Roseburn Bar – A sporting hub
Roseburn Bar – A sporting hub
Another large Victorian-era corner pub which this city does so well.
A few weekends ago, my brother was in town, and we were walking the length of the Water of Leith. Starting at Balerno, we headed at a solid pace under the green canopy, stopping only to check the cyclist who’d come off his bike was OK (he’d tried to squeeze past us without warning and messed it up). We marched through the garish Colinton Tunnel and somehow ended up on the canal before correcting our route and landing back on the main path.
It was thirsty work, and by the time we got to Murrayfield it seemed only sensible to stop for a drinks break. Happily, the Roseburn was there to greet us.
The 1880s corner pub - high ceilings, multiple rooms, etched glass partitions - is typical of its era, and is something Edinburgh does very well (see: Diggers, Artisan Bar). A large wooden bar dominates the main room, with decorated columns adding extra charm. Large windows on two sides allow plenty of light in. And don’t forget to look up at the detailed work on the ceiling.
Being so close to Murrayfield and Tyecastle, there’s no surprise that this is a pub which revolves around sport. Large TVs show all the big games – I’ve been in during the Six Nations for a great atmosphere. But this is not a “sports bar”. Instead, The Roseburn leans into its past. The walls are covered in team photos, jerseys, trophies and medals celebrating local teams in football, rugby, golf and cricket.
The pub seems to rely more on its keg offering of pale ales and lagers, rather than real ales. Though to its credit, there are four casks on, serving Jarl and some Stewart brews. They are not the most imaginative offers, but reliable. Something simple and light was needed on a warm Sunday anyway.
The Roseburn is also pretty much the only decent pub in the immediate area. So we sup up, nicely refreshed and ready to walk the next few miles to an area with a far higher concentration of venues worth going to – Leith.
Where is it?
Where next?
Greene King-owned pubs are generally to be avoided. The cask, if it’s even on, is usually awful, the food bland and the brewery has a habit of stripping any sort of character from its venues. So I was shocked at how much I enjoyed The Hampton, just by Roseburn Park. A cracking pint of Old Speckled Hen came at a very reasonable price. While The Roseburn is a superior pub, don’t be afraid to head down the road for a pint here, too.
The Chaser
I’ve often said on this newsletter that the most important thing about a British pub is not the quality of its beer (though that helps). No, it’s the benefit the place has to its local community. This BBC article on Goth pubs sums that up perfectly. Unfortunately, there are just four left in Scotland.