Haymarket is one of the areas of Edinburgh in which The Management are closest to achieving their aim of drinking in every pub; by early April, only a handful remained to be ticked off the list. After an hour or so of light refreshment one Friday evening, the target was even nearer. The first of the remaining few to fall was The Spider’s Web (Morrison Street, 2/3/4/25/26/33/44/48/100), an early-opener which is a shrine to all things Beatles. Unfortunately it has a somewhat dubious clientele, but as an avid Beatles fan I’d prefer to concentrate on the former point. Here’s a completely gratuitous video of Rain:
Next up was Carter’s (Morrison Street, 2) which the eagle-eyed amongst you will recognise as the old Ossian, the third pub to be taken in on the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge. Not too much has changed, but - carrying on this update’s tradition of themed pubs – pictures of Michael Caine adorn the walls as a tribute to his role in the film Get Carter with which you should be familiar. If you’re not, make a point of watching it PDQ.
That was all for the evening, but a couple of weeks later we reconvened for another session, at which point Nick informed me that he would like to write the review for that evening (“I would like to write the review for this evening,” he said) so, in (roughly) his own words:
Despite prior skirmishes, it is widely rumoured that our affinity for Edinburgh’s pubs began in September 2004 just as Rod landed in Edinburgh to begin his University career. Back then we found ourselves on a lengthy session which started with a trip to [Chinese restaurant] Taste Good on Slateford Road and ended up in The Tron, taking in no fewer than 5 boozing venues in the process. It therefore seemed only fitting that on the evening after Rod’s last University exam the Management could once again be found on Slateford Road.
As with most of the pubs in the surrounding area Grays Mill (Slateford Road, 4/34/35/44) is decked out in maroon, a colour only Hearts fans could ever love. Predictably, its clientele includes some colourful characters. At one point a couple sat next to us and admired their “purchases” from their day trip into town. We quaffed a couple of pints whilst we watched Chelsea grind out a goalless draw against Everton, but at full time we decided to move on.
It is said that the perfect nine dart finish is achieved by a player scoring 167 with each set of three darts in the following way: Triple 20 (60), Triple 19 (57) and Bullseye (50). If only someone had informed the Management of this fact, then perhaps a visit to the dartboard in The Shandon (Slateford Road, 4/34/35/44) may have been avoided. At one point, a single end resulted in the 3 darts becoming embedded in 1) the floor, 2) the seat below the dartboard and 3) the wall above the dartboard. In order to protect the innocent, the culprit will remain nameless. However, here’s a clue:
Hmm.
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 135
PUB GAME TALLY:
NICK: 2.5
ROD: 0.5
ADAM JOHNS: 0
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Monday, 20 July 2009
UTOPIA
Our next stop on the Pub Challenge – a stop which coincided with Nick’s birthday – was Utopia (Easter Road, 1/35) , a boozer with designs on being smart – they do good enough food and have a pretty wide range of beers - but don’t open on Hibs match days.
Utopia is probably most famous for being the origin of the Alistair Darling You’re Barred campaign, which was launched in 2008 as a response to the Chancellor’s increases on alcohol duty. The campaign saw a number of landlords nationwide indicate that Mr Darling MP would not be welcome to have a pint should he enter their premises. This campaign has the full backing of The Management, and can be found on facebook and other such sites.
We had originally intended to visit Utopia around the time at which this campaign was launched, but, as with most things in the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge (particularly your updates – Nick) the schedule was somehow not adhered to.
Instead, our visit coincided with a performance by local group Aberfeldy, who were playing acoustically. Even the fact that the drummer turned up two songs late didn’t make too much of a difference. Set highlights included a cover of the Bee Gees’ Night Fever, and this little number:
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 131
Utopia is probably most famous for being the origin of the Alistair Darling You’re Barred campaign, which was launched in 2008 as a response to the Chancellor’s increases on alcohol duty. The campaign saw a number of landlords nationwide indicate that Mr Darling MP would not be welcome to have a pint should he enter their premises. This campaign has the full backing of The Management, and can be found on facebook and other such sites.
