The Conan Doyle, Edinburgh

The Conan Doyle is another of the Nicholson pubs in Edinburgh, but due to its position in the New Town at the east end of York Place it is well positioned to service locals and workers utilising the nearby St James Shopping Centre, Omni Centre and the Playhouse Theatre and as such had much less of a feel of being a tourist pub. And as it was the nearest decent traditional pub to our digs on the Royal Terrace we utilised it a few times for both food and drink. And another difference I detected with this one over the other Nicholson outlets we tried in town, was that this one was staffed by locals, both in the efficient waitresses and the bar manager, who seemed to all know what they were doing on the service front. Internally, the usual Nicholson’s décor is over two split levels with the bar on the higher level and the dining section down some steps to the exterior windows overlooking Broughton Street. The bar supports a row of seven hand pumps and alongside the ubiquitous Deuchars IPA, Doombar and Nicholson’s house Pale Ale, these included Xingu Brazilian Gold, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Artisan Amarillo, and Harviestoun Natural Blond. Unluckily on two occasions the pint I was poured was on its way out, but was replaced on request with a different one without fuss on both occasions and the pump clip reversed, so can’t really complain about that.

Bit quiet when we went in never come across this pub before all the times we have been to this city you dont get many bad pubs in the Nicholson concept and this was no exception had a good pint of Natural Blonde 4% WILL CALL BACK

Nicholson's pub named after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who was born across the road. Up to 7 real ales & food served.Interior as described by roger button below.

Having previously had a bad reputation, the Conan Doyle has been turned around by Nicholsons and is now one of the better chain pubs in the area. A weekday early evening visit showed it at its best - calm, mature clientele (no tourists this time), excellent pub food and first class service from a very pleasant, helpful lady. Its main fault is that it is just a little too corporate with its image, and some of the otherwise wonderful staff are just a litle bit Stepford in their approach. However, that said the beer was excellent and the food wonderful. Five ales on, I was encouraged to sample them all, and finaly had a pint each of Cairngorm Flying Dutchman and Gunpowder Mild. Both were in perfect condition and most enjoyable. Based on my last two visits I have to say this pub is a real success story for Nicholsons and well worth visiting for lunch, an evening snack or as part of a crawl.

Previously part of the Mitchell & Butler group, the Conan Doyle is now owned by Nicholsons and honours one of Edinburghs literary greats who was born virtually opposite (the house has long since been demolished). The pub looks straightforward enough from the outside although the previously drab paintwork is now a bright shiny black and houses a mass of flower baskets. The interior has a bizarre triangular layout across split levels. From street level there is a set of stairs that lead to the main bar off to the right and a few tables around the far walls. Off to the left is a sunken area with elevated window seats overlooking the busy street. The décor was fully refurbished when Nicholsons took it over but still has an old fashioned feel with bare floors, bookcases and patterned wallpaper. As one would expec, theer are various Conan Doyle / Sherlock Holmes displays among the old pictures of the city and there is a flat screen TV in the bar area and piped music. My Saturday lunchtime visit found largely a tourist customer base, many of whom were dining. Beer wise there were 7 hand pumps with the selection on my visit being Caledonian Deuchars, Harviestoun Natural Blonde + Bitter & Twisted, Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, Cairngorm Highland IPA and Brains Young Rev. Prices were pretty steep for a chain that always used to be very reasonable, the Young Rev clocking up £3.45. Overall the place is a bit too touristy and pricey for my liking but is a fairly safe option for a couple of beers in what appeared to be civilised surroundings. I would certainly make it part of crawl if I was out this way again.