Talk of the Town: Rebus raises the bar for feeling delighted

Published on Friday 26 November 2010 14:31

Rebus raises the bar for feeling delighted THREE of the Capital's best-loved boozers have been selected as part of the "Famous 100" - a roll of honour featuring some of the UK's best pubs - with a special nod to those with unusual reasons for fame.

The Oxford Bar, beloved of both Inspector Rebus and his creator Ian Rankin, is on the list, and gets a special mention for the "pie machine" still dispensing snacks at the end of the bar.

Also listed are Ryries Bar, loved by Tynecastle fans and once patronised by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, while Teuchters bar in William Street makes it onto the list purely for being popular with rugby fans.

We'd love to say "Rebus would be delighted" with the accolade, but let's face it, Rebus was never in his life delighted. Rebus would be, at best, entirely indifferent.

Alex on the right track

HIS Finance Secretary once famously assured the Scottish Parliament that Edinburgh's tram scheme would receive "not a penny more".

Now it seems First Minister Alex Salmond has a pretty low opinion of the project he's bankrolling to the tune of 500 million.

Responding to a comment from Labour leader Iain Gray during a debate on the "tartan tax" at Holyrood, Mr Salmond said: "Iain Gray seems to suggest that we should have paid millions of pounds to introduce a tax that was not going to be implemented. If he went outside on to the streets of Edinburgh to ask: 'Should we pay many millions of pounds to the Inland Revenue for a variable rate that we're not going to implement?' even fewer people would support that than support the Edinburgh tram project."

White Christmas? Dream on

IT'S part of every festive scene and top of every kid's wishlist - a white Christmas. But according to new research the average Brit will enjoy just seven white Christmases during their lifetime.

The survey reveals Edinburgh can look forward to the white stuff coming down every 4.9 years, behind Glasgow which is likely to see a moderate to severe dusting on Christmas Day every two-and-a-half years.

Unlikely bedfellows

TALKING of winter, a fifth of Scottish men would most like to snuggle up to celebrities Kelly Brook and Cheryl Cole, according to a new poll.

The Scottish Gas survey found that 20 per cent of men believed the pair would be the perfect winter warmers, whilst Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney secured 15 per cent of the ladies' votes. Thankfully, 61 per cent of those asked said planning a cosy night in with their partner or family was the best reason to embrace winter.