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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 27th March 2025
With picture contributions to 12229 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (21 more images)
Detail Pages
Athletic Arms (Diggers), Gorgie, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH11 2JX
Reviews of Athletic Arms (Diggers) (Average Rating: 9½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Athletic Arms (Diggers)
The Diggers is much as described by Quinno (below), except that the snug is back in use - see photo - and can be hired for functions for no charge; and the TV screens were off. There is a big compass rose set into the floorboards on entering, but my eye was on the two hand pumps and the four "tall founts" on the bar. Some of the pump clips seem to be specific designs for this pub, especially the Diggers 80/- which is from Stewart, which I have tried often enough to know that it should be avoided. I went for the same brewery's Jack Back (NBSS 3.5) and Kelburn Jaguar (NBSS 4), my best beers of the day so far, and only £4.10/pint. I arrived to a full pub at just after 3pm, with all but a handful clearly drinking cask beers. A rare 10 from me. (Edit: After drinking those first two beers, I changed my mind and had a half of the Stewart 80/-, which is their regular "heavy" with the only difference being the Diggers pump clip: it tastes like a different beer from what I've had in other Edinburgh pubs. I congratulated the landlady but she just shrugged and mentioned cellar temperature and cleaning the pipes.)
On 27th March 2025
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Athletic Arms (Diggers)
A smashing corner pub. Has had modernisation over the years but it manages to retain enough to have a CAMRA National Inventory listing. A big open-plan wedge-shaped bar on entering, with an out of use snug to the rear right. The main room has lots of big windows which allows the light to flood in, and look out for the jumbo compass on the floor. Tasteful red and cream colour scheme with some nice dado features as well as comfy banquette seating lining the walls. TVs with the volume up showing daytime crap nobody was watching was an unwelcome blot. Far busier here than most pubs I visited that day which was even more impressive given it was 3pm on a midweek afternoon and the atmosphere was already upbeat. Six ales were on (4x air pressure and 2x pump) which seemed a stretch, however my Fyne Jarl was in great shape (NBSS 4) and I toyed with staying for a second but my to-do list was just a bit too long. 8.5
On 15th November 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Athletic Arms
I've only known it as Diggers. A traditional interior with a central bar. Busy on my post rugby visit so not sure how many real ales served.
On 6th February 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
View more reviews of Athletic Arms (Diggers) (6)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- H2G2 entry on The Althletic Arms, otherwise known as 'The Diggers' - H2G2 - Diggers Heavy
- Facebook - Athletic Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Athletic Arms (Diggers) - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No - Not advertised or offered - last updated 27 March 2025 by Will Larter
- Car Park : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes - Snug available for free - last updated 27 March 2025 by Will Larter
- Hot Food : No last updated 07 July 2021 by ROB Camra
- Karaoke : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes - Sundays - last updated 27 March 2025 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
