The Bar Fly

The Magnum: great food, great wine, great big dog

Post author By The Bar Fly
Post date March 13, 2014
1 Comment on The Magnum: great food, great wine, great big dog

The Magnum Restaurant & Bar is on the corner of Albany Street and Dublin Street

There is a joke shop in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh that has “Push” beside the door handle on one side and “Pull” on the other. Of course, they’ve been reversed for comic effect. Simple but effective and it appeals to my immature sense of humour. At The Magnum on Albany Street in Edinburgh’s New Town, the signs on the door are also a little different in that they read “Shove” and “Tug”. It’s a nice, original touch and one that raised a smile as we headed along for drinks and a spot of dinner there recently.

Gorgie Reviews

Diggers: great Gorgie pub seeks glasswasher

Post author By The Bar Fly
Post date March 8, 2014
No Comments on Diggers: great Gorgie pub seeks glasswasher

The Athletic Arms, aka Diggers, in Edinburgh has not changed in many years

I mentioned before that an acquaintance of mine maintained that Bennets Bar near Tollcross was the best pub in Edinburgh. Well, another acquaintance makes the case for Diggers, also known as the Athletic Arms. This claim is all the more remarkable given his Hibs-supporting tendencies and this pub’s location in the opposition’s Heartland, if you’ll pardon the pun. So, situated on the corner of Angle Park Terrance and Henderson Terrace, is Diggers worthy of a place near the top of Edinburgh’s pub league?

Reviews West End

Bert’s Bar: if only next door was called Ernie’s

Post author By The Bar Fly
Post date March 2, 2014
3 Comments on Bert’s Bar: if only next door was called Ernie’s

Bert's Bar is on William Street in Edinburgh's West End — Bert’s Bar is on William Street in Edinburgh’s West End

Bert’s Bar. What a great name for a pub. What would make it even better is if the next door pub, The Melville, was called Ernie’s Bar. And William Street was called Sesame Street. Sadly, this is unlikely to happen any time soon. So, educational puppets aside, does Bert’s have what it takes to warrant a visit when there is so much competition in the immediate area?

East End Reviews

Cafe Royal: pleased to be seated in historic pub

Post author By The Bar Fly
Post date February 27, 2014
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Cafe Royal is always busy and you'll do well to bag one of the booths on the left — Cafe Royal is always busy and you’ll do well to bag one of the booths on the left

If the Commonwealth Games had been in Edinburgh in 2014, there could easily have been a new sport: circuits of Cafe Royal (singles and mixed doubles). Such is the popularity of this city centre pub at the east end of Princes Street that if you’re lucky enough to have a seat, you can watch endless singletons and couples enter by either the side or the front door, do a complete lap of the pub while looking for a seat before leaving, disgruntled, by the door they entered. Groups often enter by one door, take one look and leave immediately. So, is it worth hanging around by the ornate bar in case a seat becomes available?

East End Leith Walk Reviews

The Cask & Barrel: first for football in Edinburgh

Post author By The Bar Fly
Post date February 23, 2014
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Just in case you're not sure which pub you're in, The Cask & Barrel makes it clear — Just in case you’re not sure which pub you’re in, The Cask & Barrel makes it clear

It’s taken a few years for me to come round to the idea of the Cask & Barrel on Broughton Street. On paper, I should love it: plenty real ale, a traditional pub feel, and a wide selection of crisps. However, pub-going is not done on paper, as is often said of football too. And this is where the key to my new-found warmth for the Cask & Barrel has come from: The Beautiful Game.