Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and lies on the East coast on the Firth of Forth. The second highest population in Scotland it is the largest city by area. The city is famous for its architecture and design, both the old town and the new town are World Heritage sites. It has a world famous Castle and hosts the Edinburgh Festival (and Fringe) every year.

The easiest way to get to Edinburgh is by train to Waverley station. There is also the second last station which is Haymarket. These stations are at either end of Princes Street and Haymarket is the stop for Edinburgh's West End

 Edinburgh is a large city with many pubs spread over different areas of the town. Rose Street is a very popular drinking trail so I have ignored it and have introduced six or seven (depends on your time and inclination) other pub trails based in Edinburgh. There is a short one viewing pubs at the Grassmarket (red icons) and two slightly longer (or one very long) starting at Haymarket station towards Lothian Rd (green icons) or Princes Street to Haymarket (yellow icons) taking in pubs in the West End and Lothian Road triangle.

All of the pubs are highlighted on the map below.

Now added is a trail Around Bread St, (blue icons) linking West End trails to The Grassmarket Trail and a trail going Beyond The Grassmarket (purple icons) and The Royal Mile (brown icons).

There are also trails in The Cowgate (dark blue icons), heading to The Southside (orange icons) and Around Waverley Station (light Blue Icons)

 This trail can be started at various points on some of the other trails.

(a) The five pubs at the end of Princess St which start the West End trail and end trail 2 from Haymarket can be used to start this one before travelling up Lothian Rd

(b)  Half way through trail 2 from Haymarket, after Lebowski's, you can turn up Lothian Rd rather than down it. This misses out the first three pubs described here which also appear on trail 2.

Walk up the left-hand side of Lothian Rd from Princess St and after crossing to small streets start at The Red Squirrel and just a bit further and before the Usher Hall, is Shakespeare’s. Opposite this in the corner of a modern Square in front of the Sheraton Hotel there is All Bar One. Further up, back on the left hand side (or joining from Lebowski's) you cross Bread St and walk on to The Hanging Bat.

You now walk back down past (or back into The Hanging Bat) and turn right to walk along Bread St.  Going along Bread St on the right you encounter The Chanter and next door to this is Monboddo.  Across the street going down to the left is The Footlights and opposite this is The Blue Blazer. Continue along Bread St and discover that the two pubs on the next corner, Burke & hare and The Western Bar are actually lap/pole dancing clubs. Continue down the main Rd, now called West Port and discover The Dragonfly Cocktail Bar on the right and a little further down is 52 Canoes which was W.J Christie and Son (called The Grassmarket in trail 3). The trail now joins trail 3 - The Grassmarket

 Red Squirrel is bar/cafe diner on Lothian Road with small tables and some bar stools. Attractively presented it has beer fonts coming out of back wall. Expensive. Food served all day

Have one here

real ale     : Jarl, Cock of the Walk,

heavy        : Belhaven Best, Joker IPA, Hardcore Pale Ale,    Innis & Gunn

lager         :Black Isle Organic, San Miguel, Urquell, St Mungos,  Peroni, Tennent’s, Blue Moon, Weihenstephen

 cider        : Aspall                                  Guinness,    Black Ball Stout

 Shakespeares is a corner pub; its frontage is short but it goes back a fair bit and has outside seating down the side where it faces the Usher Hall.  A long pub that was probably two separate rooms at some point. This still splits into two serving areas. The rear area has 12-foot screen for sports. Food served all day

Have a pint here

real ale    : Tiger (Everards), Lia Fail, Autumn Envy (Stonehenge) heavy       : John Smith, McEwan's 70/-;  Punk

lager         :Tennent's, Stella, 1664, West

cider         : Strongbow, 1st Quality                               Guinness

 All Bar One is a large modern barn. Bar straight in front with large standing area. Seating to either side and outside.

Have half pint here

real ale     : Natural Blonde (Harviston)   

Ruthaus Wheat Beer

lager         : Esterella, Tennents, Stella, Peroni, Grolsch, Amstel    Heineken, Pilsner Urquell

 cider        :Aspall                                                 Guinness

 The Hanging Bat - only in Edinburgh would a pub serve 2/3rds rather than a pint. However, it is a nice pub with half a dozen real ales and 14 interesting keg beers. There is seating upstairs and down stairs from main bar area

Have a couple of two-thirds of a pint here

Good Beer Guide 2021

real ale    : lots and changing fast eg Alchemy; Buxton; Hawkheads 7; Buxton Bitter; Arbor

Keg            :14 different craft beers

The Chanter has a large glass frontage showing the width of a large bar area which goes back further at the left. L-shaped bar serves a variety of seating. Bar food is an important part of its attraction.

Have a pint here

real ale    : Inkie Pinkie;  Game Bird; Hop Scotch;  Barney’s (Edinburgh);

heavy        : John Smith

lager         :Becks; Stella; Tennent’s

cider         : Magners Golden                                            Guinness

Monboddo is the bar for the Point Hotel. It is large and bright. Full of comfortable seating. Many chairs and couches are high-sided to offer intimacy.

Have a half pint here

real ale    : nil

heavy       :

lager         :Tennent’s ;  Stella,

cider         : Gaymers                                           Guinness

The Footlights has a long frontage. The lower half is more booths and eating seating. The top half is the bar and has a variety of table heights. There is pool and darts and lots of screens for sports fans

Have pint here

real ale     : Bitter & Twisted; Deuchers;

lager         : Esterella, Tennents, Stella, Peroni, Grolsch, Amstel;   Heineken, Pilsner Urquell

 cider        :Strongbow                                                Guinness

The Blue Blazer is a cosy little corner pub. Two small rooms with basic bar furniture. Blue Blazer inlaid in floor tiles. Lots of atmosphere and very chatty.

Featured in Bob Steel's Edinburgh Pub Walks

Regular in Good Beer Guide (CAMRA) , including 2023

Se also The Drinking Man’s Guide

Have a  pint here

real ale    : Cauld Reekie, Pentland (both Stewarts), Deuchers,   Lochtoberfest (Loch Lomond), Trade Winds, Fladda Rock 'n' Roll (Fyne Ales)

heavy       :

lager         :Bud, Becks,  Staropramen

cider         : Magners                                          Guinness

The Dragonfly Cocktail Bar

RENAMED W J Christie & Sons

When it was :-The Grassmarket Bar is a one roomed pub just off of the Grassmarket. It has large communal tables which are great when quiet but when busy you cannot pick your neighbours.

Have half pint here

real ale     : pump not in use

heavy        : McEwan's 70/-

lager         : Heineken, 1664, Fosters

 cider        : Strongbow                                                 Guinness

ANSWWER: Othello