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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th December 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by David Walton
Submitted on Saturday, 8th November 2025
With picture contributions to 1656 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Kays Bar, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH3 6HF
Served areas
Reviews of Kays Bar (Average Rating: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about Kays Bar
Visited 06/11/25
Cask offering was TT LL, Jarl from Fyne Ales, Paolozzi, Theakston Best Bitter, Natural Blonde from Harviestoun, Thistly Cross cider, Five Wells 80/- from Strangers Brewing Co. Keg was Amstel, K1664, Guinness, Neck Oil, Crushable also from BT, an IPA from Pilot. What looked like a significant whisky offering on the shelves behind the bar.
Small glass fronted and very atmospheric bar, a short walk from the hustle & bustle of touristy Edinburgh. Safe to say red is the predominate colour in here. Bar counter is on right hand wall with tall stool seating at the bar counter. Opposite are some banquettes serving several small round tables with small stools the other side. There is a small banquette at the rear sandwiched between the toilets and the Library Bar, which was a small but very atmospheric space with its red carpet and wood panelled walls. I got about the last place to sit (a stool mid bar counter) which made for a very pleasant short stop.
On 8th November 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 897 recommendations about 891 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Kays Bar
I did call in here once before but it was so busy that I had to find a seat in the room on the way to the women's toilet, which has 19th century sexist cartoons on the wall. My visit today is at a quieter time of year, so I found a choice of upholstered bench seats opposite the bar counter. There's a bank of six hand pumps by the door with habitual bar hangers blocking the view, but I negotiated enough room for my shot; there's a Fyne Jarl pump further down. Perhaps I should have gone for that, but I had just had the same beer in the Oxford, so went for Swannay Orkney Best, which was in good nick but is not as good a beer (NBSS 3). It's ok here, but I'm not joining the fan club any time soon. Plenty of more pleasant pubs in Edinburgh than this
On 8th January 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4531 recommendations about 4152 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Kays Bar
A popular tiny bar located behind and between some rather posh houses. A small rectangular room with the right hand third taken up with the counter, banquette seating at Britannia tables opposite and the lavs and a couple of tables at the far end. WhatPub says there’s another small room at the back, it’s near the ladies at the rear right but I didn’t visit it. Seven pulls of four Scottish beers, a couple of Yorkshire interlopers from Taylors and Theakston plus a Thistley Cross cider, a few keg solos of UK nationals, a little hard to tell what due to bar blockers. Fairly traditional in decor with old casks, stoneware jugs and brewery mirrors. The interior is fairly original and red. I wasn’t keen on the atmosphere, seemed a little cliquey but if you’re in a group it’s probably ok or I may have been unduly influenced by some miserable locals blocking the bar and giving me the evil eye.
On 28th January 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3793 recommendations about 3462 pubs]
View more reviews of Kays Bar (11)
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- Official site of Kays Bar, includes menu and real ale list - www.kaysbar.co.uk
- Facebook - Kays Bar
- Twitter - fraserkaysbar
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Kays Bar - whatpub.com
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 last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes - Not permitted between 12 and 2.30. - last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes - 12.00 to 2.30 Monday to Saturday - last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No 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 : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 15 November 2021 by Quinno _
