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The Kenilworth, Edinburgh

154 Rose Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3JD
Phone: 01312261773

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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 The Kenilworth

Another fine example of a listed pub for its Historic Interior. One of four impressive pubs in Edinburgh with an island bar. The building is from 1780, while the interior, by architect Thomas Purves Marwick dates from 1899.
The walls are covered in blue and white Minton tiles, which are very striking as you enter the pub.
This is in the care of Nicholsons, so the beer choose on our visit was Nicholsons Pale, Purity Mad Goose, Stewart Jack Back, Adnams & Siren Tropical Pale Ale and Dark Star Skylab.

On 15th July 2023 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about The Kenilworth

One of many pubs on the popular Rose Street strip, this one is a Nicholson’s outlet, although probably somewhat smaller than many of their establishments.

The main room at the front of the pub is dominated by a large central bar counter taking up much of the available floor space, with the drinking area being arranged all around it. It’s quite elegant in some ways, with a very high ceiling including elaborate cornices, brass chandeliers and a mustard and aqua blue colour paintwork. To the left of the bar counter were some open sided booths being separated with wooden partitions containing etched glass. Elsewhere, the seating was brown Chesterfield bench seating around much of the permitter, along with small tables and chairs at the front and a ledge for vertical drinking to the left. Four small stained-glass windows were high up in each corner. The floor was sanded wooden boards, whilst the walls were almost entirely covered in old green and while tiling. An inset glass display case to the left housed a collection of old books and quills. A couple of TV’s were mounted high up on the wall, but these had the sound muted so this was not too intrusive. Instead, a radio station was playing a decent mix of hits, although the volume level was perhaps a tad loud, especially when they were talking rather than playing music. There were also a few branded brewery mirrors dotted around, including Ind Coope and Tennent’s. A separate snug down a few stairs at the rear was a cosy spot with much wood panelling on the walls, a built-in cupboard with etched glass, and a few old black and white pictures.

The menu offered an extensive selection of dishes including a number of pies and burgers, and my fish pie was decent enough with some generous chunks of fish and a very cheesy mash topping, although the accompanying vegetables were quite dire.

Beers on tap were Jack back and 80/- from Stewarts, Hobgoblin Ruby, Fyne Ales’ Jarl and their own Jubilee Ale. The solitary cider meanwhile was Mortimer’s Orchard.

On 15th November 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Brainy Pool left this review about The Kenilworth

chainy feeling pub with a nice heritage Victorian island bar and ‘Tartan snug’ which feels like a dowdy restaurant. Popular with American tourists ordering fish and chips. Dull, very dull, which is exactly what a pub is never supposed to be. But my pint from Stewarts was okay and staff were friendly.

On 5th December 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1051 recommendations about 1016 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Kenilworth

Nicholson's pub with an old style interior that includes an ornate ceiling and patterned tiles on the walls. The wooden central island bar serves 6 real ales and food. One of the better pubs if doing the rose street pub crawl.

On 4th August 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 Kenilworth

Been here before but it took the CAMRA Pub Walk in Edinburgh to really point out its beauty.

Look to the ceiling. Look to the tiling. Look to the central Island Bar.

A 1st Timothy Taylor Mild consumed in one of the nicer pubs in Rose Street.

Visit Blogged at http://bit.ly/2rTWydn

On 25th May 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Boots left this review about Kenilworth

One of many Nicholson's pubs in Edinburgh, this one has a wealth of original features, the magnificent ceiling, as with many Edinburgh pubs, some stained glass and the stunning tile work covering the lower 3/4 of the walls all round except the front which has new windows. Five old style Scottish handpulls plus one very English looking one. The beer was well kept but the choice a little poor. Two from Deuchars, the Nicholson's house beer from St Austell, a Thornbridge christmas beer ( in late January) and Adnams Longboat, a collaboration brew. I had the Longboat which was not that pleasant but then again the barman might have pulled the Thornbridge by mistake as it was a bit spicy and not in a good way. Worth a visit for the decor but....

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


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Kenilworth

A Nicholsons pub with a splendid historic interior with numerous features of interest around the highly impressive island bar. Tiled walls, moulded ceiling, stained glass upper windows, small screens by both front doors, etc. There is also a much smaller (and less interesting) dining room at the back. Six real ales on offer, with Caledonian Double Dark (£3.25) being the pick of the bunch. Overall, something of a 'must visit' but my rating from this visit is lower than it would otherwise have been due to a very short-measure pint and a distinct lack of enthusiasm from the barman when I asked him to to it up.

On 29th January 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


ROB Camra left this review about Kenilworth

Another of my unreviewed (until now) regular haunts in Edinburgh. Perfectly described by Roger below, it has a fine example of a Scottish traditional island bar. There's usually several well kept ales on the bar and the food is pretty good considering it's part of the Nicholsons chain. It can get absolutely packed in tourist season, but it's a great place to visit January - March before the hordes of American & Japanese tourists descend on the city. It's a very good pub.

On 26th January 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3216 recommendations about 3127 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about Kenilworth

Named after a Walter Scott novel, this Nicholsons pub was originally built as a private residence in the late 18th Century and converted to a pub in 1904. Much of the single room interior has remained unchanged since then although there has been some necessary restoration done. The pub is listed on the CAMRA Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.

The interior is one large single room with a huge island bar that does seem a bit disproportionate and much of the seating is squeezed to the edges creating a few bottlenecks when busy. A couple of small snugs and divides around the bar were apparently 1960’s additions. The textured tiling and ornate ceilings are original and particularly noteworthy. Brewery / distillery mirrors are the centerpieces of the décor and a large personalized mirror looms high on the rear wall. A separate small room at the rear labeled the Scott Room was also added in the 60’s and is easily missed unless you visit the loos.

As you would expect with Nicholsons, there is a decent selection of ales with 5 across the 8 pumps; Harviestoun American IPA, Vale Black Beauty, Copper Dragon Golden Pippa, Caledonian Deuchars and Brains Rev James although the Brains had a reversed clip. Service was quite welcoming although my pint needed a top up which was done with no quibbles. The general ambience was very civilized and the piped background music wasn’t a distraction.

Unless it is busy (which I have no doubt it can get) it is a decent stop for a couple of beers and I would certainly recommend it to anyone trying to whittle down the areas numerous taverns to a more realistic and select few.

On 14th December 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


david turnbull left this review about Kenilworth

excellent ales.great interior.one of the better pubs on rose street.a must to call in.

On 8th August 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 13 recommendations about 12 pubs]

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