The Guildford: 1 West Register Street, Edinburgh

Further to my review on Teuchters, if you do want a quieter pub to watch the rugby, yet with still a bit of atmosphere, try the Guildford. Even on the final day of the 6 Nations tournament it was easy to get a seat right in front on the TV in this pub, and I enjoyed watching one of the games here. If you like listening to the commentary though you might want to choose somewhere else, as it was quite low and with people talking it was difficult to hear it. However on a day where the final weekend of the 6 Nations also fell on St Patrick’s Day and most pubs were therefore packed, the Guildford was a great option.

Outside of rugby this is a nice traditional old man kind of pub with some good real ales and good pint of Best. Be warned though the prices are not cheap. To give you an idea of how expensive this bar is - a pint of Coke costs £3!

There is also a nice restaurant up the stairs which is a good venue for an office lunch if you work nearby. From the restaurant you can admire the fine architecture of this bar, including an impressive ceiling (if you are impressed by this kind of thing).

Teuchters: 26 William Street, Edinburgh

This is a nice bar and I’ve enjoyed it when I’ve been to the bar when it’s quiet. The bar has a great selection of whisky, some real ales and a nice relaxed atmosphere. In winter a log fire adds a bit of warmth.

However, the last couple of times I’ve been to Teuchters was during 6 Nations Rugby weekends. One occasion was a Friday night where there was only a club game on and the 6 Nations match wasn’t until the next day. The bar was packed so full though you could hardly even move. The second occasion was to watch a game that wasn’t even being played in Edinburgh, so I thought it might be a bit quieter, but again the bar ridiculously full. The bar has many stone pillars which obscure the view of their TVs. This means when the bar is packed you often can’t even see the TV.

This bar is a great place to go off peak but I wouldn’t watch another rugby game there. I would advise you to avoid it particularly during rugby internationals weekends and perhaps other sporting events.

Avoid during the rugby!

56 North: 2-8 West Crosscauseway, Edinburgh

I had never been in this bar before, but was quite impressed when I visited one recent Sunday afternoon.

The bar is stylish and comfortable. There are TVs so you can keep an eye on the sport but the commentary is turned off so it is not too intrusive if you are not watching it. The background music was smooth soul classics to add a bit of atmosphere.

The bar offers a standard selection of beer but seems to specialise in spirits and cocktails. The food was pretty decent and I enjoyed having a meal there.

It’s pricy but most bars are in Edinburgh. The bar’s website calls the bar a “destination bar” which makes it sound pretty swanky and pretentious but don’t let that put you off.  Yes, it’s the sort of trendy bar you’d find on George Street but with less arseholes.

Overall I found this is a nice bar to relax in, however I would imagine this may be a different story during festival time due to its location.

5000 Hits and Counting

The Pub Inspector has now topped 3000 hits. If I was Victor Meldrew I might say ‘I don’t believe it!’ Thankfully I’m not him.

I am though amazed and delighted at the popularity of my Pub Inspector blog. The idea originally grew out of a ranting email I sent to a mate from New Zealand about an Edinburgh pub which we were due to meet some friends in that evening. You can read that review here – Mitre pub review.  

The Pub Inspector has recently been read in America, Spain, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Brazil, Canada, and of course within the UK.    

If you like the Pub Inspector, please put a link to it on your Facebook, Twitter or simply email it to your friends, family, and colleagues to get them in the know. One day I would love to meet someone in a pub that I have recommended and to hear that they went to it due to the Pub Inspector!

Victor Meldrew doesn't believe it!