The Beehive Inn, Edinburgh

Quite a characterful Taylor Walker outlet in Grassmarket. Three rooms (separate old buildings knocked through?) with a central bar, so actually quite a large pub. Tasteful combos of gold and black wallpaper / red and gold stag head wallpaper along with some exposed stone walls. Nice ceiling roses spotted by Mrs Quinno. Fell apart somewhat at the bar; four ales on - two GK (why?), Borders Festive Foxy (decent) and Houston Peters Well (end of barrel) plus Thistly Cross cider. Lazy bar skills, a Yank tourist wanted a proper British ale and got pointed to GK London Glory rather than the Scottish stuff! Taylor Walker prices, possibly the most expensive beers I purchased in Edinburgh. Apparently has a garden area with castle views but was too cold and wet to go exploring. One visit was enough for me, I think. 6.5

Very nice big pub spotlessly clean had a good hour sat outside in the sun watching the world go by Had a couple of pints of Euston Blonde 5% could have sat there all day but had to move on its another must when you're down the Grassmarket

I quite liked this one on the Grassmarket. Its another quite big pub that takes up three former houses and operates on two floors, with the ground floor bar and then an upstairs restaurant. Now all one connected space internally but in several defined areas so that it gives you the feel of a multi roomed pub. As you enter the main bar area is to the right, and then an equally large seating/dining area is off to the left. Quite a pleasant traditional decor with plenty of wood panels and screens. There is a decent beer garden at the rear of the pub, which has a raised decked area and provides dramatic views of Edinburgh Castle. But as there was a lot of festival activites going on in the Grassmarket we chose the pavement tables out front . One reason I liked this pub was because it was clearly aimed at the food and beer market and focussed on drinkers and diners in preference to the shot devouring Stag and hen parties. And another was the interesting beer policy. Although clearly owned by a large chain (which I can now see is Taylor Walker from below) the five ale pumps were all dispensing brews from the Houston Brewing Company and over my stay I tried their Blonde Bombshell, Peters well, , Slainte and Tartan Terror. I am not sure if this is a permanent policy or I just struck lucky, but it was refreshing to go in a Grassmarket pub and not see Deuchars IPA or Belhavens..

A Taylor Walker pub serving 6 real ales and food.