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Pub Visit - Scotland

Wednesday 30th April 2014

Bob Thompson

Teuchters1It was early evening and a right old rainy one too, when I approached the Teuchter’s Landing. So naturally I was relieved when I crossed the threshold into the main bar. Outside I noticed that the pub-restaurant looks not unlike a railway station building and there is a reason for that likeness, see below for its story. Inside the feeling was of warmth and the bar with an impressive array of hand pumps beckoned.

I ordered a beer and took a look at my surroundings. The interior appearance is traditional with shoulder-height wooden panelling at the seating area of the bar room. I settled at the bar itself and gazed admiringly at the fantastic range of food and drink on offer. This was displayed on a considerable number of blackboards.

Teuchters2
One board showed the food available which includes a number of relatively inexpensive snacks and meals served in ceramic jugs of half or pint size; certainly unusual! A further board displayed the extensive wine list and yet another showed a truly massive amount of malt whiskies.

Finally my eyes alighted on to the guest beer board of which there were two offered.


The guest beers were both from the same brewery; Loch Ness of Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire. The choice was Hoppy Ness (5.0%), a golden ale, and Dark Ness (4.5%), a stout. These two beers compliment the regular four ales which are Timothy Taylor (Keighley, West Yorks) Landlord (4.3%); Caledonian (Edinburgh) Deuchars IPA (3.8%); Fyne Ales (Achadunan, Caindow, Argyllshire) Jarl (3.8%) and Inveralmond (Perth) Ossian (4.1%). There were also a number of keg “craft” beers.

Teuchters3The pub and its adjacent hotel, A Room in Leith, were conceived by Peter Knight and John Tindal. Both are from the Highlands and met whilst working in hotels.

Their first venture was a small hotel and bar named “A Room in Marchmont” that opened in 1996. This is no longer with us but they have created the Teuchters pub and “A Room in the Westend” hotel at William Street in the city.

Back to our subject pub in Leith; I mentioned earlier that it looked a little like a railway station. Well, that is not far from the truth as it was the ticket office and waiting room for the ferry to the north.

I believe this finished in 1971 when the owning company concentrated the service on operating northwards from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland. Up till then it had also continued south to Leith.

Teuchters4The term teuchter refers to a person who comes from the country and is a bit derogatory, similar to the word yokel in England. The two founders, who are “teuchters” themselves, gave the name to their first pub in the city so it became logical that this one should be named the way it is, bearing in mind it was the point where country folk from Aberdeenshire and the Northern Isles first arrived in the capital.

The impressive bar is to be found on the right of the entrance. The old building has been extended and there are dining areas to the left and rear of the pub.

There is an enclosed terrace area overlooking the dock and there is also a floating pontoon which is very popular on warmer days, i.e. not when I visited! Prior to its opening in 2008 it was known as the Waterfront Bar & Grill.

This pub is well worth the short journey out of the city centre and is recommended.

Important Information:

The Teuchters’ Landing, IC Dock Place, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6LU. Tel: 0131 554 7427

Open: Monday-Sunday: 10.30-01.00. (No alcohol sold before 11.00)
The Pontoon and Biergarten are open on nice days from 10.30-22.00

The pub is easy to get to, being just off Commercial Street. If coming from the city centre you get off at Commercial Street / opp. Scottish Executive and go back from Commercial Street / opp. Sandport Street.
The bus routes that serve these two stops are: 16, 22, 35 and 36.