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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 Wednesday, 8th January 2025
With picture contributions to 12229 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (14 more images)
Detail Pages
Jolly Judge, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH1 2PB
Served areas
Jolly Judge
It is sadly rare to find a 60/- these days, so tonight we have the pleasure of serving McEwan's 60/-! https://t.co/BlnX8E1mFN
6:24 PM Apr 29th 2023 from Twitter Web App
Reviews of Jolly Judge (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Jolly Judge
This had more of the feel of a locals pub, but maybe this was because I was here quite late when tourists might have gone to their hotels. My beer, at £4.70/pint, was certainly pretty cheap compared with many in this part of town. My half of Tempest Pale Armadillo (NB no South American animals were harmed in the making of this beer) was not as good as I had hoped, after a dreadful blonde beer at the previous pub, but it scraped an NBSS 2.5. This is not a must visit, in my opinion, despite its current GBG status, but maybe a wild card.
On 8th January 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Blackthorn _ left this review about Jolly Judge
Tucked away down a small alleyway just off the Royal Mile, one might assume that this is perhaps less of a tourist trap than some of the other nearby venues, but it’s reputation nonetheless seems to have spread far and wide, with one American punter being overheard telling someone that it had been highly recommended by a friend back in the States, and that he must visit during his trip to Edinburgh.
It’s a subterranean venue down a flight of stone steps, although there is also some limited seating as the alley opens out in to a sort of courtyard. Decor wise it’s quite traditional, with tartan carpet on the floor and old beams on the ceiling, or, more accurately perhaps, visible joists with no ceiling as such, just the floorboards from the room above. The joists had been painted to give them a mock brick look and the ones above the bar were liberally adorned with an extensive selection of old bank notes. There were some sections exposed stone walling, including a couple of arches that presumably led on to a cellar or something similar at one time. Pale cream wood panelling was on the lower part of the walls, and elsewhere they had been plastered and painted a deep shade of salmon. Seating was mostly low stools with the odd padded bench fitted in to the alcoves and overall it had quite a jovial atmosphere, although it was pretty much full to capacity even on my Tuesday evening visit and I only just managed to squeeze on to a small stool in the corner.
Beers on tap were Tempest Vermont Sessions and Bombon plus Rigg & Furrow’s Run Hop Run, whilst a fourth pump was just coming back on as I was leaving. This is really more of a cider pub though, with the range consisting of Sanford Orchard’s Devon Red and Oliver’s A Pear Drop Explodes on tap, along with an extensive selection of boxes stacked up on the end of the bar with Ascension I Don’t Think, Oliver’s Sheep’s Nose, Weston’s Rosie’s Pig and a trio from Dudda’s Tun with their Disco, Hop Grenade and Cherry. Overall a great pub and well worth taking the very short detour to find it.
On 3rd May 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Jolly Judge
Hidden away down a snicket off Lawnmarket,this small cellar bar does have some seating outside but only useful in good weather.
The interior has a low ceiling,exposed stonework ,a tartan carpet in places and small tables and stools.It wouldn't take many punters in to make it feel crowded.
The ale selection was Cross Borders Braw,Cromarty White Out and Fyne Castle Black (NBSS 4) with another ale still conditioning.The welcome was friendly.
I liked it and would most certainly return.So much better than some tourist trap pubs around the Royal Mile.Deserved it's 2023 GBG listing.
On 19th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
View more reviews of Jolly Judge (12)
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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 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes - Small courtyard - last updated 08 January 2025 by Will Larter
- Darts : No last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 25 January 2016 by Quinno _
