Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh

Tourist trap on three levels as it’s built on the steep hill of Candlemaker Row and may have been two or more houses at time. A small counter runs along the back wall of the centre section and provides four pulls and a small group of keg founts. Other than the Nicholsons Pale (St Austell) it was two from Stewart and a lacklustre and pretty pricey Vital Spark from the reliable Fyne Ales. Handy for the National Museum of Scotland across the road.

A pleasant and traditional looking Nicolson’s pub just a short stroll from the Royal Mile, it’s not quite as large as many of their outlets and with much of the space being given over to diners, options for punters just wanting a drink are a little limited. Internally it consists of a couple of rooms with a smaller central area housing the bar counter. Seating here was limited with just a circular table in the bay window surrounded by fitted Chesterfield style bench seating and a high table for two. Décor wise it’s quite traditional, with sanded wooden boards on the floor and dark wood panelling on much of the walls with black paintwork elsewhere. A few facts about local landmarks such as the museum and castle were chalked up on the walls, as well as a few small black and white photographs. Up a couple of steps to the left was a dining area, complete with a “Please wait here to be seated” lectern, clearly discouraging anyone who just wanted to find a table to sup their pint. A further bar was down a couple of steps to the right, although this too was occupied entirely by diners on my visit. Beer choice was a little limited for a Nicolson’s outlet, with just four pumps on the bar offering their own Pale Ale, Stewart’s 80/-, Sadler’s Peaky Blinder and Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted. The solitary cider meanwhile was Mortimer’s Orchard.

Greyfriars Bobby sits uphill from the Grassmarket range of pubs. On draught there is a choice of Aspall, Innus & Gunn Lager, Guinness, San Miguel, Caledonian Three Hop, Lager, Holyrood Pale Ale, Tennent’s lager, Peroni. There is a choice of ales from at the time of visiting Inveralmond Ossian Ale £4.20, Eden Mill Shipwreck IPA £4.80, Top Out Nelson Sauvin £4.30, Top Out Altbier - A German classic with a Scottish twist £4.50.

One of Edinburgh’s many pubs named after historical celebrities, a dog in this case (look it up…). With the aforementioned’s grave ten yards away and a neat bronze statue over the road depicting said canine, he’s quite some character. The pub itself looks quite grand from outside but is sadly a fairly standard affair within, though as a Nicholson house it has a higher level of general décor than the average. Three levelled interior, the most characterful part is the dip to right of the bar which sports a large semi-circular rear banquette. There’s another of these banquettes in the small main bar area with Greyfriars Bobby etched into mirrored bar back. The largest area off to left, a 3/4 dark wood panelled place that is mainly inhabited by the dining classes. Five ales on and a good selection for the chain; Ilkley Rosa (very good nick), Broughton Hopopotamus (excellent shape), W&E Conqueror, Stewart 80/- and St Austell Nicholson Pale. Given you get the tourist tick of the Bobby statue and grave within a 30 yard radius, this is one worth doing for a canine hat trick and a decent beer to boot.