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.

Reviewed by Roger Button on 3^rd August 2010 - rating: 8
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