Haymarket, Edinburgh

Visited 05/11/25 Seven hand pumps providing Jack Back session IPA and Stewart's 80/- from Stewart Brewing and Nicholson's Pale Ale all doubled up plus then TT LL. Keg offering was Neck Oil, Hollywood Pale Ale from Stewart Brewing, Camden Hells, Tennent's, Peroni, Guinness, Henry Weston's vintage cider, Madri, Innis & Gunn lager, Budvar. Wildcard as not a planned venue but on way back to hotel and not a bad outcome. Quite a large Nicholsons pub with the bar counter against the rear wall to the slight left of the entrance. The venue is bare boarded around the bar area apart from a chessboard tiled skirt around the bar counter. Lots of regular tables and chairs in this space plus a studded leather banquette in the front windows to the left of the entrance. There is a small snug area beyond the right-hand edge of the bar counter with similar seating arrangements. Off to the right of the entrance is a carpeted area again with regular tables and chairs, but here the tables were laid for diners. There was an upstairs balcony area to sit but didn't venture up. Large screen coverage of the Chelsea game absent commentary but equally no music so the chatter in the pub was the ambiance here. Am liking Edinburgh pubs on those grounds. I know I have self-selected on venues but also impressed by the prevalence of decent cask beer also.

A Nicholsons pub but a bit unimpressive decor wise and frankly very downmarket for them. A single downstairs room with an unexplored first floor apart from the Gents. Some big screens, bandits and piped music, only the buttoned leather banquettes and a bit of dark wood suggest it’s Nicholsons. Seven pulls with five in use, Scots and English beers plus a forest of standard kegs. It’s GBG listed but I haven’t a clue why.

The Haymarket is a Nicholsons pub opposite the railway station of the same name, occupying an expanded space around the foot of a Victorian stone building at an important junction. I was there quite late of a Tuesday evening, so it wasn't all that busy. There are six hand pumps on the bar but only Doom Bar and Stewarts 80/- on. The latter was OK but not very characterful. The rest of the bar was cluttered with about 20 keg fonts, suggesting that it does get busy at times. Service was friendly, but not so friendly that I'm planning a return visit any time soon. Date of visit: 20th July 2021