Waverley, Edinburgh

Built 1891 at the foot of a five-storey tenement, it was in the hands of the Walker family since it opened in the 1920s. From 1972 until his death in 2015 it was run as an unspoilt pub by long serving licensee Ian Walker, who imposed a ‘no swearing’ rule, under 21’s were prohibited and mobile phones discouraged; also he handed free Tesco’s own-brand crisps to patrons! It reopened in 2017 with minimal changes. The black and white frontage has arched barley twist mullions, colourful carved figures of Bacchus the god of wine at the top left and right of the ground floor and colourful detail of fruit in the centre.

Good vestibule entrances around front left and right doors. Named after Walter Scott's Waverley novels hence the 2-part mirrors near the doors on both sides with four of the characters in his novels (Autum' and 'Winter' on the left and 'Spring and Summer' on the right) and an etched Scotts Monument mirror in a frame on the back wall. The ground floor public bar has a large three sided panelled bar counter painted red with detail in gold (pot shelf is modern), there is no proper gantry. On the wall is a large ‘McEwan’s Pale India Ale’. Dado panelling is painted red with lots of music posters all around the room and covering the ceiling. Rear wall has old full height panelling with wall benches all look 1920s original. Until the 1970s there were two snugs behind the servery.

Up the red painted dado panelled staircase is a 1960s lounge that did have a bar counter and gantry from that date (removed in 2017) and good ceiling cornice. Dado panelling painted red, old tiled, cast iron and wood surround fireplace, more wall benches at rear look original but other seating is post war. On the wall is a ‘John Haig Whisky’ mirror.

This pub built up a reputation as a folk venue and Billy Connolly, The Clancey Brothers, The Dubliners, The Corries, Gerry Rafety and Barbara Dickson all played here early in their careers.