We had originally intended to visit Utopia around the time at which this campaign was launched, but, as with most things in the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge (particularly your updates – Nick) the schedule was somehow not adhered to.
Instead, our visit coincided with a performance by local group Aberfeldy, who were playing acoustically. Even the fact that the drummer turned up two songs late didn’t make too much of a difference. Set highlights included a cover of the Bee Gees’ Night Fever, and this little number:
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 131
THE MAINS EVENT
For this latest edition of The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge, let us rewind to a time in mid February, when I was near the end of a Saturday night shift at my work in the West End. Sometime just after midnight, a rather tired and emotional Nick turned up and insisted that we went for a pint after hours. So we did.
Unfortunately, the only place open after 1am is The Rat Pack (Shandwick Place, 3/4/12/25/26/33/44/48/100),an overpriced, overfilled piano bar populated by the kind of people who look like they go out twice a year (this is a fallacy – the same punters are in every week). If pre-programmed covers of Billy Joel, Queen or even Snow Patrol are your bag, then this is the place for you. If you have any taste, you’ll agree that it’s best avoided.
After a full 48 hours of recovery, The Management regrouped for a visit to Davidson’s Mains. Despite longstanding promises of being “Up for Davidson’s Mains, me”, Phil Brough decided he would rather go to the gym than join us. He no longer goes to the gym as Adam Johns took revenge with a silver Jaguar on Lothian Road*. Decent.
There are three pubs on Davidsons Mains Main Street (21/24/41): Ye Olde Inn, noteable for serving Tetley’s Cask Bitter – not something you see every day; The Norhet, home to a roaring fire and filled with a surprising amount of golfing paraphernalia; and Mackenzies, not really noteable for anything other than the juxtaposition of signs saying “Over 25s only” with a clientele who seemingly had an average age of 19 ½.
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 130
*Adam Johns did not have anything to do with Phil Brough’s accident. The Management do not consider Brough’s injuries a matter for schadenfreude. Not in the slightest. GET WELL SOON PHIL.
Unfortunately, the only place open after 1am is The Rat Pack (Shandwick Place, 3/4/12/25/26/33/44/48/100),an overpriced, overfilled piano bar populated by the kind of people who look like they go out twice a year (this is a fallacy – the same punters are in every week). If pre-programmed covers of Billy Joel, Queen or even Snow Patrol are your bag, then this is the place for you. If you have any taste, you’ll agree that it’s best avoided.
After a full 48 hours of recovery, The Management regrouped for a visit to Davidson’s Mains. Despite longstanding promises of being “Up for Davidson’s Mains, me”, Phil Brough decided he would rather go to the gym than join us. He no longer goes to the gym as Adam Johns took revenge with a silver Jaguar on Lothian Road*. Decent.
There are three pubs on Davidsons Mains Main Street (21/24/41): Ye Olde Inn, noteable for serving Tetley’s Cask Bitter – not something you see every day; The Norhet, home to a roaring fire and filled with a surprising amount of golfing paraphernalia; and Mackenzies, not really noteable for anything other than the juxtaposition of signs saying “Over 25s only” with a clientele who seemingly had an average age of 19 ½.
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 130
*Adam Johns did not have anything to do with Phil Brough’s accident. The Management do not consider Brough’s injuries a matter for schadenfreude. Not in the slightest. GET WELL SOON PHIL.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF LEITH
Cooper’s (Easter Road, 1/35) was the first pub of 2009 for the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge, and much like The Grey Horse which took the same role a year earlier, it’s a bit of a dive. Decidedly Spartan inside, Cooper’s boasts both a saloon and a lounge bar, but unfortunately the lounge never seems to be open. Our presence didn’t seem to disrupt the musings of the four regulars who were present so it’s obviously welcoming enough, but definitely not somewhere you’d go out of your way to visit. Having claimed to be on a hiatus from consumption of Belhaven Best, Nick was rather gutted to find that all other taps were off for line cleaning. It goes without saying that I had a big chuckle at his expense.
