Recommend a Pub in Einburgh

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 07:21 PM

Sheriffhall - I knew it wasn't Shieldhall - didn't look right somehow. Must've been in the pub!
Incidentally Mortonhall campsite is not immediately nextdoor to the Crematorium: if it were you could rely on having quiet neighbours.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 06:21 PM

The Sheriffhall park and ride has an interesting new concept - a pub.

You spend all day at work in town, get the bus back to the car park and sink a few pints before driving back to the Borders? Hmmm...

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,George
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 05:35 PM

"(George who I play with at the Sandy Bells session on Sundays lives next to the crematorium, and he often walks in to town for the session, but it's downhill and he's keener on walking than most)."

Edinburgh has arguably the best bus service in the UK. During festival time add 30 mins. on to any journey 'across' town, even walking, as the pavements can be just as busy. It just gets that busy in town. If you're camped at Mortonhall, Lothian Buses usually have a bus stationed near the camp site where you can get information about the buses, times etc. and also buy tickets in advance so you're ready to roll. The night bus (Lothian Buses 37) which passes within about ten minutes walk from Mortonhall Camp Site is every 30 mins. at weekends and every hour Monday to Friday. Don't get caught out, the day ticket doesn't cover you for the night bus. If you're camped further out on that route then use Straiton Park and Ride. Parking is free, but no drinking!

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 12:30 PM

There is another session at Kirkliston on Mondays - not far off the city boundary and near the Forth Bridges.

If you're camped at Mortonhall, ideally you want a folkie to die so you can join in the funeral. (George who I play with at the Sandy Bells session on Sundays lives next to the crematorium, and he often walks in to town for the session, but it's downhill and he's keener on walking than most).

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 06:56 AM

FloraG, if it IS Mortonhall you're at and you have a vehicle, may I suggest the following, which DO continue during the summer:

Tuesday evenings weekly at Penicuik: "Singers' nights" (and some instrumental) session at The Roadhouse pub, Penicuik at 8.30: south of Edinburgh ring road on the A701: the pub is on your right before you reach the town centre with car park at the back. Check Penicuik Folk Club website for more details.

Thursday evenings weekly at The Dean Tavern, Newtongrange, Newtongrange (Nitten)Folk Club from 8.30.pm in the big function room at the back. Ordered round the table singing but some instrumental, depending who turns up! Also not too far south of the ring road by car, just off the A7.
Check Nitten Folk Club website.

Friday evenings: a rotating programme of sessions around various pubs in Midlothian (i.e. S of ring road also) run by Loanhead musicians: need a blicky to explain this one!
http://loanheadguitarclub.weebly.com/midlothian-music-sessions.html
As they say they are very informal: tend to like Bluegrass and Americana a bit.

And if you want a really nice festival in lovely surroundings, Innerleithen Music Festival runs from 16th-18th August: Innerleithen is a few miles west of Peebles on the R Tweed.
Good sessions in The Corner House!
Check out their website.

Mid-Calder (Almond Valley Folk Club) DOES go on through the summer but is only once a month, so the next "Summer Session" is on Tuesday 20th August: small, informal, anything goes. In the Mid Calder Inn from 8pm.

Linlithgow Folk Festival Association sessions are mixed "jump-in" type:
FIRST Thursday of the month at 8.30. - currently in the Footballers' and Cricketers' Arms on High Street (check website or Facebook for any changes)
THIRD Sunday of the month at 2pm: Black Bitch Tavern, western end of High St (next to West Port Hotel). August session coincides with "Canal Fun Day" on the 18th, so visit Linlithgow Union Canal Basin first!
May seem a bit far out but really quick to get to via ring road. M8 first section then M9.

And I agree: don't take car into Edinburgh beyond the controlled parking zones. It's a nightmare at non-Festival time and very expensive to park if you can find a place, and the parking attendants are over-zealous! It will be 10 times worse during the Festival! You could use Park and Ride at Straiton or Shieldhall. Most day buses run up to 11.30.pm but night services now mainly only at weekends.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 05:38 AM

Parking in Edinburgh isn't in with a chance. Morton Hall camp-site is a dead loss right out there as the buses aren't good and last time I used it there were no late night buses.
(RIP Little France camp-site. Far better site only 3m out. Yes Edinburgh had to put its hospital somewhere but they should have replaced the camp-site with a decent one.)
There is an excellent Caravan Club camp-site on the Forth with good day and night buses but they won't take reservations for their small tent area.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 05:30 AM

Edinburgh has a very good bus service (until you hit the centre of town, where you can't tell what route the bus will be taking because of the tram construction work). Just get the bus in, assuming it serves your campsite.

