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History of the Reat Ale Twa*ts. with trainman
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Image posted by David Walton
Submitted on Saturday, 8th November 2025
With picture contributions to 1642 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Guildford Arms, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH2 2AA
Served areas
Reviews of The Guildford Arms (Average Rating: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Guildford Arms
Visited 05/11/25
Nine hand pumps dispensing, with just the one unclipped. So, there was Jarl from Fyne Ales, Pentland IPA from Stewart Brewing, Orkney IPA from Swannay Brewery, TT LL, Island Life Session IPA from Orkney Brewery, JHB from Oakham, Hop Twister from Salopian, Paolozzi Helles Lager, Winkie's Flight a dark ale from Seventy One. The keg offering was Tennent’s, Guinness, Caledonia Best, the Session IPA from Stewart Brewing, Leith Juice from Campervan brewing, Heidi Weisse, Staro, the Paolozzi lager, Thistly Cross, Doddie Bier, San Miguel, Hollow Tree Session ale from Vocation and White Out white beer from Cromarty Brewing.
Magnificent pub, suspect I have started my trek around a good few Edinburgh pubs over next couple of days with the finest in this Central area. Carpeted with the ornate bar counter with its lovely brass rails sticking of the rear wall just inside the entrance, a rare revolving door one at that. Lovely etched glass windows. Well used green leather banquettes to the left of the entrance and along the right-hand side serving regular or small round tables with small red leather padded stools the other side thereof. There is a slightly raised seating area in the right-hand front corner and a little snug with red leather banquettes in the rear right-hand corner, all serving regular tables and chairs. I didn't venture up to the gallery. Magnificent ornate high ceiling with suspended lights and attractive thistle wallpaper. Truly a lovely venue served by a top beer offering, just missing a mild and/or stout on cask. Was hard to leave knowing the next venue will not match up! My top venue as I suspected and as it turned out after starting here from the station nearby.
On 8th November 2025
- rating: 9
[User has posted 897 recommendations about 891 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Guildford Arms
Another Edinburgh classic that I'd visited before but not reviewed. When last here 10 years ago I was in company and it was very busy, both conditions that tend to dissuade me from writing a review. On my own tonight and fairly quiet, so I get the chance to appreciate the beauty of this classic pub. There are 10 hand pumps on the bar, but I stopped looking after seeing Orkney Dark Island, an old favourite and my beer of the evening. This one will definitely be on my list for another visit in due course.
On 6th January 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4527 recommendations about 4149 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Guildford Arms
One of that select group of ostentatious late nineteenth century pubs just behind Princes Street. An L shaped counter is home to 10 pulls on the corner plus a few triple keg taps of typical UK beers. The casks are mostly Scottish but Timmy Taylor had made it north and a Vocation keg or two had escaped from Calderdale. The ceiling and plasterwork frieze as well as the carved wood are works of art, the counter and bar back fading into insignificance in contrast. There is also an upstairs area which brings you in touching distance of the ceiling. Opposite Waverley’s main Princes Street entrance it’s probably very well known among beer drinkers, researchers at New Register House, tourists and even the wider public.
On 28th January 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3793 recommendations about 3462 pubs]
View more reviews of The Guildford Arms (24)
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- Official site of the Guildford Arms, contains menu and real ale details - www.guildfordarms.com
- Facebook - Guildford Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Guildford Arms - 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 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No - upstairs restuarant only - last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 24 May 2025 by hondo .
- Function Room : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 24 May 2025 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 24 May 2025 by hondo .
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 23 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 25 July 2016 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 15 August 2017 by hondo .