It was my turn to be disappointed at the lack of beer availability in the next pub, Persevere (Easter Road, 1/35) where a point of sale kit for Pilsner Urquell was being erected. Alas the said Pilsner had not yet been delivered, but this did not stop the bar staff from creasing themselves at the tasting notes in the promotion materials; most notably there was some confusion as to what a “caramelized sweet brownness” in the aftertaste actually meant. Come to think of it, there’s still some confusion now - answers on a postcard please.
Next stop for the evening was The Golf (Duke Street, 1/12/21/25/34/35/49), where it was karaoke night. I’ve stumbled across many a karaoke night in the past (but yet somehow I’ve never taken part in one), and never fail to be amazed by some of the dross which people seem to think will make good entertainment. However, the first performance in the Golf was nothing short of fantastic, definitely an inspired choice by the gentleman with the microphone. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge presents you Benny Hill:
We decided to watch the commotion (and, as the night progressed, shelter our ears) from the back of the pub where there was little more hubbub than a game of darts taking place in front of us.
The Duke’s Head (Duke Street, 1/12/21/25/34/35/49), is not for the faint hearted. The interior isn’t visible when you walk past the window, and the regulars seemed more intent on hurling expletive-laden abuse at each other than consuming any alcohol. There was an old bird who looked a bit like a pro too.
The Marksman (Duke Street, 1/12/21/35/34/35/49) wasn’t much of an improvement – there seemed to be some sort of over-55s disco going on and you could barely hear yourself think. This dive has obviously been around for quite a while but has a decidedly spritely,modern interior – a classic case of vinegar dressed as fine red wine, to mix an alcoholic metaphor (badly). Notable features included a beer fridge stocked with Carlsberg Special Brew by the can. ‘Nuff said.
Until the next time....
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 126
It was my turn to be disappointed at the lack of beer availability in the next pub, Persevere (Easter Road, 1/35) where a point of sale kit for Pilsner Urquell was being erected. Alas the said Pilsner had not yet been delivered, but this did not stop the bar staff from creasing themselves at the tasting notes in the promotion materials; most notably there was some confusion as to what a “caramelized sweet brownness” in the aftertaste actually meant. Come to think of it, there’s still some confusion now - answers on a postcard please.
Next stop for the evening was The Golf (Duke Street, 1/12/21/25/34/35/49), where it was karaoke night. I’ve stumbled across many a karaoke night in the past (but yet somehow I’ve never taken part in one), and never fail to be amazed by some of the dross which people seem to think will make good entertainment. However, the first performance in the Golf was nothing short of fantastic, definitely an inspired choice by the gentleman with the microphone. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge presents you Benny Hill:
We decided to watch the commotion (and, as the night progressed, shelter our ears) from the back of the pub where there was little more hubbub than a game of darts taking place in front of us.
The Duke’s Head (Duke Street, 1/12/21/25/34/35/49), is not for the faint hearted. The interior isn’t visible when you walk past the window, and the regulars seemed more intent on hurling expletive-laden abuse at each other than consuming any alcohol. There was an old bird who looked a bit like a pro too.
The Marksman (Duke Street, 1/12/21/35/34/35/49) wasn’t much of an improvement – there seemed to be some sort of over-55s disco going on and you could barely hear yourself think. This dive has obviously been around for quite a while but has a decidedly spritely,modern interior – a classic case of vinegar dressed as fine red wine, to mix an alcoholic metaphor (badly). Notable features included a beer fridge stocked with Carlsberg Special Brew by the can. ‘Nuff said.
Until the next time....
