please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Lovely old inn but the accent is heavily on food, giving it the air of a restaurant with drinkers a bit pushed for space. Staff very cheerful and attentive. Three real ales but all blonde so had Guinness.
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A very good meal, fine service, two lovely pints of Top of the Hops and a game of skittles afterwards. Pretty busy when we left, but justifiably so.
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42 years after my last visit (to play skittles with my local rugby club) Was it worth the wait......not really.
Fine beer but after walking there from the High Street via the Radical Road I would have happily guzzled the slop tray!
Progress I suppose, some quaint features but I just couldn't remember them as being authentic.
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Lovely welcoming historic pub with comfy seating and good choice of beer.
Floyd - 29 Oct 2012 15:37 |
Descended on this pub from a wet and windy Arthur's Seat, in need of a refreshing pint. The pub has undergone 'gastrification' since my last visit. In fairness, the place was in need of a brush-up, but some of the atmosphere has been lost. Four pumps, beers included Red Squirrel Hopfest and Bitter'n'Twisted. My pints of the Hopfest were excellent, as was the delicious burger I ate (at a fairly steep �9.95).
Despite the more upmarket feel, this is still a good pub.
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first time back in around 14 years. What a history. Had a nice walk from Princes Street over Arthurs Seat and always planned on coming here. Busy for a monday night, but apparently its a Bank Holiday. Just two staff on and they were rushed off their feet. The barman did a great job of staying the right side of abusive as he turned various parties down or talked them into one course only as it was 8pm at night and the chef wanted to go home (!). After my walk, I stuck to the stella black but amazed to see Doom Bar here. When I go to Cornwall on hols next week, no doubt it will be heather ale.
The drinking equivalent of a museum. 600 years of boozing. What is not to like?
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Called in for a beer on Tuesday after strolling over Arthur's Seat. A pub with an interesting history and range of decorative artifacts, pictures and clocks etc. Beer was fine, although I was a little surprised to find 2 ales from Cornwall (Sharp's Cornish Stout - very tasty - and Doom Bar), 1 from Skipton and nothing Scottish. There were locals and regulars eating, which suggests the food must be OK (if not cheap), but since I did not eat I can pass no judgement on this. I will bring the wife next time; she will also like the place.
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First time entering this establishment. We were a table of 12, looking forward to a much needed meal.We should have saved our money. When paying what can only be described as "bistro" prices, eg, a few pennies of �9 for a burger, that quite honestly was of poor standard. A steak that could have been used as a door stopper. A bacon and cider pie that was totally disgusting. Be aware folks, they have the hype of being the oldest pub in Scotland, but it appears that it is this very historical hype that they are relying on, as customer care and service is not their forte. The real ale that was on at this time can only be described as mediocre.
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The rating still doesn't do this wonderful place justice. Went in before Christmas and the atmosphere and service were superb. Extremely comfortable by the big leather armchair by the fire and I didn't want to leave. 'Sheep Heid Ale' was fantastic and so was the food. The Christmas tree and decorations went perfectly with the bric-a-brac and nooks and crannies to create one of the cosiest pubs I've ever been to. Well-documented in guidebooks but still out of the way enough to be considered a find. An absolute must if climbing Arthur's seat.
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Comfortable and tastefully rustic. For a sunny afternoon visit the atmosphere could best be described as conservative. Decorum is the name of the game. Still pleasant enough after a trek across Arthur's Seat, with a good choice of ales. The service was efficient and civil, but on the whole an unremarkable experience.
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Startled that this place is only averaging 5.4 - it's far better than that and after visiting a few times I'd say that Coldie was seriously unlucky. The bar staff can be a little slow and disorganised, but the only serious fault I'd say is that they stop serving food too early - 7.30pm I think. Good beer in decent condition, food looks tempting. Cluttered interior is indeed cosy with big leather armchairs and they've recently run a good beer festival, though with an awful lot of bottled stuff; nice but not as interesting and quite pricey. On the whole though, a great pub and well worth the trip to Duddingston, a little old village somehow ignoring the rest of Edinburgh, which surrounds it.
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I don't care what you and Arthur got up to, or indeed, wish to know anything about what you were doing with the sheeps hide. Lets keep to the point, nice cosy pub with big crisps.
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A good pint of their own "Sheeps Heid ale", to wash down a welcome meal after the exertion of climbing Arthur's Seat. In common with all pubs in Scotland, it it now mercifully "SMOKE Free".
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Indifferent bar staff combined with scowling, rubbernecking locals made our visit here unwelcome. We sat in silence in the 'beer garden'drinking quickly. In and out in 10 mins, never to return. Avoid!
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total atmosphere!
Good food, well served,great staff!! and what's more,a (nearly) real fire!
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