Queens Arms, Edinburgh

Below street level, which suggests it is probably not as old as they are trying to make out, this is a surprisingly airy and light pub with a mixed clientele and an interesting soundtrack. Four hand pumps on the bar with an interesting selection from four Scottish breweries (see photos). Worth a look in. Date of visit: 21st March 2017

The eponymous Queen is Mary, Queen of Scots, and there are lots of references to her around the walls. It's a basement bar just off the busy George Street area and is one of Edinburgh's hidden pleasures. The clientele is mostly white collar workers and students; the toursists tend not to venture this far away from the sights. There is an unobtrusive tv screen at one end, and a selection of newspapers is available. It has a sligthly Bohemian feel to it, and is a calm, pleasant retreat from the outside world. There is a wide selection of good quality whiskies and a decent wine list. There were 4 ales on - I had Atlas Three Sisters, which was in excellent condition. A great place to while away time or just to enjoy a quiet lunch or snack and worth including on a crawl.