Edinburgh - Pubs & Bars - Pubs
I have only been to 5 or 6 pubs in Edinburgh, but as a visitor, this by far my favourite of them all. I wasn't too sure what to expect when i walk through the front door of the Royal Oak. The upstairs area is quite small and some of the reviewers below are right, it does have a certain "old man pub" quality. But go downstairs and you'll find yourself in a fantastic lair of fiddles, guitars, beer swilling stories and deep belly laughter. This is a proper pub. Plenty of Deuchar's on tap and very friendly people working behind the bar and scattered around the tables in this cosy, folk den.
The music in here is brilliant and everyone in the pub is welcome to contribute if they want (but there is no pressure). A portly, bearded fellow leads the revellers with traditional Scottish songs mixed with some classics that everyone can see along to. Songs are interspersed with stories from this chap (forgotten his name!) and if you can pick up 30-40% of what he is saying, you're a better man than me. "This woone is aboot eh wee lad wit a bit of a limp, annee pocket fool eh shortcake, yeh see. Hope yoos enjoy'it n' mines a glenfiddick if yoo'r askin' pal". It may not have been that bad, but you have to listen pretty carefully to get the message! The music was still going on when we left at about 1.30am, so i'm assuming that the people of Edinburgh have decided that pubs shutting at 11pm is a bad idea and that if you've got a full pint and a guitar, you pretty much control what time the lights are turned out. Perfect.
Check out my review of The Royal oak - I am ahunter - on Qype
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