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Halfway House, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH1 1BX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about Halfway House
It may or may not be the smallest bar in Edinburgh but it’s Mrs OB’s favourite and very handy for Waverley‘s Market St entrance. A bit of an S shape inside with the counter on the left as you enter. Four pulls of Scottish beers from Stewart, Broughton and Alechemy plus a standard keg selection on a horseshoe. The bar stools can make ordering a bit difficult, the limited amount of other seating is banquette and stools at wooden tables. The decor is mostly railway related apart from a collection of whisky drums and boxes, a collection of pump clips plus six nations flags on the ceiling and as curtains. They managed to fit in a screen as well. The owners, Old Town Pub Co run 14 other pubs in the city.
On 28th January 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about Halfway House
A handy spot for a last beer for us before heading for the train after a day's crawl. Luckily for us on our evening visit there was a few seats available. This is certainly a small pub, but the main feature for us was the beer choice and beer quality. Three ales, plus one cider on handpump, Stewart Edinburgh Gold and St Giles, Spey Valley Sunshine on Keith and the cider was Thistly Cross Traditional Scottish Cider.
On 23rd July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Halfway House
Smallest pub in Edinburgh ,I've been in bigger micropubs.It's on the passage way called Fleshmarket Close and has the bar immediately on the left, a few bar stools and vertical drinking area and then some small banquettes.It won't take many punters to be full.
There were two ales on my trip in Spey Valley Nice Try (an 80/-) and also their David's Not So Bitter (NBSS 4,Red Ale).I noticed some interesting craft keg options.
You have to pop in if passing,there's lots of atmosphere and I will be back.
On 19th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Halfway House
tiny traditional pub on the steep incline into the old town. Though very much city centreish, this is the good kind. People from all walks of life chatting away. Limited choice of beer but three decent real ales were on.
On 6th December 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Halfway House
A fairly small, corner pub located on one of the many alleyways that run down from the Royal Mile, it looks quite contemporary from the outside with it’s duck egg blue woodwork, but is much more traditional, even dated perhaps, inside.
It consists of a single room internally, although divided in to two halves perhaps, with the front half including the bar counter which was rather usually on a 45° angle. It’s really surprisingly tiny, with a limited amount of seating and even less room to stand. The flooring was mostly wood strip along with some tartan carpet in the front section, whilst there was both dark and black wood panelling on the walls as well as some pale brown paintwork. Seating options included curved booths with chocolate brown leather benches and mustard colour back cushions. A couple of etched mirrors were on the wall and a small TV was showing a terrestrial channel, although the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. Unusually, a display case at the front had a number of items for sale, including caps, tee shirts and post cards. A small blackboard menu listed a basic selection of pub snacks, but with the miniscule kitchen being clearly visible from the bar it was apparent that all dishes were merely popped in the microwave. In any case, there were a number of tiny midges flying around which would have discouraged me from eating in there.
Beers on tap were Strathbraan True North, Strathaven Drookit, Flower of Scotland and Windswept Blonde. The solitary cider meanwhile was Addlestones. Overall, not a bad little pub although the slim chance of getting a seat and the midges prevented me staying too long.
On 5th April 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Colin Walker left this review about Halfway House
The Halfway House is Edinburgh’s smallest AWARD winning pub It was CAMRA Scotland pub of the year 2005/6 and Edinburgh pub of the year 2009. The reason for the word AWARD being added is that the smallest claim to fame of the smallest pub is The Wee Pub in the Grassmarket area. Although this Wee Pub is part of Buddy Mulligan’s. On draught there is Stella, Tennent’s, Harviestoun Pale Ale available. There are 4 ale pumps & at the time of visiting 3 ales were on and 1 was being prepared ready to install. The ales available were Old Mortality, Strathaven & Spey Valleys David’s Not So Bitter. Visitors to the pub (Quotes from other websites) have complained about the food being heated up in a microwave. But if you check out the size of the please as already mentioned there is no room for a kitchen. So, you will have to be bear this in mind if wanting better than average quality food. The gents is a single one room cubicle, so keep the door closed.
On 7th September 2018
- rating: 10
[User has posted 709 recommendations about 704 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Halfway House
Compact and bijou as they say. Small but perfectly formed pub on a stairway between cockburn street and the market street entrance to Waverley train station. Four real ales and food available. Railway memorabilia on the walls.
On 12th February 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Halfway House
A rarity - an Edinburgh pub I haven't previously found.
Tiny but perfectly formed. Great pint of Stewarts 80'
Pleased to have found it.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2ungLwQ
On 13th July 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Halfway House
Located down a Close on a small corner plot, just past the Jingling Geordie. Small and cramped, with a couple of intimate little semi-circular booths. Loud and drunk youngsters hogging the main drinking space in front of the bar rather off-putting in such a close environment. Railway memorabilia and retro rail holiday posters from the 1930’s were of interest. Four pumps but just two on, a super half of Harviestouns Bitter & Twisted and a very good Copper (from a brewery I forgot to note). A good place, but a case of planning your visit carefully to extract maximum enjoyment. 7.5
On 25th January 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Ross left this review about Halfway House
One of the best pubs in Edinburgh, which is a substantial claim for a city with so many good ones. It is also one of the smallest, but that is an essential part of its charm. Occupying a tiny corner space about a quarter way (not halfway) up a steep and narrow alleyway between Waverley Station and the Royal Mile, it crouches directly below another pub, "Jinglin' Geordie." This is very convenient, as drinkers can head upstairs if the Halfway House is overly crowded, which it often is. Despite the limited space, there is a good selection of beers on draught. Telos Stewart Brewing Session Blond, Jack Back Stewart Brewing Session Pale Ale (only 3% and 3.7% alcohol respectively), Crofters Pale Ale and Strathbraan True North (4.4%, costing £3 a pint) are on hand pump, while Guinness, Caledonia Best, Tennent's and Stella Artois lagers, as well as Addlestone's Cloudy Premium cider are also on sale. It would be easy to miss this place if you're not familiar with the area, but try not to.
On 20th January 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 769 recommendations about 683 pubs]