The Canons' Gait, Edinburgh

The wooden floored open plan Canon’s Gait has seating in the front windows before a bar counter on the left wall that faces central seating and booths along the right wall. More seating is found at the rear. To the right of te entrance are stairs that lead down to a function room. This was being used as a venue for the Frine which was going on during our visit to Edinburgh. There are a couple of televisions that were showing muted rolling Sky News. I only counted four handpumps so must have missed a couple, not sure how as this isn’t the longest bar. The two I saw in operation were drawing Broughton’s Hopo and Sinclair’s Dark Island. Standard keg is also available alongside Camden Hells. Pub grub is available. This pub is OK, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit.

Modernish and dare I say it attempting a craft ethos, beerwise at least. There are six pulls of small Scots brewery beers plus 8 taps of Scottish kegs only one which is a national brand, Tennants, and includes a cloudy cider. Furnished elegantly with modernish conventional stuff but in dark Presbyterian tones. The walls are cream with the odd saying painted on, including a bit of Burns. The beer was OK if a little tired, the punters a bit prime of Miss Jean Brodie if you get my drift. The decor a mix of wine bar and with a big 19th century map of the Royal Mile gracing one wall.