Greyfriars Bobby sits uphill from the Grassmarket range of pubs. On draught there is a choice of Aspall, Innus & Gunn Lager, Guinness, San Miguel, Caledonian Three Hop, Lager, Holyrood Pale Ale, Tennent’s lager, Peroni. There is a choice of ales from at the time of visiting Inveralmond Ossian Ale £4.20, Eden Mill Shipwreck IPA £4.80, Top Out Nelson Sauvin £4.30, Top Out Altbier - A German classic with a Scottish twist £4.50.
One of Edinburgh’s many pubs named after historical celebrities, a dog in this case (look it up…). With the aforementioned’s grave ten yards away and a neat bronze statue over the road depicting said canine, he’s quite some character. The pub itself looks quite grand from outside but is sadly a fairly standard affair within, though as a Nicholson house it has a higher level of general décor than the average. Three levelled interior, the most characterful part is the dip to right of the bar which sports a large semi-circular rear banquette. There’s another of these banquettes in the small main bar area with Greyfriars Bobby etched into mirrored bar back. The largest area off to left, a 3/4 dark wood panelled place that is mainly inhabited by the dining classes. Five ales on and a good selection for the chain; Ilkley Rosa (very good nick), Broughton Hopopotamus (excellent shape), W&E Conqueror, Stewart 80/- and St Austell Nicholson Pale. Given you get the tourist tick of the Bobby statue and grave within a 30 yard radius, this is one worth doing for a canine hat trick and a decent beer to boot.
Another of Nicholson’s Edinburgh pubs and although I primarily walked to Greyfriars Kirkyard to visit the pub, yes I had to stroke the dogs nose and get myself photographed doing so (well I was in tourist mode).
As mentioned below the true story of Greyfrairs Bobby may not be in line with the version sold to Hollywood and the now commonly believed truth is that it was probably a stray who made a home for himself in the kirkyard. But even so that’s still a lot closer than some fictional loch dwelling monster peddled by the Scottish tourist board to entice unsuspecting tourists to the most boring stretch of still water to be experience in this fine landscaped country..
Oops sorry, rant over, back to the pub. Inside you find a series of sections stepping downwards with the bar at the upper end and then a number of comfortable seating areas to the dining area at its far end.
We didn’t eat in this one, but the standard Nicholson’s food menu was available and the majority of people in had come for that reason.
Yes its primarily there to service the tourist trade and sell them food , but at least now there are five real ale pumps with offerings from the Nicholson’s summer list and my pint of Broughton Brewers gold was perfectly fine.