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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Old Blackfriars, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
AB11 5BB
Pub Type
Belhaven (Greene King)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Old Blackfriars
Traditional-looking pub near the Mercat Cross, with a split-level interior featuring a small seating area inside the entrance which leads through to the larger bar at the lower level. Modernised furniture and decor throughout. Also has some tables out front. Three of five handpumps in use downstairs when I stopped by, with a 'house' beer, Windswept Aurora and Inveralmond Thrappledouser (£1.80, half).
On 16th October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about Old Blackfriars
A good regular entry in the CAMRA good beer guide this multiple level pub is one of the better pubs in Aberdeen and worth seeking out just for it's character let alone a good range of ales. On each of our visits the ales we have had have been in good condition, this time the Orkney Dark Island was very good. A nice lively but not noisy atmosphere in here.
On 18th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Old Blackfriars
The Blackfriars (the locals apparently don’t refer to the “Old”) is one of the city’s oldest pubs and was built on the site of a Monastry, hence the pub’s ecclesiastic name. The foundations of the old church can apparently still be found in the basement.
The pub is certainly one of the better “real pubs” in town, no pumping music, multi sport channels or disco lights here. The pub stretches across a couple of buildings on an incline and the interior is divided into an upper and lower bar reflecting the separate structures. The smaller upper bar at the Castlegate end has a tartan carpet, beamed ceiling and is simply furnished and quite cosy. The front section overlooking the square has paneled walls and some exposed brickwork and an old wooden door mounted on the wall (unfortunately with no explanation but may also have been part of the church or monastry). There is a small separate bar servicing the upper levelwith 4 hand pumps however the main bar is down a small flight of steps where a further 5 hand pumps await.
The larger lower bar is more open and contains a wonderful ornate ceiling, bare floors, brick fireplace and some antique looking pews. The pub is also noted for its stained glass windows. The atmosphere is quite relaxed with piped music and no TVs as afar as I could see. Outside is a roped off section on Castlegate that provides some open air seating in the historic square.
Whilst the pub is part of the Belhaven (Scottish arm of Greene King) Empire, there is a good selection of guest beers with Speckled Hen and Belhaven Heid The Ba & 80/- being from the GK range and Elgoods Feelgood Fresh, Marston Merriemaker, Inveralmond Ossian and Caledonian Deuchars making up the rest. To be honest, my pint wasn’t the best I had in town which was disappointing given its Good Beer Guide entry. They also maintain a stock of approximately 30 malt whiskies which doesn;’t seem particularly excessive given some of the other pubs in the area and whisky drinkers will probably choose to look further afield where some of the pubs stock up to 250. There are regular themed beer festivals with 15+ ales and various food and drink promotions that are clearly aimed at competing with the Wetherspoons opposite.
The Blackfriars is an essential part of any beer tourist’s trip to Aberdeen and it was really only the quality of the solitary ale I tried that was a major issue. I will give the place the benefit of the doubt and trust that it was merely a rogue pint.
On 3rd August 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
George Howie left this review about Old Blackfriars
Outside drinking now available (weather permitting)as you can see from the photograph. If you look closely at the other photograph, you will see the name 'Royal Oak' engraved on the wall at the Marishal Street side. This is what the pub was called prior to becoming Freelands in the 70s and then Old Blackfriars somewhat later. Often awarded Pub Of the Year by local CAMRA (it is the 2007 winner), it is famed for the quality of its ale (despite Belhaven buying it over several years ago) and the food is rather good also.
On 26th July 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 8 recommendations about 8 pubs]