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 126
Friday, 23 January 2009
AUTUMN ALMANAC
As a rule of thumb, one can find three types of pub once you pass the junction where Pilrig Street meets Leith Walk (7,10,12,14,16,22,25,49); The Hibs Pub, such as The Harp and Castle (formerly Jayne’s) where the décor is predominantly green and white and football seems to be the only topic of conversation; The Dive, such as The Dalmeny Bar, which isn’t really worth discussing in any amount of detail; and The Swedish Effort, such as Victoria, located between Dalmeny Street and Lorne Street and run by the same folk who have Joseph Pearce’s and Boda, both of which have been discussed in previous editions of this blog. Victoria (there’s no “the” prefix, name purists should note) has a greater (both in number and variety) range of beers but shares the same theme of cushions and candles without running the risk of being pink. Victoria also boasts semi-regular events such as fashion shows, gin tastings and celebrates national days with certain drinks offers. It has become a regular haunt of The Management, and is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon, an evening, or – if you can handle it – both. These three pubs marked the last appearance on the Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge (for now) of Ian Davidson, whom some of you may know more affectionately as The Wee Fat Bald Man, on account of the fact that he is vertically challenged, folically sparse and does not suffer from any eating disorders (with the notable exception of overindulgence). Ian has unfortunately moved to London since that post-Scotland match jolly up; the three pubs listed above being visited after a trip to Robbie’s to take in a particularly dull 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland.
The theme of regular participants leaving town was continued on our next trip out. Having made a guest appearance on drums for The Wynd , none other than Sick Boy himself, Adam Johns came out for one last time before fleeing to the relative wilderness of Devon. Unfortunately The Tron (Hunter Square/South Bridge, 3/5/7/8/14/29/30/31/33/35/37/47/X48/49) was the only challenge-eligible place visited. For those of you who don’t know, The Tron is a terrible pub unless you are under the age of 18. The following day’s hangover necessitated a visit to All Bar One (Festival Square/Lothian Road); a quieter (at the weekend at least) and less ornate version of its George Street counterpart.
Sticking in the area around the Lyceum Theatre and the Usher Hall, September also saw The Management pay visits to The Blue Blazer (Bread Street, 2) and Footlights (Bread Street, 2), accompanied by Chris McCall. The Blue Blazer is one of Edinburgh’s more famous pubs, being renowned for its sizeable collection of real ales, whiskies and rums. Small enough inside that it always gives the impression of being busy, the Blue Blazer is well worth a visit if you’re a drink connoisseur – they even serve their lager in chilled glasses! Footlights, across the road from the Blue Blazer, isn’t as classy an affair but it does also serve an extensive range of drinks. It is, however, one of the few places we have found thus far which shows live football at 3pm on a Saturday. Not strictly legal? Who cares...?
One of the main reasons that so few pubs were added to The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge’s list of conquests in 2008 was that I ended up working in one of them, thereby ruling out my availability over the weekends. Despite the fact that 77% (roughly) of the clientele were absolute jakes, and that the place had nothing going for it, I did become strangely fond of my place of work – even if Nick had a frustrating habit of turning up just as I was finishing my shift insisting that we continued to drink there. It had been my intention to save the review for a time after I had found a Proper Job, but alas my plans were spoiled when the place went under in mid-November, leaving Mr Chadha to do the honours. After all, a barman can’t review his own work...
“It doesn’t count until I’ve finished working there”
The Greenmantle (Nicolson Street, 3/5/7/8/14/29/30/31/33/37/47/X48/49) was Rodney’s workplace for the autumn of 2008 and became a regular weekend haunt for me when I had nothing better to do.[That’ll be all the time then – Ed.] Of course, with Rodney on the wrong side of the bar, it wasn’t going to be easy to scratch this pub off the list. One dreich Saturday afternoon in early October, I turned up expecting my pint of Deuchars to be sat waiting for me (which, bizarrely enough, it was). Soon Rodney was finished his shift and on the right side of the bar with a pint of Spitfire in hand. Unbeknown to us at the time, this was to be the only pint we would have on the right side of the bar. [what about the two which followed? Ed.]
Despite its over-priced pints, lack of television, mainly dreary clientele (even duller chat than me!) and often appalling jukebox selection, this place still had a good bit of character to it. Unfortunately character was not enough to save it from the credit crunch, and it succumbed to the Grim Reaper in mid-November.
