The Jolly Botanist, Edinburgh

A shrine to The Beatles, with photographs, drawings, paintings, album covers, CDs, and replica concert posters of the band, individually and collectively, covering a substantial percentage of the wall space. Background music, however, was provided by a local Scottish radio station rather than the former fab four or their successors. Structurally, it looks like quite an old pub, with worn wooden floorboards and glass panel topped dividers, although the bright blue colour scheme, on the walls and upholstery, add an incongruous modern look. Alcoholically, McEwan’s beers predominate, with Export, 60, 70 and 80 Shilling all on draught, as well as their largely unpopular lager. John Smith’s bitter, Guinness, Strongbow cider and Fosters and Kronenburg lagers are also on draught. Tourist guides, if they include it at all, might well describe The Spider’s Web as basic and unpretentious, but, for central Edinburgh, it is remarkably good value, with all pints priced below £3.00. And, if you desperately require a dawn curer, it opens at 07.30 from Monday to Thursday, 09.30 Friday and Saturday and 12.30 on Sunday.