Cellar Bar @ Merryburn Hotel, Dunkeld

The public bar here is called the Cellar Bar and, as its name suggests, it is located in the basement of the building, accessed by a separate door, below the main hotel. It is very much the locals’ village pub and was busy on the Saturday night I called in - much more so than the more up-market Birnam Inn down the road. It is almost windowless, except for one frosted glass one high up on the wall which lets in some natural light from street level. The interior walls are exposed stone and there is a mix of seating with banquettes, bar stools and chairs at tables. There is a pool table and dart board on a slightly raised platform at the opposite side of the room from the bar. The single TV and juke box were both silent when I arrived, although one local asked me if I minded him putting some music on, which I didn’t. Food is advertised, although there was no sign of anyone eating or of cooking facilities, so it’s probably brought down from the hotel. Prices are reasonable, with Guinness at £3.20 a pint. Tennent’s lager, Stella Artois, Caledonia Best, John Smith’s and Magners cider are also on draught.