Halfway House, Edinburgh

tiny traditional pub on the steep incline into the old town. Though very much city centreish, this is the good kind. People from all walks of life chatting away. Limited choice of beer but three decent real ales were on.

A fairly small, corner pub located on one of the many alleyways that run down from the Royal Mile, it looks quite contemporary from the outside with it’s duck egg blue woodwork, but is much more traditional, even dated perhaps, inside. It consists of a single room internally, although divided in to two halves perhaps, with the front half including the bar counter which was rather usually on a 45° angle. It’s really surprisingly tiny, with a limited amount of seating and even less room to stand. The flooring was mostly wood strip along with some tartan carpet in the front section, whilst there was both dark and black wood panelling on the walls as well as some pale brown paintwork. Seating options included curved booths with chocolate brown leather benches and mustard colour back cushions. A couple of etched mirrors were on the wall and a small TV was showing a terrestrial channel, although the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. Unusually, a display case at the front had a number of items for sale, including caps, tee shirts and post cards. A small blackboard menu listed a basic selection of pub snacks, but with the miniscule kitchen being clearly visible from the bar it was apparent that all dishes were merely popped in the microwave. In any case, there were a number of tiny midges flying around which would have discouraged me from eating in there. Beers on tap were Strathbraan True North, Strathaven Drookit, Flower of Scotland and Windswept Blonde. The solitary cider meanwhile was Addlestones. Overall, not a bad little pub although the slim chance of getting a seat and the midges prevented me staying too long.

The Halfway House is Edinburgh’s smallest AWARD winning pub It was CAMRA Scotland pub of the year 2005/6 and Edinburgh pub of the year 2009. The reason for the word AWARD being added is that the smallest claim to fame of the smallest pub is The Wee Pub in the Grassmarket area. Although this Wee Pub is part of Buddy Mulligan’s. On draught there is Stella, Tennent’s, Harviestoun Pale Ale available. There are 4 ale pumps & at the time of visiting 3 ales were on and 1 was being prepared ready to install. The ales available were Old Mortality, Strathaven & Spey Valleys David’s Not So Bitter. Visitors to the pub (Quotes from other websites) have complained about the food being heated up in a microwave. But if you check out the size of the please as already mentioned there is no room for a kitchen. So, you will have to be bear this in mind if wanting better than average quality food. The gents is a single one room cubicle, so keep the door closed.

Compact and bijou as they say. Small but perfectly formed pub on a stairway between cockburn street and the market street entrance to Waverley train station. Four real ales and food available. Railway memorabilia on the walls.

A rarity - an Edinburgh pub I haven't previously found. Tiny but perfectly formed. Great pint of Stewarts 80' Pleased to have found it. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2ungLwQ