Pub Jury

According to the http://www.edinburgh.pubs.freeuk.com/index.html website, these are the best pubs in Edinburgh.....

The Bow Bar
80, West Bow,Victoria St
EH1 2HH 0131 226 7667
A successfully revamped old style Edinburgh pub renowned for great variety of real ale and guest beers and a good selection of malts. Friendly local pub with no frills or themes. Sometimes frequented by City councillors and the occasional community education worker but still a great place. Only a 10 pace stagger from a brilliant cheese shop and a historically significant brush shop.

The Royal McGregor - website
154, High St
EH1 1QS 0131 225 7064
Great location on the Royal Mile. Re-opened after tasteful redesign in April 2001. Good chat and wide spectrum of locals and visitors, young and trendy and the rest of us. Excellent value steaks and generally good food from own kitchen. Keg and cask ales plus Bruichladdich. Fewer advocates come in than used to but still attracts local trade union hacks and politicians as well as sensible people.

Bert's Bar
29-31, William St
EH3 7NG 0131 225 5748
A fine place with a range of real ales and guest beers, good food and traditional architecture. Bar area and two smaller rooms with old newspaper front pages and rugby shirts framed on the wall. TV for sporting events.

The Castle Bar
6 Johnston Terrace
Good bit of work gone into this traditional pub with friendly service and well kept beer. Nestles directly under the castle opposite The Hub. Refurbished in recent years and has outside tables at the back on Victoria Terrace offering a smashing view over the rooftops and down to the Grassmarket.

Serves food throughout the day. Was a haunt of fiddlers, guitarists and singers but live music has fallen foul of residents' complaints we are told. Nevertheless, the pub is a spacious and welcome respite from some of the Royal Mile pseudiness (August 2003).

Cafe Royal
19, West Register St
EH2 2AA 0131 556 1884
A must. Central island bar, famous Doulton tiled walls, good variety of real ales and beers and of clientele. Dating from 1862 it is an Edinburgh institution that almost went the way of the hideous St James centre when Woolworths wanted it in the 60's. Circle Bar, a famous screen and the Oyster Bar upstairs.

The Traverse Theatre Bar (downstairs)
Off Lothian Road
A minimalist foyer for the theatre with trendy designed taps and a fair selection of designer bevvy. Can be arty but friendly for all that with a mix of festivalites, luvvies and punters. You can argue for ages as to whether the photograph exhibitions are crap or not. Avoid the cocktail bar upstairs unless you are serious about posing.

Jinglin Geordie's
22, Fleshmarket Close
EH1 1QA 0131 225 2803
A pub with principles. Closed last Hogmanay because locals couldn't get into it due to the limits on passes for the city centre celebrations. Used to be famous as the watering hole for local Labour politicians (near the City Chambers) and for journalists (it's just across the lane from the old Scotsman/ Evening News building). More recently you are more likely to see socialist ex-politicians and journalists who have the energy to get up from the new Scotsman building at Holyrood. Still it's cosy, friendly and welcoming.

The Cumberland Bar
1-3, Cumberland St
EH3 6RT 0131 558 3134
Excellent variety of beers and I once had the most perfect 20 year old cask strength Bruichladdich there. Good food, good atmosphere and well looked after beer.

Sandy Bells (The Forrest Bar)
25, Forrest Rd
EH1 2QH 0131 225 2751
A legend in its own opening time. Good beers, fair whisky selection and the traditional home of good folk musicians offering impromptu sessions. Not yer 'hee drum ho' but the good stuff.