups of blokes whiling away the afternoons with a few pints rather than being dragged round the shops. On this particular Saturday, The Management represented a third distinct group. After seeing The Wynd at the Ark the previous night, Nick had ended up in the casino, and was tackling his hangover by having 'just a few'** pints to aid his progress through the day. I had elected to join him for part of that journey. Grand Cru was one of the afternoon's stopping points, and bore a striking resemblance to someone's living room, with thick carpets and big sofas. I didn't see anything which made the place stand out in the slightest – in fact the place was entirely forgettable. Nick did manage to smash his glass, however – an event which coincided with our departure...
The Hudson Hotel and Bar (Hope Street, 1/3/4/10/11/12/13/15/16/17/19/22/24/25/26/30/31/33/34/36/37/41/44//47/X48/100 is the latest in a lengthening list of pubs to become eligible for The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge due to temporary diversions in place whilst the tram system is constructed. Notorious both for its 'grab-a-granny' club located underground and the abysmal pints they serve, I cannot think of a single reason to recommend The Hudson to anyone. Overpriced, too loud and too warm, there are bars in the West End which manage to perform the same function to a far higher standard.
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 98
*Note: Entirely true.
**Note: Nick ended up in the casino for a consecutive night, and apparently incurred a hangover which lasted into the following Tuesday.
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