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Cloisters Bar, Tollcross, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH3 9JH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about Cloisters Bar
This really is a haven for the cask ale drinker. The barman was excellent on our visit, taking time to select the right type of beer for us and giving out samples. He also took interest in my pub itinerary, which as per I had my printed out map. This struck up a good conversion along with a lady getting served at the bar, who recommended even more pubs to visit on the outskirts of the city.
Nine cask ales to choose from chalked up on a blackboard at the end of the bar. The list named the brewery, beer name, origin, style, ABV and price. The line up was Black Isle Yellowhammer, Stewart Pentland IPA, Swannay Pale Ale, Newburns Pale, Crossborders Heavy, Siren Yu Lu, Thornbridge Market Porter, Electric Bear Glitch, Allendale Homegrown and Northern Monk Aussie. There was also a further five keg choices.
On 23rd July 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Cloisters Bar
A ground floor bar in an old building,it is largely open plan with traditional seating and a curved spiral down to the loos.The bar is to the rear and beside craft keg and a decent whisky selection has real ale on my trip of Stewart Pentland IPA and Kilted Kiwi,Burning Sky Plateau,Cross Borders Heavy,Thornbridge Market Porter (NBSS 3.5),a pale by Weka ? and something I missed completely.This was a brief crawl visit but I would return for a longer session next time.
On 19th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Cloisters Bar
Cloisters Bar is a small bar with an L-shaped serving counter on the rear wall that supports ten hand pumps, eight of which were on during my recent midweek visit. I noted the presence or Trilogy Blonde, Two by Two, Titanic Plum Porter, Tempest Bright, Black Isle Brewing’s Yellow Hammer and Pentland IPA. There are also ten fonts for pouring craft keg, all the ale and keg is listed on a chalkboard. Food is available, the burgers are prices at £12.50. The interior is open plan with wooden floor and there’s a log burner in the fireplace on the left wall. No television was seen or music was heard. The toilets are located down a spiral staircase. The service was polite and I would return here as it’s certainly one of the better bars I visited whilst in Edinburgh.
On 10th September 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Cloisters Bar
Nice building with an ecclesiastical feel (turns out it was a former parsonage). Unlike many other pubs that look great from the outside but fail to live-up to the promise, this one does indeed deliver; untreated wood floor, nice vanished box wood ceiling, pew seating and an impressive wooden bar and back. Plenty of old brewery mirrors. Six cask with a general swerve towards the hoppy end of things, though that was more beers than there were people inside the pub itself. Perhaps inevitably the Black Isle Spider Monkey was a little warm but ostensibly fine (NBSS 2.5) though the scummy glass needed either dousing in limescale remover or binning. The hyperactive chatty barman gave me some pub recommendations. Get the feeling this is one best visited later on in the day. I did quite enjoy myself, despite the lack of turnover on the ale and the poor glassware and would be willing to give it another go.
On 15th November 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Cloisters Bar
Fiendly place, exceptional beer. Swanney Armillo was perfect.
Connected to the Church next door and a former parsonage. Airy, plenty of space, real fire.
Great pub.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2D0AhUB
On 11th January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Cloisters Bar
Interior as described below. 9 real ales and "craft keg" served.
On 8th August 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Cloisters Bar
Smallish bar with a bit more seating in the entrance lobby area. Solid wooden furniture. Despite the traditional aspects, it has quite a modern feel whilst retaining a relaxing atmosphere. Nine real ales on handpump, with a good selection of local ales such as Holy Grale from the excellent Stewart Brewing (£2.95). Also features a guest keg, currently St Mungo lager from WEST in Glasgow. Overall, well worth the walk out southwestwards from the city centre to the former All Saints Parsonage.
On 28th January 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Cloisters Bar
Originally converted from a Parsonage many of the seats in this bar are old pews. The walls are covered with brewery mirrors and there is a good looking gantry above the bar with over 50 malts. Six handpumps were on during our visit with Highland Scapa Special, Stewart Pentland IPA and Cairngorm Tradewinds being regular beers plus guests. The pint I had was in top condition despite it being the first of the day as we got here just as they opened the door at lunchtime. The landlord was pulling a couple of the other beers through whilst we were there which explains it. A good pub a little away from the tourist area just past Tollcross, well worth a walk up Lothian Road.
On 25th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Cloisters Public House
Very pleasant, but quite small, bar in Brougham Street, one of the better bars in the vicinity. Bare boards, lovely bar staff and a wide cross-section of the drinking community enjoy a range of ales here. I had both the Deuchres and TT Landlord; both were in good condition. I would like to have tried some of the micro beers too, but the company I was in meant in never happened - that's what happens when you drink with Philistines. Food is also served and is good value. The downside is that it gets very crowded. Interesting spiral staircase (not an original feature), when wet, makes for some entertainment. Worth including on a crawl, and I'd be happy to pop in any time for a beer or a meal.
On 3rd November 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]