A further reason for the low number of pubs take in over the Autumn was that on that same October evening, The Management finally managed to pay a visit to The Brauhaus (Lauriston Place, 23/27/35/45), one of the few pubs in Edinburgh which seems to take its beer more seriously than we do. With a collection of some 250-plus bottled beers - most of which have the correct branded glasses to match – the place is an ideal way to talk yourself out of buying cheap flights and a fistful of Euros, which is probably for the best these days given the rather crap exchange rate. Countless tales of past trips to Germany were retold, and retold, and retold – and we have returned time and again, and shall continue to do so.
Soon enough, with the Greenmantle now shut and one half of the Management jobless, a night out was called for. Unfortunately, said night out was marred by a visit to Au Bar (Shandwick Place, 3/4/12/25/26/31/33/44/X48/100) and Oddfellows (don’t ask). Both pubs were of equal disappointment. As if to celebrate the new-found unemployment, the night out was extended for a further 24 hours – however, we only managed to fit in one new pub before retiring to the Brauhaus, such was the strength of its attraction. That is not to say that Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar (Candlemaker Row, 2) is a bad pub, however – given its touristy location and historic connections you would be forgiven for expecting it to be gimmicky and generally rubbish. Bobby’s, as it is known, is one of the quieter pubs in the Old Town, and not only does it do a cracking pub lunch but there is also the added attraction of a pint for £2 if you have a student card. There was a 3 piece jazz band on when we visited; if only we could have brought out the cigars...
So there you have it - if you want to experience jazz in the Old Town, go to Bobby’s. Do not go to The Jazz Bar (Chambers Street, 35). It is rubbish. We went after an Alex Cornish gig at the Bowery, as it was the only place nearby which was open until 3am, but boy was it awful. Entertainment was restricted to some jazz-fusion (my least favourite kind of jazz, fact fans) ensemble making a racket on a stage which was hidden in a corner. Nick booed. To think that we paid £6 for the privilege still brings back tears.
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 121
The theme of regular participants leaving town was continued on our next trip out. Having made a guest appearance on drums for The Wynd , none other than Sick Boy himself, Adam Johns came out for one last time before fleeing to the relative wilderness of Devon. Unfortunately The Tron (Hunter Square/South Bridge, 3/5/7/8/14/29/30/31/33/35/37/47/X48/49) was the only challenge-eligible place visited. For those of you who don’t know, The Tron is a terrible pub unless you are under the age of 18. The following day’s hangover necessitated a visit to All Bar One (Festival Square/Lothian Road); a quieter (at the weekend at least) and less ornate version of its George Street counterpart.
Sticking in the area around the Lyceum Theatre and the Usher Hall, September also saw The Management pay visits to The Blue Blazer (Bread Street, 2) and Footlights (Bread Street, 2), accompanied by Chris McCall. The Blue Blazer is one of Edinburgh’s more famous pubs, being renowned for its sizeable collection of real ales, whiskies and rums. Small enough inside that it always gives the impression of being busy, the Blue Blazer is well worth a visit if you’re a drink connoisseur – they even serve their lager in chilled glasses! Footlights, across the road from the Blue Blazer, isn’t as classy an affair but it does also serve an extensive range of drinks. It is, however, one of the few places we have found thus far which shows live football at 3pm on a Saturday. Not strictly legal? Who cares...?
One of the main reasons that so few pubs were added to The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge’s list of conquests in 2008 was that I ended up working in one of them, thereby ruling out my availability over the weekends. Despite the fact that 77% (roughly) of the clientele were absolute jakes, and that the place had nothing going for it, I did become strangely fond of my place of work – even if Nick had a frustrating habit of turning up just as I was finishing my shift insisting that we continued to drink there. It had been my intention to save the review for a time after I had found a Proper Job, but alas my plans were spoiled when the place went under in mid-November, leaving Mr Chadha to do the honours. After all, a barman can’t review his own work...
