'%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)
The pub’s story
The Blue Blazer occupies the Category C Clan Alpine Buildings at the rounded corner of Spittal and Bread Streets. Historic Environment Scotland dates the tenement to 1864 and records licensed premises here from 1867, which establishes long licensed use of the site rather than a date for every present fitting or for the Blue Blazer name. The building’s 1889 mosaic depicting a blue blazer is a more precise interior marker. CAMRA describes two rooms with wood floors, high ceilings and old brewery window panels; the name’s link to a local school uniform is CAMRA’s account. Brewery History Society material helps identify Bernard’s, McEwan’s and Younger’s advertising glass. The working Aitken founts were renovated in June 2025, another reminder that this is not frozen in time. Its value lies in the clear overlap of Victorian commercial architecture, long pub use, branded surviving glass and a working present-day cask-and-whisky local.
What to notice
- 01
The building has held licensed premises since 1867, but that does not date every surviving fitting or prove the current pub name is that old.
- 02
Look down for the 1889 blue-blazer mosaic, then compare it with the older brewery glass and newly renovated working founts.
- 03
The current interior is two rooms; its wood floors and high ceilings are part of CAMRA’s documented description.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Historic Environment Scotland records the adoption of William Burn’s plan for the Orchardfield estate area before the present building.
The bowed-corner Clan Alpine Buildings tenement containing the pub was built.
Historic Environment Scotland records licensed premises at the building from this year.
The blue-blazer mosaic in the entrance/floor is dated to this year.
The building was added to the statutory list at Category C.
CAMRA records renovation of the working Aitken founts.
The Kilderkin Group publishes current cask, whisky and opening-hour information for the venue.
Sources & confidence
Historic Environment Scotland and Trove establish the 1864 listed building and place identity. CAMRA supplies the detailed interior survey, 1889 mosaic, name explanation and June 2025 fount renovation. Brewery History Society independently identifies the advertising glass. The record deliberately assigns dates to separate layers.
Research reviewed
- 2–10 Spittal Street and 39–45 Bread Street (LB47900)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsThe 1864 Clan Alpine Buildings, licensed use from 1867, 1820 estate-plan context and Category C designation.
- Edinburgh, 2–10 Spittal Street, The Blue BlazerTrove Scotland / Historic Environment Scotlandarchive
SupportsNational Record of the Historic Environment identity for the Blue Blazer building, including its public-house and tenement classifications.
- Blue Blazer, EdinburghCAMRAspecialist
SupportsThe two-room interior, blue-blazer mosaic, school-uniform name explanation and June 2025 fount renovation.
- The Blue BlazerKilderkin Groupofficial
SupportsCurrent operator identity, cask-and-whisky offer and published weekly opening hours.
- Defunct Brewery Liveries: ScotlandBrewery History Societyspecialist
SupportsSpecialist identification and context for surviving Bernard’s, McEwan’s and Younger’s brewery advertising glass.
