Speedwell Bar, Dundee

Yet another *** CAMRA Heritage pub in Dundee, about 15 mins trot from the centre towards the student area. To be fair I think this one is the star of them all, a lovely Edwardian multi-room gem. Enter to the main bar with an impressive bar back, alongside a half-height divider and door combo to access the rear area and the two rooms off left, separated from each other by a glazed wall and both traditionally decorated (bar the fitba being shown on a jumbo screen). A big bonus here is that it’s GBG listed and indeed there were three cask on, a fag-end JW Lees beer (NBSS 2), Wychwood Hobgoblin and Swannay Summer (NBSS 3). As mentioned below, the gents have some antique urinals and I can also confirm that the patent for odourlessness has indeed expired. This one’s a default for Dundee and is worth a couple of pints. 8.5

A fine example of an Edwardian pub built in 1903 for the Lord Provost. Rightly listed in the CAMRA inventory of heritage interiors internally it retains most of the original features. Dark mahogany throughout, the L shaped bar is in two sections each with its own entrance and connected internally by a half height wooden glazed dividing door. And then there are two lounge rooms off the back bar section separated by a glazed wall so that when standing you can see between the rooms. The ornate bar servery has an impressive collection of over 100 whiskeys on the back and the usual array of Scottish keg taps on the front as well as three real ale pumps which were dispensing Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Ringwood Boondoggle and Pale and Significant from the nearby 71 Brewing microbrewery for my visit. The Pale and Significant was on top form as it should have been for something that had just rolled down the road to the pub and I took it into the back lounge room to admire the quirky artwork that adorns the various walls of the pub, and it wasn’t long before I was engaged in conversation by some of the locals, as it is that kind of friendly place. The Gents toilets are quite a time piece as well as they still have in place the chest high ‘Shanks Patent Odourless Urinals’. Unfortunately though the impression you get on entering is that the patent must have run out several decades ago. There is not many like the Speedwell remaining and it should be treasured for the old time pub experience it is.