Sandy Bells, Edinburgh

Long thin corner pub, sadly I caught it on a music night so it was rammed, that’s actually every night plus afternoons at the weekend. It is a famous folk music pub. Fairly unspoiled interior with an impressive bar back and other fittings. Two banks of three pulls of Scots beers plus a couple of T-Bars of the usuals for Edinburgh. Otherwise the beer was excellent so I went back when it was quieter the next lunchtime. The beer was just as good and the banter from a mob of auld fellers in one corner was pure class, cheaper than a good many pubs in Edinburgh too.

Definitely went into this famous folk pub at the wrong time, as it was very quiet (and frankly rather depressing) at lunchtime. Anyway, the small, traditional interior is divided into two parts by a wooden screen with a limited selection of basic furniture and dark decor. Four of the five handpumps were operational, with Isle of Skye Red Cuillin being the most interesting offering (£2.80, but not in the finest condition). Overall, difficult to rate as I suspect that it would score a lot higher if you caught a cracking eveing music session...