The Edinburgh Blog

I’ve always liked the Conan Doyle pub in Edinburgh and quite enjoy watching sport there, as it’s usually quieter than other city centre pubs. Situated on the corner of York Place The Conan Doyle offers good people watching opportunity over Broughton Street, Picardy Place and the Omni Centre. Near the pub stands the statue of Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes. The statue is close to 11 Picardy Place, where Conan Doyle was born. Subsequently Conan Doyle studied medicine at Edinburgh University and he is remembered by a large collection of pictures and books inside the Conan Doyle pub.

The Conan Doyle is a traditional pub, with a largely wooden interior. I like the bay windows; some have small seats which give the pub a quirky edge. The main bar area is up a few steps and the dining area is a small descent from the main bar area. The Conan Doyle don’t take bookings on a Saturday and when Scotland are playing rugby or football they often stop serving food. When the Conan Doyle is serving food the seating in the sunken area is usually only available if you’re eating.

I previously watched the Scotland versus Italy football World Cup qualifier at the Conan Doyle and I made a mental note to return for food as it looked rather appetising. The food I received on my visit was ok, but I have to admit, fell short of my expectation. It was distinctly average. I had been expecting much more.

I had the haggis, neeps and tatties for starter (£3.25) and my dining partner had this for main (£5.50). I still remember the Summer of 2007 when I had the absolute pleasure of haggis, neeps and tatties at Cafe Gandolfi in Glasgow’s Merchant City. Sadly the Conan Doyle’s haggis was to prove poor, yet considerably cheaper, by comparison. The haggis itself was the sliced variety which has been pan-fried. I prefer the more traditional haggis which is boiled in a casing. The Conan Doyle’s neeps and tatties were pretty decent though. And the quantity of neeps and tatties served with the main course could easily have fed two people.

For main I had the Hunter’s chicken (£6.95). This would win no awards for presentation, with the chicken topped with bacon, cheese and barbecue sauce served in a dish alongside a scattering of chips. It tasted better than it looked though; infact I quite enjoyed the fresh chicken. One aspect The Conan Doyle does very well is variety. Burgers, steaks, potato wedges, toad in the hole, lamb shanks, roasted chicken, fish and chips, sausage and mash and duck confit to name but a few. If the execution was slightly better the Conan Doyle, with it’s good location and pleasant interior, could become a real player in the gastro-pub scene.

However, it would be unfair to be too harsh on the Conan Doyle’s food as their dishes are inexpensive. I wouldn’t recommend a trip to the Conan Doyle specifically for food, but if you’re watching the sport, after an inexpensive meal while shopping or need some ‘pub grub’ to counter the effects of alcohol, then the Conan Doyle is a decent choice. I’ve always found the service at The Conan Doyle above average i.e. I get served at the bar quickly and the table service, although usually only one person, works well.

Certainly try the Conan Doyle for a drink: it’s decent and gets a good mix of local folk and tourists. As said earlier The Conan Doyle is a wildcard choice for watching sport, due to the three widescreen displays they have, and the likelihood it won’t be overcrowded. The title of this post says it all really.

The Conan Doyle is located at 71-73 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JD. Telephone: 0131 524 0031.