please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Traditional corner pub that is obviously very popular on matchdays. There's plenty of staff. But it's still difficult to get served as everybody crowds round the bar and you have to shout over everyone's heads. A reasonable selection of ales - Navigation Nottingham Apus, Caledonian Lipsmacker, Flying Scotsman & Deuchars IPA, Stewart Diggers & Alechemy Starlaw Pale Ale. I liked the busy atmosphere. But with standing room only, it was a bit uncomfortable. Probably much better on non-matchdays.
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Was staying down the road so sought out this pub to watch the football. Dont know why but it was different to what I was expecting, but I liked it. Seemed to be a real mixture of clientele, some locals necking ale like it was about to be outlawed, some chaps in suits ordering cans of coke (??!!!), and some americans who seemed delighted that they could pay with cards. The chap working let me try all the ales which we expect but still nice to see, and the XPA stood out for me, lovely stuff. Was nervous about the game so didnt want a big meal but a nice small but tasty pie was served to keep me going. Nice friendly pub, quite spacious and colourful with plenty of Hearts memorabilia all around. Recommended
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Myself and my travelling companion arrived at Diggers just after 11.15am and we were the 3rd and 4th people in.
Good selection on scottish ales on draught and the pint I had was very good.
A well known pub for Hearts fans and the decoration of football and other sporting memorabilia shows this.
Lovely tiled floor and the snug at the right of the main bar is obviously a welcome addition for the crowds that flock here on a match day.
Cracking pub full of character
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Make an effort to get to The Diggers - it is well worth it. I was glad to see that noothing much had changed since my last visit many years ago. The beer range has increased and the once-famed and fabulous McEwans 80/- has gone but has been replaced by Stewart's 80/- which is a pretty good substitute!! The bar is bright and clean and there is a back room (no bar). Papers and beer magazines are available and the staff still wear the aprons which a nice touch.
It gets heaving during the football and rugby season as it is very near to Hearts ground and of course Murrayfield. Recommended!!
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Bustling on a Wednesday evening, excellent atmosphere. Nice to see an old lady in a wheelchair being well looked after by her much younger relatives. Televised football was being avidly watched by most of the customers present. Some ales served by traditional air pressure, others by handpump. All in fine condition. This is a very good pub well worth a slight detour to visit.
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Renowned boozer close to Murryfield and Tynecastle that gets its nickname from the fact that it lies between two graveyards. It's on a street corner and is very traditional, retaining quite a degree of interesting original features (the pub features on the Scotland regional inventory) , although the Edinburgh Pub Walks guide tells us that some crass refurbishments were carried out in the mid 1980s upon the pub's acquistion by Scottish & Newcastle- surprise surprise.
Nevertheless, the main room is a traditional,L-shaped affair with the curious 'miniature tables', about 3 feet long and 1 foot deep, that one can also find in the Bow Bar. A rear room is also furnished similarly. The pub has the usual Edinburgh brewery mirrors adorning it, and sport features prominently here, with the pub very busy on Hearts matchdays.
The beer range was solid if not spectacular, with Stewart and Caledonian breweries featuring- much like any other pub in Edinburgh. Three wise men from Stewart was pleasant, a coppery pint.
It's a bit of a walk out but easily accessible by bus, if you're in the Haymarket area definitely worth a punt, although probably not now one of Edinburgh's best pubs as it apparently once was.
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Friendly and helpful service, a tidy welcoming pub with a good atmosphere. Choice of 5 or so ales, and mine was in fine condition. Interesting and unusual seating arrangement. Nice clean gents. A bit of a trek from the centre, but not far from Haymarket station and well served by buses.
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Fairly large pub with wooden floors, basis furniture and TV screens. Six ales on offer for my visit: 3 Caledonians, 2 Stewarts and a Haviestoun. Decent pint of heavy.
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One of the new pubs (for me) I tried on my crawl round GBG pubs, and I found it to be a friendly pub. Both customers and bar staff made me welcome, and I enjoyed both the 80/- and the guest from Elgoods.
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surely the most purile rubbish tasteless beer in the known world mcspewans 80 bob
dire
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So long as you're drinking heavy, this is THE Edinburgh pub.
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great pub!! Stick to the 80/-, and don't ask for a lager top - "What do you think this is - a cocktail bar"
One of the best pints in Scotland
anonymous - 25 Oct 2004 18:31 |
Brialliant 8o Sheckles, good banter a pub that trys hard excellent manager Aand staff and no pretence. A must for before a match at Tynecastle
Betty Ford - 21 Oct 2004 11:18 |
The Diggers is a cracking wee pub. With the friendliest of customers and the nicest staff. Always made to feel welcome. No music apart from tv gives you the oppertunity to talk. Give it a visit and have a pint of 80/-
laura findlay - 28 Sep 2004 23:35 |
Amazing Pint of Heavy, fast service, and very friendly people. I would heartily recommend a stop in this out of the way pub.
Brian Carson - 10 Apr 2004 01:46 |
Love this pub! Always feel welcomed and like a regular here even though we only get there every few years as we live in the US
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Double signage shows the pub as The Athletic Arms and Diggers and it is known locally as the latter, presumably due to its location next to a graveyard. Large pub but disappointingly only had two small screen TV's on for Scotland's Euro 2004 qualifier. Free beer from the landlord when Scotland scored though. Just as well we weren't there for the second leg.
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