Edinburgh’s Best Bar: Top 20

We’ve had a fantastic response since we published the top 40 and we can now reveal the Edinburgh Evening News top 20 Best Bar 2014 listing.

All the pubs and bars listed have been nominated for different reasons but they all have one thing in common – their regulars think they are the best in the business.

Some were nominated for their outstanding food or good choice of real ales while others were submitted because of their friendly staff or value for money.

So whether you submitted a nomination or not, it’s time to help get your favourite get through to the next round – the top ten – and one step closer to winning the title of the Edinburgh Evening News Best Bar 2014.

Having a pint is a great British tradition, whether you do that at your local pub, club or bar in town after work. It’s a time for relaxation, whether you like to bit of quiet time to yourself, or meeting up with friends for a drink or having a bite to eat.

For many pub-goers, finding that regular watering hole and calling it your own is just as important to some as picking where you live. Does it serve real ale? Is the food good? Does it show sport? Does it have a dart board or even a quiz night?

Perhaps you go to watch the football with your mates, to enjoy a meal and a glass wine with family, or maybe you have a competitive streak and want to win the weekly quiz?

Our great competition provides a fantastic opportunity for all local establishments where you are likely to prop yourself on the bar regularly to shout about how great they are.

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said the top 20 are great examples of the quality in the business.

He said: “The final 20 pubs and bars on the list for the Evening News pub of the year highlight the major strengths of our trade, namely quality, choice, variety and value. The individuality and the vast range of premises we have are all well represented. Good luck to the judges who will have a difficult job deciding the winners.”

Sharon Brown, premises manager of the recently refurbished Tynecastle Arms in Gorgie Road for the past six months, said she was “over the moon” to make the top 20.

She said: “When customers saw this advertised and said they were going to enter us, I just left them to it! Whether or not win, it is nice to be  recognised.

“Everybody seems to think the pub has a happy atmosphere and a lot of old regulars have returned.”

Sam Quinn, owner of Oceana in Ferry Road, said she was ecstatic to make the shortlist.

She said: “It’s a great atmosphere in here and everybody gets on. We have live entertainment and sport and the bar staff are fabulous.”

Help your favourite get through to the top ten and one step closer to winning the prestigious title of the Edinburgh Evening News Best Bar 2014.

Voting for your favourite bar is easy, you can either send us a text or fill out the voting form on this page and post it to us. So get behind your favourite and make the votes count, before we call time!

VOTE BY POST

Fill in the coupon and post it to: Edinburgh Evening News Best Bar of the Year 2014, Orchard Brae House, 30 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2HS.

All postal entries must reach us by noon on Monday, December 8.

You can vote as many times as you like, but you must use the official coupon from the paper. Photocopied or defaced coupons will not be accepted.

REMEMBER: A POSTAL FORM IS WORTH TWO VOTES

VOTE BY TEXT MESSAGE

Text your votes before 9am on Monday, December 8 to 65550.

Simply start your text with the words EENBAR followed by the 3 digit code of the pub/ bar you wish to vote for.

Follow this with a space and then your name, address and email address. For example, EENBAR007 Joe Bloggs, 99 Nowhere St, Edinburgh, EH00 [email protected]

Text messages cost £1 in addition to your standard network charge and should contain no more than 160 characters.

001. Mercat Bar, West Maitland Street

002. Port O’Leith, Constitution Street

003. Norhet Bar, Main St, Davidson’s Mains

004. Mash Tun, Easter Road

005. The Staggs, North High Street, Musselburgh

007. The Phoenix, Broughton Street

008. Café Habana, Greenside Lane

009. Tynecastle Arms, Gorgie Road

011. Bar Reverie, Newington Road

013. Oceana, Ferry Road

016. Harbour Inn, Fishmarket Square, Newhaven

018. The Grey Horse Inn, Main Street, Balerno

020. Ye Olde Inn, Main Street, Davidson’s Mains

022. The Beaten Docket, Portobello High Street

023. Thomsons Bar, Morrison Street

028. Scran & Scallie, Comely Bank Rd

029. Roseburn Bar, Roseburn Terrace

032. The Old Bell Inn, Causewayside

038. Dickens Bar, Dalry Road

039. Limelight, Jocks Lodge