'%20d='M32%203C16.4%203%206%2015.3%206%2031.2c0%2010.9%206.6%2020.1%2014.3%2026.2L32%2077l11.7-19.6C51.4%2051.3%2058%2042.1%2058%2031.2%2058%2015.3%2047.6%203%2032%203Zm0%2014c-8.8%200-14.5%207-14.5%2016.4V55h29V33.4C46.5%2024%2040.8%2017%2032%2017Z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23C99B4A'%20d='m27.5%2055%204.5-24%204.5%2024h-9Z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Before you visit
Happening Here
Saturday DJ night
Black Ivy · Bruntsfield
21:00
Saturday DJ night at Black Ivy.
Confirmed by Black Ivy. View source. Checked .
The pub’s story
Black Ivy combines public bars, a restaurant and a terrace within former Alvanley Terrace hotel premises. The listed villas at numbers 3 and 4 were designed by David Bryce in 1869-70, long before the Black Ivy name. Billy Lowe launched Black Ivy after redeveloping the former Links Hotel in 2017. Inside, copper beer tanks and antique chandeliers form part of the operator's design account. Two conservatory murals are credited to the Australian artist Rone. DRAM's opening-period design report describes curved leather booths, arched mirrors and contemporary fire fittings. A coin-covered floor adds another unusual surface to the bar's interior. Black Ivy won Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards in August 2025. Its terrace faces Bruntsfield Links, extending the drinking space beyond the indoor rooms.
What to notice
- 01
Copper beer tanks feature in the bar interior.
- 02
Two conservatory murals are credited to Rone.
- 03
The coin floor sits among chandeliers and other contrasting interior finishes.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
David Bryce's villas at 3 and 4 Alvanley Terrace were built.
The villas at 3 and 4 Alvanley Terrace were listed at Category B.
Billy Lowe redeveloped the former Links Hotel and launched Black Ivy, open by November.
CAMRA records the cessation of real-ale service.
Black Ivy won Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.
Sources & confidence
HES dates the listed villas at numbers 3 and 4, without extending that designation to No.2. Contemporary 2017 reporting documents the Links Hotel redevelopment and Black Ivy interior; design provenance anecdotes remain attributed. The 2019 ale-service change and 2025 award are distinct milestones. Hours prefer the July homepage and newest contact value cells, both 08:00-01:00 daily, corroborated by Restaurant Guru. The contact labels still show 07:30 starts and Sunday-Thursday midnight closing; an older rooms page also gives a 07:30 start. Those conflicts are disclosed without claiming a formal correction. Current legal ownership and a first licensed-use date are not inferred.
Research reviewed
- Official homepage, modified 7 July 2026: explicit daily 08:00-01:00 scheduleBlack Ivy operatorofficial
SupportsCurrent public hotel/bar/restaurant, Bruntsfield Links terrace and contact identity. Homepage explicitly gives 08:00-01:00 every day, indoor bar and terrace until 01:00, food until 22:00. Preferred with newer contact hours values; conflicting contact labels and older rooms page are retained in the hours evidence.
- Exact premises identity/address, specialist description and practical cross-checkCAMRA Edinburgh and SE Scotlandspecialist
Supports2-4 Alvanley Terrace, phone 0131 564 1901, former Links Hotel/Bruntsfield Park Hotel names. July 2019 real-ale cessation. Stale 2022 record, so current absence of ale is not inferred.
- Statutory LB30494 building and listing accountHistoric Environment Scotlandgovernment
SupportsLB30494 covers 3 and 4 Alvanley Terrace only: David Bryce villas of 1869-70, later hotels; Category B listed 19 March 1993; bays, balconies and decorative roofline. Does not establish coverage of No.2 or pub opening.
- Official contact page, modified 21 July 2026: 08:00-01:00 values beside conflicting labelsBlack Ivy operatorofficial
Supports4 Alvanley Terrace, displayed phone 0131 564 1901. Sun-Thu and Fri-Sat hours value cells both say 08:00-01:00, but their visible labels retain 07:30 starts and Sun-Thu midnight closing. Both conflicting sets of hours are displayed on the page. Kitchen value 08:00-22:00 differs from 07:30 start in label. Display phone differs from tel href 0131 229 3834. No formal correction inferred.
- 28 November 2017: Billy Lowe launched Black Ivy after redevelopment of Links HotelHotel Scotlandeditorial
Supports28 November 2017: Billy Lowe launched Black Ivy after redevelopment of Links Hotel. Bar opening established by November; bedroom opening status is not settled.
- 12 December 2017 design report: Billy Lowe, Chris Hines/Redhouse Design, curved booths, arched mirrors, Rone murals, chandeliers and reclaimed woodDRAM Scotlandeditorial
Supports12 December 2017 design report: Billy Lowe, Chris Hines/Redhouse Design, curved booths, arched mirrors, Rone murals, chandeliers and reclaimed wood. Design provenance anecdotes are owner-supplied.
- Design account identifies copper beer tanks, coin floor, antique chandeliers and two Rone conservatory muralsBlack Ivy operatorofficial
SupportsDesign account identifies copper beer tanks, coin floor, antique chandeliers and two Rone conservatory murals. Railway-floorboard provenance and coin denomination are unverified house claims.
- Exact node 499994553 carries premises name, address, latitude and longitudeOpenStreetMap contributorsappearance
SupportsExact node 499994553 carries premises name, address, latitude and longitude. Retrieved HTTP 200 and plotted within building footprint. Hours/contact tags are not adopted.
- 2025 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards winnersScottish Bar and Pub Awards organiserofficial
SupportsOrganiser's explicitly headed 2025 account states 26 August 2025 awards and names Black Ivy Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year. Distinguish from older adjacent archive sections; these awards and DRAM share an organisational/publishing ecosystem.
