The Guildford Arms, Edinburgh

This is an old wedge shaped pub with a revolving door entrance that I would have thought was a fire hazard. It's been more than well described below and wasn't too busy on my Thursday afternoon visit. It struck me that it may be a bit food orientated and that the food service had ended. This place probably had the best beer selection I saw in Scotland The ten hand pumps had London Pride, Stewart Pentland IPA, Fyne Jarl, Orkney Dark Island, Shiny Abyss, Allendale Yakima Pale, Swannay Scapa Special, Great Heck Mount Hood, Alechemy Line Breaker IPA and Bridge House Cherry Choc Stout. These were all listed on a blackboard that showed the prices and their pricing structure doesn't do much for responsible drinking as just two sub 4.0% ABV ones were £3.80 & £3.90 while everything else was £4.00-£4.30. I've never advocated responsible drinking so went for the Allendale Yakima Pale (£4.00) and the Choc Cherry Stout (£4.30) both of which were excellent. Although expensive this was one that I would return to.

An extremely popular and, therefore, extremely busy central Edinburgh pub, the Guildford is just a short walk from Waverley Station. The interior, reached through a revolving door, is beautiful, with lots of dark wood, chandeliers, mirrors and an ornate bar. This boasts approximately ten hand pumps and an equal number dispensing keg beers and ciders. Being in the middle of Edinburgh, it is understandably expensive, with a perfect pint of London Pride costing me £3.90. The upstairs restaurant, called "The Gallery," is part of the pub and food is also served in the ground floor bar, including breakfasts from 10.00 to mid-day on Saturdays and Sundays. The main attractions here, though, have to be the architecture and the beer.