Thistle Inn, Inverness

Despite the impression given by the most recent photograph (September 2017), the Thistle is actually still doing business, although trading times are limited. It opens at 3.00 p.m. on Fridays, 4.00 p.m. on other weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Being slightly away from the city centre, it is very much a locals' pub, unlike the touristy ones on the other side of the river. It consists of a basically furnished and decorated single room, with one TV behind the bar, a juke box and games machines. The clientele was entirely male on the Friday evening I called in. It wasn't cheap, however, with Guinness at £3.50 a pint. Tennent's, Stella Artois, Carling and Budweiser lagers, Belhaven Best, Belhaven Golden Ale and Strongbow and Magner's ciders were also on draught. Disappointingly, despite the presence of four hand pumps on the counter, there was no real ale on sale. The Mayflower Lounge, which occupies the upper floor of the building, was closed, but is available for hire for functions.