Not sure if it's a cycling pub, but what used to be (I think) the Auld Toll on Leven Street, up from Scotmid, has been de-old-manned and rid of the smell of stale beer and urinal cakes and re-opened as a more trendy place called the "Blackbird". It also has a spray-painted orange bike frame hanging over the door. Not sure what that has to do with blackbirds, but hey-ho.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
New "cycling" pub?
(13 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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oh yeah, i noticed that the other day too and meant to ask if anyone knew anything about it. then forgot in the 'excitement' of negotiating 'that' intersection...
Posted 12 years ago # -
No, it's not.
Sadly.
After the Lupe Pinto's Chili Cook Off the other week we headed in. Looked like a nice new place + the bike on high made me think it was a cycling place. But tis just a random adornment.
It's quite a nice place, but perhaps trying a little too hard to be trendy. However, they do have an impressive beer selection (mainly bottled) and a hell of a variety of gins. The cocktails aren't bad, nowhere near as good as other places in the city, and it's clearly finding its feet (the staff are a little of the "I'm talking to my friend here and you want me to serve you?" mindset - not overtly, but enough that it's slightly off-putting.
Posted 12 years ago # -
A bunch of us went in after seeing Beasts of the Southern Wild (recommend!) at the Cameo on Monday (bit weird seeing a film set around Hurricane Katrina when another was hitting the US at the same time...).
Think anth has the place described well:
- staff v moody!
- cocktails are a main thing (quite expensive as usual).
- beer on tap (chilled) and no pumps
- nothing to do with cycling
- trying to be trendy
- does do foodPosted 12 years ago # -
Yeah, I wouldn't want to go into a place like that when Cloisters is around the corner.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Slightly related, but is ventoux on brougham st a cycling pub? not been in it since it used to be the illicit still
Posted 12 years ago # -
It is indeed (as is the sister pub the Tourmalet off Leith Walk somewhere). Quite often see a load of courier bikes parked outside when I'm heading home from work - basically there are bikes attached to the ceiling (loooooovely Colnago the last time I was in) and various posters and photos on the walls. And Belgian beers.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@WC those Belgian Beers in the Ventoux are nearly all German. German beer has some sort of connection with cycling lore. Perhaps?
After their shambolic attempts to screen the Tour, and the owner's bad attitude, I see no reason to go back into Ventoux when there are far nicer pubs with better beer and more pleasant surroundings.
Posted 12 years ago # -
They also ran out of chili in the Chili Cook Off...
Posted 12 years ago # -
oh, oh, oh.... gossip. What happened?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago # -
@chdot the saddle on that old iron horse has a notably nose-down andle. Sure that bike didn't used to be one of yours?
Posted 12 years ago # -
They've ruined a nice old bike there with all that orange paint.
Tourmalet bar is a nice enough place (it's on Iona Street btw). Nowhere but some railings to lock your cycle though. :-( Haven't tried Ventoux but might if I'm in that part of town.
Posted 12 years ago #
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