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Location: 237 Morningside Rd, Morningside, Edinburgh EH10 4QU

Year of Inscription: 2024

Venue Type: Historic Tavern / Traditional / Unusual

Map

Description

Gallery

EBG Rating:	8.7/10
Choice/ Quality of Drinks	❤️❤️❤️❤️ Moderate beer selection but a broad range of whiskies. Wines are superior for a traditional pub too.
Style/ Décor	❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ A labour of love, first established over 150 years ago as the Volunteer Arms, enter and you’ll find a curation of artefacts and personal heritage that has been carefully fastened and preserved in place. Many aspects draw the eye across a small warren of rooms, from taxidermy to dummies, model ships, etc.
Atmosphere/ Character	❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Hugely characterful whether it’s empty or busy, the tone shifts only when service is to be encountered – as reviews are keen to point out, this is a love or hate experience.
Amenities/ Events	❤️❤️❤️ Food, snacks, tasting nights, music.
Value For Money	❤️❤️ City centre prices.
Description	Infamous, the luke-warm ratings you’ll read conceal the passionate love-or-hate split to this place. Lots of 5 star ratings, lots of 1. The pub has a long history, transformed from the Volunteer Arms by the Kerr family who were local whisky blenders, operating in the cellar of the pub for a time on their ‘The Golden Drop’. James Kerr was a very particular fellow and the pub was always run to a set of rules both according to customers and even his staff, which is why some people truly take against the place. However, you will need to visit with an open mind, as there is an exquisite pub to be enjoyed for those who are patient. Rich reds, creams and lacquered wood around lamplight, nooks and crannies festooned with personal artefacts, books, heritage art and always something to draw the eye, whether it’s the dummy fastened to the ceiling in the lounger or the huge Nebuchadnezzar wine bottles perched on the shelves. Unless you’re a regular, service is only tolerant at best, but once served, enjoy your drinks in this wonderful environment that would draw you back often enough that you too could have the rare privilege of being seen as a treasured customer. You’ll love it, or you’ll hate it – it’s best to be honest.