PEEBLES

Peebles is a small town of nearly 9,000 people set in the Scottish Borders. The town is 53 miles from Glasgow and 23 miles from Edinburgh with no railway or Motorway access from either. Best public transport route is train to Edinburgh and then bus to Peebles.

In 2005 Peebles was rated as the best town in Scotland (2nd in Britain) for its range of independent shops. It has lacks major chain stores - not even a WH Smiths. While in 2014 Creative Scotland called Peebles the most creative place (of its size) in Scotland, it has lots of coffee shops, Galleries and fancy goods shops.

Peebles town, with its independent shops and bars, has a strong community feeling. Big enough to have one of everything: secondary school, swimming pool, sports centre, Rugby team, Theatre,  Cricket team, Castle (Neidpath)! but small enough to retain a community feeling.

Peebles is a gateway to the Scottish Borders with its many market towns, Abbeys and magnificent countryside.

John Buchan was born here and Sir Walter Scott's house Abbotsford is close by.

visit Peebles Border Abbeys Abbotsford

The bus will drop you at the top of the High St and, in general, the better pubs are further down the High St. This trail will take you down the left hand side of the road then back up on the right hand side. Just up and heading out of Peebles from the bus stop is The Park Hotel. 

Continue back down the High St to reach The County Inn and next door to it is the Tontine Hotel. Down at the foot of the High St crossing over to the left of the roundabout and before the bridge is The Bridge Inn. Walking back past the roundabout but not over the bridge is The Courthouse. Now walk over the bridge and around and staying on the main road there is the Neidpath Inn at the top of the hill.

Now return to the High St and walk up the staying on the left. There is the Crown Hotel (opposite The Tontine). Continue up the street and turn left into Northgate. Across on the right is The Central Bar and a little further on is The Cross Keys.  Return to the High St and walk upwards and on the next corner is our last pub The Green Tree Hotel. The bus stop is opposite here.

County Inn is a Belhaven food place, though it is not as big as some of these food/bar places, with salt, pepper and lots of menus on table. However, of this style of place it is an excellent good example. To the left of the entrance is a small seating area (termed The Snug). Deeper into the main room is an L-shaped bar serving a large beamed room with stone walls. This has mainly tall tables and stools with a raised area containing dining tables. There is no feeling of a dining room. Off of the main room is another seating area (The Library). There are several TVs dotted around for sports. Regular quiz on Thursday evenings. Disabled access, meals and dog friendly.

Have one here

real ale : Lia Fail; Ossian; County Ale; Abbot; Herok and Howells Tantallon Sunrise

heavy : Belhaven Best

lager : Tennent’s; Stella; Innis & Gunn

Cider : Strongbow Guinness

The Tontine is a large old stylish hotel in the centre of the High St. It has a large restaurant and small bistro using the same menu. To the right of the entrance is a large seating area with many sofas and armchairs to sink into. On entering reception is to the left and further up to the left is a small bar with some stools and five low tables to the right. More a place to wait until your meal is ready as the comfy area is far nicer to sit and drink in. Disabled access, meals and dog friendly.

Have one here

real ale : Clipper IPA (Broughton)

heavy : Caledonia Best; Mad Merlin (Broughton)

lager : Tennent’s; St Mungos

Cider : Mortimer’s Orchard

The Court House is on the second floor of the building. Up the stairs is a restaurant bar. A very small corner bar and 8 tables for eating means that it is not very spacious. However, there a very large beer garden with tables on a large decking and more on the grass beyond this. The beer garden can also be reached by a curved walkway just beyond the building.

Have one here

heavy : Caledonia Best

lager : Peroni; Innis & Gunn

Cider : Magners

The Crown Hotel is an old family run hotel. Right hand door takes you to the bar. It is quite narrow to fit in stools at the start then after the counter it opens out to settles and tables. The left hand door opens to a corridor with a four tabled lounge to the left. Service for the lounge is round the corner at the bar or through the bar door opposite. Further down the corridor is a large restaurant with a conservatory at the end of it.

Have one here

real ale : Edinburgh Gold

heavy : Maclays 70/-; Belhaven Best

lager : St Mungos, Coors; Tennent’s

Cider : Strongbow

The Central Bar is a small two roomed pub with a small corner bar.  The rooms have been brightened up with new furniture and flooring. There are a couple of seats outside on the pavement.

Have one here

heavy     :  Caledonia Best;

lager       :  Tennent’s

Cider      : Strongbow           Guinness

The Cross Keys Hotel is the oldest inn in Pebbles. It has now been taken over and modernised by JD Wetherspoon. The hotel takes up two sides of a courtyard with outside seating. Inside the bar is up to the left and seating is round to the right wing. There is a large patio outside. A sample of each real ale sit in front of the pump.

Have one here

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024

real ale : Old Ale (Naylors) Brooadside; Doom Bar; Abbot; Old Empire (Marstons); Young Henry’s; Pale Rider; Old Peculiar;

Dark Hunter and Lantern Jack (both Broughton); Mermaid Red (Coronado Brewing Co)

Craft : Devils Backbone

heavy : John Smith

lager : Innis & Gunn; Amstel; 1664; Fosters; Stella; Tennent’s; Tuborg; San Miguel

Cider : Strongbow Guinness

The Green Hotel has separate bar, lounge and restaurant. Right hand door takes you to an unreconstructed bar with darts and real fire. The other door takes to a large restaurant and a small lounge. Meals and dog friendly.

Have a half here

heavy : Maclays 70/-; Greene King IPA; Belhaven Best

lager : Tennent’s; Stella; Carling

Cider : Strongbow