Holyrood Tavern - presented by Edinburgh Pub Guide

9a Holyrood Rd
OLD TOWN, Edinburgh
EH8

0131 5565044

Picture of the pub: Holyrood Tavern,Edinburgh

Number of Reviews: 8

Average Rating: 4.1

Average Ambience: 3.9

Average Value 3.4

Average Food & Drink 3.6

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Review By: Peter Effer

Title: Holyrood Tavern

Review Date: 2007-08-13 23:51:19

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 4

Quite simply, for atmosphere, my FAVOURITE pub in the entire universe!
As a Londoner, and very well travelled (at least in Europe) I know of NO pub with a better ambience. And Mark was the quintiscential host. It's closure is a sad, sad loss. If I won the lottery it would re-open with Mark in charge in perpertuity!

Review By: Jeff Ogilvy

Title: Ok i suppose

Review Date: 2007-02-25 19:02:55

Overall Rating: 1

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 3

Food & Drink Rating: 2

Bit of a strange one this one. The beer is good enough but it seems to be full of 16 year olds and chavs. The jukebox is so quiet that it seems to be pointless to even have one.

Review By: gazza

Title: holyrood tavern

Review Date: 2007-01-31 17:34:19

Overall Rating: 3

Ambience Rating: 4

Value Rating: 3

Food & Drink Rating: 3

Grand old laid back edinburgh boozer , used to be 2nd home to bikers, rockers and students (the ones that have no money that is)
dartboard,good jukebox,plenty of seating,venue during the festival , addlestones cider on draft ,friendly staff/punters and a really nice spot on the edge of the old town.
Drawbacks ? It can be dead a fair bit these days , and the toilet was a complete joke with the urinal completely broken !! But proper places like this need a bit of support .

Review By: Marc

Title: I love the tavern, it's my second home

Review Date: 2006-12-30 21:48:00

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 4

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 4

I've been drikning at the tavern since I was 18 and it's always remained my favorite place to get some drink and banter (despite the 45 minute walk home but that's just a show of dedication in my book).
You get lots of characters in the tav which is a blessing and a curse, but always a good laugh.
If you're lookin for a cheap night out and cheap drink promos then keep on walkin down the Cowgate, Subway and Opium are just a 5 minute walk, but if you want a good place to find a perch and a place to chill then you've got the right address.
It's seen a fair few swaps in ownership which is annoying since they keep juggling the jukebox about (as long as they keep Runrig in it I'm happy :P).
The fautless style of the tavern will hopefully never change, otherwise it's gonna take a ridiculously long time for me and the guys to find a place we adore so much.

Review By: Dave

Title: Authentic Scottish Pub

Review Date: 2006-12-07 17:11:08

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 5

This is the place to go if you want to meet real life, authentic Scottish characters. It is a strange mix of people which makes it that much more worthwhile the visit and as long as there is someone sitting at the bar, you'll not be starved for conversation. Forget the tourist pubs if you want culture, this is the place to go. (No I am not a promoter, I just love this tavern....)

Review By: Dave (friday night crew or team bloodbath)

Title: The Tav

Review Date: 2005-04-25 15:09:26

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 2

Food & Drink Rating: 5

The tav is one of the best ever pubs i have been to. the staff are amazing, they make every1 feel welcome and like you're their best friend. in recent days it has took a fall in custom but it is picking back up and will soon be the tav we all knew and loved.

Review By: Jack

Title: The Tav

Review Date: 2005-02-12 12:41:09

Overall Rating: 4

Ambience Rating: 3

Value Rating: 2

Food & Drink Rating: 3

The tav is a good puv overall nice furniture friendsly bar staff and an ace jukebox the downside however is the drinks are pretty expensive i.e. don't expect much change back from a tenner when buying 2 drinks. On the plus side there is always a friendly atmousphere, great bar staff and brilliantly fresh pints.

Review By: Duncan Wallace

Title: Holyrood rocks

Review Date: 2004-05-18 13:36:15

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 3

Food & Drink Rating: 3

THe Holyrood is possibly the most laid back of Edinburgh's pubs. THe furniture is all old and quite likely ex-livingroom as there are many comfy sofas and couches. The biker friendly feet up almost run down feel to the place makes it ideal for dropping a quid in the well stocked juke box and sipping a pint of Caley 80. Being just seconds away from the Cowgate and clubs it is a great place to start the night off or stay all night. I haven't tried the food sine it changed hands but the kitchen is a good size and very clean.

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