“It doesn’t count until I’ve finished working there”
The Greenmantle (Nicolson Street, 3/5/7/8/14/29/30/31/33/37/47/X48/49) was Rodney’s workplace for the autumn of 2008 and became a regular weekend haunt for me when I had nothing better to do.[That’ll be all the time then – Ed.] Of course, with Rodney on the wrong side of the bar, it wasn’t going to be easy to scratch this pub off the list. One dreich Saturday afternoon in early October, I turned up expecting my pint of Deuchars to be sat waiting for me (which, bizarrely enough, it was). Soon Rodney was finished his shift and on the right side of the bar with a pint of Spitfire in hand. Unbeknown to us at the time, this was to be the only pint we would have on the right side of the bar. [what about the two which followed? Ed.]
Despite its over-priced pints, lack of television, mainly dreary clientele (even duller chat than me!) and often appalling jukebox selection, this place still had a good bit of character to it. Unfortunately character was not enough to save it from the credit crunch, and it succumbed to the Grim Reaper in mid-November.
A further reason for the low number of pubs take in over the Autumn was that on that same October evening, The Management finally managed to pay a visit to The Brauhaus (Lauriston Place, 23/27/35/45), one of the few pubs in Edinburgh which seems to take its beer more seriously than we do. With a collection of some 250-plus bottled beers - most of which have the correct branded glasses to match – the place is an ideal way to talk yourself out of buying cheap flights and a fistful of Euros, which is probably for the best these days given the rather crap exchange rate. Countless tales of past trips to Germany were retold, and retold, and retold – and we have returned time and again, and shall continue to do so.
Soon enough, with the Greenmantle now shut and one half of the Management jobless, a night out was called for. Unfortunately, said night out was marred by a visit to Au Bar (Shandwick Place, 3/4/12/25/26/31/33/44/X48/100) and Oddfellows (don’t ask). Both pubs were of equal disappointment. As if to celebrate the new-found unemployment, the night out was extended for a further 24 hours – however, we only managed to fit in one new pub before retiring to the Brauhaus, such was the strength of its attraction. That is not to say that Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar (Candlemaker Row, 2) is a bad pub, however – given its touristy location and historic connections you would be forgiven for expecting it to be gimmicky and generally rubbish. Bobby’s, as it is known, is one of the quieter pubs in the Old Town, and not only does it do a cracking pub lunch but there is also the added attraction of a pint for £2 if you have a student card. There was a 3 piece jazz band on when we visited; if only we could have brought out the cigars...
So there you have it - if you want to experience jazz in the Old Town, go to Bobby’s. Do not go to The Jazz Bar (Chambers Street, 35). It is rubbish. We went after an Alex Cornish gig at the Bowery, as it was the only place nearby which was open until 3am, but boy was it awful. Entertainment was restricted to some jazz-fusion (my least favourite kind of jazz, fact fans) ensemble making a racket on a stage which was hidden in a corner. Nick booed. To think that we paid £6 for the privilege still brings back tears.
Until the next time...
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 121
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
THE FESTIVAL EDITION
So, when The Great Edinburgh Pub Challenge finally returned to your computer screen after another hiatus of several months, what did you expect to find? Well it doesn’t really matter what your answer to that rather rhetorical question is, as here’s what you are getting – a guide to the venues we visited during the Edinburgh Festival in 2008. Of course, the fact that this update is being published in mid-January means that a) it is completely useless as any form of guide to people wishing to take in the shows we have reviewed (or more accurately, linked you to reviews of as we’re just too bloody lazy – or had spent too much time at the bar - to type a full critique ourselves), and b) it will probably have absolutely no relevance when the Festival rears its head come August. Still, the show must go on.
For those of you who do not know about it, the Edinburgh Festival is the world’s largest arts festival. Technically it is actually a collective term for a number of smaller festivals which take place around the city for a period of roughly four weeks, but for the purposes of this article we shall consider the Festival to be a single entity. What difference does it make to our lives? Traffic grinds to a halt (nothing new, the grumpier half of the city’s residents would complain), the city is filled to the brim and then some with tourists (giving rise to the same complaint), licensing hours are extended and a series of temporary bars pop up around the city. All things considered, it is a fantastic spectacle and is definitely worth a visit at least once.
