Our latest recap of drinking exploits starts in Stockbridge. Avoca (Dean Street, Deanhaugh Street, 24/29/42), one of Stockbridge’s better kept secrets, and mixes the area’s customary air of café culture with a refreshing lack of pretension. On this occasion, we were accompanied by an interesting bloke who seemed to spend most of the evening arguing with himself.
We half expected to find the same character in St Bernard’s Bar (Raeburn Place, 24/29/42) across the road, but much to our disappointment (or relief, you decide) he was nowhere to be seen. The St Bernard is something of an anomaly in Stockbridge in that it’s cramped, it’s downmarket and you probably won’t find anyone who works in marketing drinking there. Admittedly I’m reviewing this two years on, but I can remember little other than an intense discussion on the merits of dog racing. Why do they only use greyhounds? Why couldn’t you have a handicap race with a St. Bernard, for example (you can see how this train of thought developed) against a Chihuahua? A Labrador against a Dachshund? To spice things up even more, you could mix up the events and throw in relays (with a bone, of course), hurdling events and even a steeplechase. Needless to say, everyone bar me grew tired of that conversation and we soon left.
For our third and final stop of the evening, we were joined by everyone’s favourite man child: Adam Johns. The misadventures of this serial monogamist have been well-documented in this blog and other online journals, but on the night in question he was being kept in check by his girlfriend of the time, the lovely Rosie. (No, she’s not the one who shat the bed, before you ask). Anyway, I digress. We were in the Guildford Arms (West Register Street, everything under the sun), which is one of the city’s must-visit boozers. Day or night, whether you like ales, lagers, heavies, whisky or wine, there will be something on the drinks menu for you. Highly recommended.
Later that week, The Management convened on Leith Walk to pay a visit to The Balfour (7/10/12/14/16/22/25/49), which is no longer with us. It won’t be missed.
The night finished up in The Central Bar (7/10/12/14/16/22/25/49), which was enjoying a quiet spot of Sunday karaoke. When I say “quiet”, I mean in terms of numbers, as the sound system was loud enough to blow the roof off the building formerly known as Leith Central Station. Cuts chosen by the punters ranged from the sublime to the God-awful, but my abiding memory of the night is one tune. We leave you with a live take.
Until the next time..
CUMULATIVE PUB COUNT: 163
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