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Deacon Brodies Tavern, Edinburgh

435 Lawnmarket
Edinburgh
EH1 2NT
Phone: 01312256531

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Pub Type

Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)
Page: 1 2

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Real Ale Ray left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

To really appreciate this pubs historic interior, I recommend an early doors visit at 11am or perhaps in the winter time out of season. The pub was absolutely jammed on our Thursday afternoon visit, mostly tourists, can't comment as we were too.
I marvelled at the ornate decorative ceiling and managed to get a glimpse at the end of the bar area and wall mural. Five ales on handpump, Nicholson's Pale, St Austell, Deuchars, Stewart 80 and Stewart Black Jack. The prices were steep as you would expect from this chain.

On 27th July 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

A Nicholsons house on a street corner the fine exterior is not really matched by the interior although the carved wooden bar is a standout feature.The furniture is worn and jumbled and the CAMRA historic interior listing hardly seems worthy.There is a first floor dining area which maybe more interesting.
The ale selection on my trip was St Austell Nicholson's Pale (doubled),Doom Bar (coming soon),Stewarts 80/-and Jack Black with Fyne Jarl (NBSS 3).My drinking companion ordered a whisky which here is served at 25ml and the inexpericed barmaid poured a short measure which was challenged but not corrected.This is what happens in chain pubs in tourist hot spots,I don't know why this features in the 2023 GBG and there are many better pubs nearby.Maybe the local CAMRA branch see a lot of handpumps and equate that to ale quality.
No reason to revisit.

On 19th November 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Colin Walker left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

Deacon Brodies sits on a prime corner site on the Royal Mile. This pub on 2 levels has a large selection of drinks like a lot of Nicholson pubs on which this is one. With over 20 whiskies. Lots of craft beers, beers from around the world and over 25 gins.

On 25th February 2020 - rating: 10
[User has posted 707 recommendations about 702 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

This is a Nicholson’s pub on a prominent street corner spot on the Royal Mile just a short stroll downhill from the castle. A plaque on the outside wall details a short history of the deacon’s life from which the pub takes it’s name.

Internally, the main part of the pub is a single, open plan room although a sign indicated that there was a further dining area upstairs. The high ceiling was quite ornate, being elaborately carved and colourfully painted with rose and thistle motifs. Dark wood strip was on the floor and dark wood panelling on much of the walls, although the right hand was covered in very large drawings showing further images of the deacon’s activities. Wooden benches with red padded cushions ran around much of the perimeter, whilst high tables and stools were down the middle of the pub. Service at the bar seemed quick and efficient even though the pub was very busy, and a TV at the rear was showing a news channel, although the volume was off so this was not too intrusive.

The menu offered a decent looking selection of “pub grub” dishes, but we were just after a bit of a snack and so went for a sharing platter of nachos topped with guacamole, salsa, chilli slices and melted cheese. It was ok, but it could definitely have done with more toppings as by the time you’d got through the top layer you were just left with plain nachos. For £9, it seemed rather expensive.

There was a good choice of eight beers on tap, and these included Nicholson’s Pale Ale and Dark Star Partridge as well as Cross the Line, 80/- and Jack Back from Stewart’s. Regrettably I neglected to note the other three. The solitary cider meanwhile was Mortimer’s Orchard, which whilst not generally one of my favourites, seemed to go down very well.

On 5th April 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Boots left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

Famous tourist pub on the Royal Mile run by Nicholsons. A square room downstairs with a dining room upstairs. Bench seating all round the edge at normal tables with chairs, there's a posing table in the middle of the room. The counter is off to the left and has seven pulls of the kind of range found in Nicholsons pubs throughout the city. Decorated down one wall with scenes from the life of Deacon Brodie, the noted corrupt councillor burglar, and possibly an inspiration for R L Stevenson's Jekyll & Hyde. The ceiling is a very loyal unionist one with Scottish thistles and a few English roses.

On 1st February 2017 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3209 recommendations about 2920 pubs]


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Quinno _ left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

Another Nicholson outlet in a city that seems to boast more of them per square mile than London. Another Edinburgh pub named after a local character (look him up, he’s quite a wag). It’s a long single bar with intricate rose and thistle ceiling and impressive dark wood and mirrored bar back. The large C18th-style wall decals are of interest. Seven pumps at the bar with a decent selection; Hop Back Winter Lightning (very good nick), Stewart's 80/-, Deuchars IPA, Trumans Yule Star (very good) and Roosters Fort Smith (though on a busy Friday all pumps should have been on?) Loud music blarting out pretty incongruous with the surroundings. There’s a fair bit of character here so it’s worth popping in for a swift one – the quality of the ale was a happy bonus. Things aren’t as bad here now as some previous reviewers found.

On 25th January 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


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Steve of N21 left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

Yes fully agree. A paint by numbers usual format for a Nicholson’s pub, but that still means it’s one of the more reliable pubs at this end of the Royal Mile to find a decent ale choice.
As others have mentioned the usual Nicholson’s beer and food focus over two floors with the bar downstairs and the restaurant upstairs.
The interior is traditional but not that special, with the possible exception of the especially striking ceiling, majoring on thistles and red rose motifs as mentioned previously. The location does obviously mean that this is a very popular pub for tourists, but there seemed to be quite a few local office workers in as well for my early evening visit.
Five handpumps with beers from the current Nicholson’s summer list including the Nicholson house ale, Oakham Ales Citra, and a very passable Broughton Oatmeal Stout, which I did have to ask to be topped up by the hassled barman.

On 4th August 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


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hondo . left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

A Nicholson's pub located slap bang on the royal mile. As per usual with Nicholson's it has an ornate old style interior(didn't visit upstairs).5 real ales and food served.The pub is named after William(Deacon) Brodie and what a character he must have been politicians eh some things never change.

On 15th March 2013 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


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Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

Very popular with the tourists, this is a typical Nicholsons establishment with an ornately-decorated bar and an upstairs dining room (pub grub, but not cheap). Five real ales on handpump, including a fine Broughton Oatmeal Stout (£3.70). Overall, not great but one of the best bets directly on the Royal Mile (although you don't have to go far to find somewhere more interesting).

On 28th January 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


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E TA left this review about Deacon Brodies Tavern

A Nicholson's pub, Deacon Brodie is no the best of its kind. It is the usual format - real ale bar with 5 ales on downstaiors, restaurant upstairs. Its location is fantastic - right on the Royal Mile, and the decor is in good condition. One feature of note is the reliefed ceiling with a spectacular rose and thistle in the centre. Sadly, it's let down by its staff who were generally apathetic. The barmaid couldn't pour a full pint and was quite surly when I asked for a top-up. Then I was charged the wrong amount for the round, and communication seemed to be problematic (the barmaid's first language was neither English or Gaelic). The clientele was lively, mostly tourists but the better behaved kind. I had a pint of Leeds's Midnight Bell which was a bit bland and not particularly enjoyable. Worth including in a crawl, but there are better pubs nearby to spend an evening.

On 10th August 2011 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]

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