This year, The Management’s first experience of the new temporary bars was at the Grolsch Pasture (Bristo Square, 2/23/27/35/41/42/45/67), an open air effort located in the centre of the city’s university district, and plonked down next to a rather unsightly purple inflatable cow – the E4 Udderbelly (cows...pastures...geddit?). This was, in my opinion, the best of the temporary festival bars in 2008 as there was always a lively atmosphere and even the fact that the various beers (Maclachlan’s Best Ale, the full Grolsch range and some other stuff which slips my mind) were served in plastic cups didn’t seem to spoil things. A useful tip for anyone visiting the festival is to hang out in this area during the first week of the Fringe – ticket sales are often fairly slow until the first reviews are published, so you have a good chance of picking up free tickets from passing PR bods.
That was exactly what happened to us, and we managed to score a couple of free passes to Dick Biscuit: Private Eye, a fairly banal affair at the best of times which was thoroughly ruined by the presence of a few JD’n’coke and [potentially defamatory accusations removed – Legal Ed] fuelled Camden luvvie types. We did manage to stop in at La Cantina (Teviot Place, 2/23/27/35/41/43/67), another temporary bar which pops up during the festival. Located inside the University of Edinburgh’s medical buildings, La Cantina makes a fairly half-arsed attempt at being a Mexican themed joint.
A quick curry – in and out (OF THE RESTAURANT, keep your toilet humour to yourselves please) in 25 minutes – followed and we set off to The Queen’s Hall (Clerk Street, 3/5/7/8/14/29/30/31/33/37/47/X48/49) to meet Chris McCall, sometime-hack and regular associate of The Management . Frustratingly , Chris’s review of Camille O’Sullivan, the Irish-French chanteuse, is no longer online – a link to The Scotsman’s review is provided for your perusal. The gig itself was fantastic, the venue providing a fantastic backdrop for O’Sullivan’s reworking of classics by Brel, Bowie and Waits, to name but a few.
By now it was approaching midnight, so we decided to pop round to The Auld Hoose (St. Leonard’s Street, 2) for a swift half* or three, and to make use of their well-stocked jukebox. The following playlist had just been selected:- The Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun; The Cure – In Between Days; The White Stripes – Fell in Love with a Girl; The Velvet Underground – I’m Waiting for the Man; The Stooges – 1969; Radiohead – My Iron Lung; Lou Reed – Take a Walk on the Wild Side; Pixies – Here Comes Your Man; Bob Dylan – Shelter from the Storm; The White Stripes – The Hardest Button to Button -when the peace was shattered by a knock at the window behind our table. Somewhat bemused, we looked up to see a daft grin bearing down on us: after months of avoiding putting in an appearance (and, now I come to think of it, getting a round in), celebrity chunderer and all round good guy (except for the aforementioned lack of round discipline) Adam Johns had finally turned up! He managed to stay for a swift half before heading off into the night to do something else.
The Management’s second, and – it seems baffling now – final night out during the festival was a trip to see Northern comedian Alun Cochrane at the Assembly Rooms (George Street, 24/29/42), another of the fantastic old venues in Edinburgh’s city centre. These Rooms are not open as public bar all year round, but host various events on an irregular basis, and form one of the main venues during the festival. The reaction to the show was generally positive, and Cochrane got a bonus point from me for incorporating the Elbow song at the end.
After a quick trip to All Bar One (Phil Brough managed not to drop his pint this time round), we headed down to the Queen’s Arms (Frederick Street, 24/29/42) for a nightcap – and more specifically to sample Marching Orders the Caledonian Brewery’s festival beer of 2008. Very drinkable it was as well.
UNTIL THE NEXT TIME
Cumulative pub count: 109
*Note: “Swift half” does not mean drinking a half pint, except in the case of Adam Johns.
For those of you who do not know about it, the Edinburgh Festival is the world’s largest arts festival. Technically it is actually a collective term for a number of smaller festivals which take place around the city for a period of roughly four weeks, but for the purposes of this article we shall consider the Festival to be a single entity. What difference does it make to our lives? Traffic grinds to a halt (nothing new, the grumpier half of the city’s residents would complain), the city is filled to the brim and then some with tourists (giving rise to the same complaint), licensing hours are extended and a series of temporary bars pop up around the city. All things considered, it is a fantastic spectacle and is definitely worth a visit at least once.
