Vladimir McTavish's best Edinburgh pubs
With so many drinking holes in Edinburgh, Vladimir McTavish does his best to guide you through the pick of the bunch
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The Star Bar
1 Northumberland Place, EH3 6LQ
One of Edinburgh’s best kept secrets, hidden away in a lane in the New Town between Dublin Street and Northumberland Street. Great beer, great range of malt whisky, and a great beer garden. It also boasted one of Edinburgh’s first 3D tellies, which is situated above the main door as you enter the pub, so when they are showing a football game in 3D the first thing you see as you go in the door is a whole load of people wearing dark glasses looking straight at you. My friend Lewis watched the whole 90 minutes of the 2010 World Cup Final wearing 3-D glasses before realising at full-time that BBC did not broadcast in 3D. That alone speaks volumes for the quality of the alcohol on sale here.
Lord Bodos
3 Dublin Street, EH1 3PG
Situated at the top end of Dublin Street, directly opposite The Stand, Lord Bodos virtually becomes the venue’s ante-room in August and is a watering-hole for a great many comedians. Shona, the manageress is probably the friendliest and most entertaining hostess in Edinburgh, and the regulars include some of the city’s more colourful characters. One word of warning, however; if you happen to meet a wiry middle-aged Aberdonian who claims that he works for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, don’t be taken in. It will almost certainly be my friend Kevin, a comedy writer, full-time wind-up artist and one of the afore-mentioned regulars.
Spiers Bar
10 Bowhill Terrace, EH3 5QY
Ferry Road, Inverleith. It may appear to be a seventies theme pub, but in reality nothing has changed since 1974, either to the décor or to the clientele. If you are a fan of comb-over haircuts, this is the place to drink. I was once in here on a Sunday afternoon at around 5 pm, and a guy had fallen asleep directly beneath the dart board. However, this didn’t put the pub darts team off their match, in the course of which he never woke up.
The Beehive Inn
18-20 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU
Nestling beneath Edinburgh Castle, in the Grassmarket, the Beehive has one of the best beer gardens in the city. A lively pub at weekends, the top floor is one of the most bijou comedy rooms in town.
The Old Chain Pier
32 Trinity Crescent, EH5 3EE
This pub is actually built into the sea wall in Newhaven, so if you manage to get a seat by a window, it feels as if you are drinking on a boat. It has a really good selection of lagers and real ales, and serves good food. However, it does seem to close down, re-open, go on fire, re-open on a seemingly regular basis. Get there quick in case it closes again.