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History of the Reat Ale Twa*ts. with Quinno
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Detail Pages
The Kenilworth, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH2 3JD
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Kenilworth
Named after a Walter Scott novel, this Nicholsons pub was originally built as a private residence in the late 18th Century and converted to a pub in 1904. Much of the single room interior has remained unchanged since then although there has been some necessary restoration done. The pub is listed on the CAMRA Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
The interior is one large single room with a huge island bar that does seem a bit disproportionate and much of the seating is squeezed to the edges creating a few bottlenecks when busy. A couple of small snugs and divides around the bar were apparently 1960’s additions. The textured tiling and ornate ceilings are original and particularly noteworthy. Brewery / distillery mirrors are the centerpieces of the décor and a large personalized mirror looms high on the rear wall. A separate small room at the rear labeled the Scott Room was also added in the 60’s and is easily missed unless you visit the loos.
As you would expect with Nicholsons, there is a decent selection of ales with 5 across the 8 pumps; Harviestoun American IPA, Vale Black Beauty, Copper Dragon Golden Pippa, Caledonian Deuchars and Brains Rev James although the Brains had a reversed clip. Service was quite welcoming although my pint needed a top up which was done with no quibbles. The general ambience was very civilized and the piped background music wasn’t a distraction.
Unless it is busy (which I have no doubt it can get) it is a decent stop for a couple of beers and I would certainly recommend it to anyone trying to whittle down the areas numerous taverns to a more realistic and select few.
On 14th December 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
david turnbull left this review about Kenilworth
excellent ales.great interior.one of the better pubs on rose street.a must to call in.
On 8th August 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 13 recommendations about 12 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Kenilworth
A fairly unremarkable exterior is followed by a really impressive interior. It is a small square room, with an equally square bar in the middle that seems to almost reach the high decorative ceiling (a bit like the ornate ceiling at the Abbotsford). The downside to the large central bar is that it doesn't leave much room for customers to move around during busy periods. There are wonderful high stained glass windows and a large Drybrough Pale Ale brewery mirror dominates one wall. Much of the walls are decorated with small colourful tiles that add a bit of a Moroccan feel. There is a good range of both draught and bottled beers available and a small eating area out the back.
On 24th May 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 780 recommendations about 697 pubs]