This year, The Management’s first experience of the new temporary bars was at the Grolsch Pasture (Bristo Square, 2/23/27/35/41/42/45/67), an open air effort located in the centre of the city’s university district, and plonked down next to a rather unsightly purple inflatable cow – the E4 Udderbelly (cows...pastures...geddit?). This was, in my opinion, the best of the temporary festival bars in 2008 as there was always a lively atmosphere and even the fact that the various beers (Maclachlan’s Best Ale, the full Grolsch range and some other stuff which slips my mind) were served in plastic cups didn’t seem to spoil things. A useful tip for anyone visiting the festival is to hang out in this area during the first week of the Fringe – ticket sales are often fairly slow until the first reviews are published, so you have a good chance of picking up free tickets from passing PR bods.
That was exactly what happened to us, and we managed to score a couple of free passes to Dick Biscuit: Private Eye, a fairly banal affair at the best of times which was thoroughly ruined by the presence of a few JD’n’coke and [potentially defamatory accusations removed – Legal Ed] fuelled Camden luvvie types. We did manage to stop in at La Cantina (Teviot Place, 2/23/27/35/41/43/67), another temporary bar which pops up during the festival. Located inside the University of Edinburgh’s medical buildings, La Cantina makes a fairly half-arsed attempt at being a Mexican themed joint.
A quick curry – in and out (OF THE RESTAURANT, keep your toilet humour to yourselves please) in 25 minutes – followed and we set off to The Queen’s Hall (Clerk Street, 3/5/7/8/14/29/30/31/33/37/47/X48/49) to meet Chris McCall, sometime-hack and regular associate of The Management . Frustratingly , Chris’s review of Camille O’Sullivan, the Irish-French chanteuse, is no longer online – a link to The Scotsman’s review is provided for your perusal. The gig itself was fantastic, the venue providing a fantastic backdrop for O’Sullivan’s reworking of classics by Brel, Bowie and Waits, to name but a few.
By now it was approaching midnight, so we decided to pop round to The Auld Hoose (St. Leonard’s Street, 2) for a swift half* or three, and to make use of their well-stocked jukebox. The following playlist had just been selected:- The Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun; The Cure – In Between Days; The White Stripes – Fell in Love with a Girl; The Velvet Underground – I’m Waiting for the Man; The Stooges – 1969; Radiohead – My Iron Lung; Lou Reed – Take a Walk on the Wild Side; Pixies – Here Comes Your Man; Bob Dylan – Shelter from the Storm; The White Stripes – The Hardest Button to Button -when the peace was shattered by a knock at the window behind our table. Somewhat bemused, we looked up to see a daft grin bearing down on us: after months of avoiding putting in an appearance (and, now I come to think of it, getting a round in), celebrity chunderer and all round good guy (except for the aforementioned lack of round discipline) Adam Johns had finally turned up! He managed to stay for a swift half before heading off into the night to do something else.
The Management’s second, and – it seems baffling now – final night out during the festival was a trip to see Northern comedian Alun Cochrane at the Assembly Rooms (George Street, 24/29/42), another of the fantastic old venues in Edinburgh’s city centre. These Rooms are not open as public bar all year round, but host various events on an irregular basis, and form one of the main venues during the festival. The reaction to the show was generally positive, and Cochrane got a bonus point from me for incorporating the Elbow song at the end.
After a quick trip to All Bar One (Phil Brough managed not to drop his pint this time round), we headed down to the Queen’s Arms (Frederick Street, 24/29/42) for a nightcap – and more specifically to sample Marching Orders the Caledonian Brewery’s festival beer of 2008. Very drinkable it was as well.
UNTIL THE NEXT TIME
Cumulative pub count: 109
*Note: “Swift half” does not mean drinking a half pint, except in the case of Adam Johns.
 |
| From Untitled Album |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)