There won't be anything within Edinburgh far enough west of the centre to make parking a car reasonable. Events at St Bride's are about as far as it'll get. There is a folk club at Mid Calder that meets on Tuesdays but I think they'll be off for the summer. Ditto Falkirk FC (Thursdays). Linlithgow Folk Club might also be worth a try - sessions once a month on Sunday afternoons and Thursday nights.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:12 AM

Anybody know of pubs/ venues west of the town. We are staying on a campsite 8 miles out during the festival, the week before Whitby. Ideally a mixed join in session or folk club. We have a car but I'm not sure of parking in the town centre.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 08:17 AM

The Gig Guide won't tell you everythi8ng you might want to know...

The Dalriada does quite a wide range of different kinds of music, in a great setting - large family-friendly pub on the beach (the bar is in a legally-separate room so children are allowed), but a long way from the city centre. The Royal Oak is at the opposite pole: central, tiny, cramped, and with musicians, tourists and terminal alcoholics all rubbing elbows. Other pubs are in between those extremes.

There may be something on at the Oxford Bar (the local frequented by Ian Rankin and his character Inspector Rebus) - ask, they're not very predictable.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 07:33 AM

Oops, forgot the clicky:
http://www.royal-oak-folk.com/page11a.html

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 07:31 AM

I'm guessing you're arriving around 30th July - from your original post. The Royal Oak in Infirmary St starts it's "Festival Folk at the Oak" series on 29th July - various pay-for performances in the downstairs bar, or free music in the ground floor bar, up to 4am every day.
Programme here: http://www.royal-oak-folk.com/page11a.html

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,Sapper minus cookie
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 07:19 AM

Try the Dalriada on Portobello Sea Front.

http://dalriadabar.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 09:55 AM

Great - thanks for the tips
and yes Eiburgh was a typo :)

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,Bill Dunlap
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 08:36 PM

If you're there during August, check out the Fringe schedule. There will be many great little concerts at reasonable prices. Besides the Edinburgh pubs already mentioned, try the Tass, the Canons' Gait, the Captain's Bar, the Antiquary, and the White Hart. We have found very nice sessions at them all. You'll find them and more on thesession.org.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,Rev Bayes
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 04:55 PM

There's also a fair smattering of gigs on, it being festival time and all. Lots of stuff at St Brides in Dalry.

Another stop is the Royal Oak but its ower much for me in August. Especially in this heat.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Vic Smith
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 04:06 PM

e-inburgh must dates from when people starting coining new terms on the pattern of "e-mail" - e-tailing, e-marketing, e-banking.

The new name for the city will follow Apple's lead and we'll soon be calling it iNburgh. 

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 02:13 PM

e-inburgh must dates from when people starting coining new terms on the pattern of "e-mail" - e-tailing, e-marketing, e-banking.

The new name for the city will follow Apple's lead and we'll soon be calling it iNburgh.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Vic Smith
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 01:31 PM

Einburgh?

At school in that city, I was taught to remember Edward Died In November, Buried Under Robert Graham's House and I don't think that I have got it wrong since then.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 01:18 PM

It hasn't been called the Forrest Hill Bar for a few years now. The sign over the door says Sandy Bells.

I'm there on Sunday afternoons, Scottish session. Wednesday night is also largely Scottish. I also go to the Antiquary on Thursday nights (another mainly-Scottish session). At either of those pubs look out for a paper copy of the Gig Guide, which can be useful.

Another Scottish session is at the Reverie on Tuesday nights.

Subject: RE: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 12:50 PM

The Forest Hill Bar better known as Sandy Bells, or just about any pub that has music. Folk or related stuff will not be too far away. That will be close to Festival Fringe time so things should be jumping.

Subject: Recommend a Pub in Einburgh
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 11:39 AM

In two weeks, will be in Edinburgh for a week. Where can I go to hear some great music?