John Leslie (Leslie's Bar), Newington, Edinburgh

As noted in the reviews below, Leslie's is justly famous for its interior architecture and decor. The ornate ceiling is particularly noteworthy, although I wasn't so sure about the current thistle themed wallpaper. It was built in 1899 by noted pub architect P. L. Henderson and the mahogany island bar is apparently almost unaltered since then. Mainly a drinking pub, with six real ales and several malt whiskies on offer, but no substantial food in evidence.

Leslie's is a fantastic little Victorian pub just to the South of the City Centre, a few minutes walk from the Royal Mile. The features described below make it an architectural and aesthetic gem, while its beer quality is renowned - it is a GBG regular. The staff make everyone welcome, and the locals are friendly. Four ales on, I thoroughly enjoyed a pint of Caledonian and would happily have gone through the 3 guest beers if time had allowed. Well worth seeking out for a quiet pint or two and would be a great place spend a lunchtime or to start a crawl.