Ensign Ewart, Edinburgh

Small two room bar near the top of the royal mile. It reputedly dates from the 17th Century but internally it’s fake medieval stone and plaster walls, black ceiling beams and a bit of half timbering. There is a nod to the Royal Scots Greys, Ensign Ewart was a member of the regiment and single handedly captured a French eagle at Waterloo as described before and in the menu. An angled counter is to the right with four hand pumps, only a Stewart beer and Banks’s Amber on today plus a T-Bar of six usual and unusual beers and cider. Banquette seating and traditional wooden furniture with a few casks in the middle. The smaller back room is decorated with humourous enamel signs and prints. The toilets are here but difficult to see for the unsober. Frequent folk music.

Official site of Ensign Ewart - www.ensignewartpub.co.uk

Official site of Ensign Ewart - www.ensignewartpub.co.uk

A reasonably small and traditional looking pub at the top end of the Royal Mile just down from the castle, we found it pretty much full to capacity on our recent Saturday evening visit, which was perhaps on account of the live music that they host every night from 9:00pm, although on this occasion it consisted only of a few fiddlers sat around one of the tables in the front bar. Internally it’s divided in to two rooms, both of which are quite cosy. Seating was limited in both of the bars, and a large barrel was provided in the front one for vertical drinking. There were plenty of black beams on the ceiling as well as some inlaid timberwork in the walls, and rough white plasterwork elsewhere. A stone archway led to the rear bar with an illuminated stained glass picture of the ensign set in to the wall and making something of a feature. The rear bar was actually an L-shape, but the end of the “L” was so narrow as to only have enough room for one table to be squeezed in. A large stone fireplace with a selection of old whisky bottles on the mantelpiece was in here, although unfortunately all it contained was a very tacky looking electric wood burning stove. A few old brewery mirrors were dotted around the walls, including Guinness and Scot’s Grey. Beers on tap were Edinburgh Gold, Broughton Old Jock and Top Out Staple, whilst a fourth pump for Broughton Dark Dunter had apparently run out. The solitary cider meanwhile was Addlestones and there was also an extensive selection of Scottish gins if that’s more your thing, with a menu listing all the available options. All in all, I thought this was a decent little pub, and would happily pop in again if in the area.

Tarted up on the outside but still the same on the inside, complete with the huge painting of the battle of waterloo. Full of tourists ordering from the whisky menu. I should of joined them - my pint (Edinburgh Gold, sampled in great condition over the road) was ghastly. Still, had live music and a decent atmosphere. Would come again. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2ungLwQ