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The pub’s story
The Canons’ Gait is at 232 Canongate, on the east end of the Royal Mile. Its name is area history rather than proof that the present pub is medieval: city visitor information connects the Canongate’s ‘gait’ with the route taken by Holyrood Abbey’s canons, founded in 1128. The pub’s site has a more specific licensed history. Historic Environment Scotland’s record identifies 232 as the twentieth-century Blue Blanket public house and records brewery alteration plans from the 1960s; it also lists Canons’ Gait as an alternate name. The venue reopened after refurbishment under Bruce Group ownership in June 2022. Today it is a two-level pub: an upstairs lounge and a lower, stone-floored bar used for functions. It suits a Canongate meal or real-ale pause; expect later hours during August but check event nights.
What to notice
- 01
The medieval Canongate context belongs to the street and route; the current pub’s documented predecessor is the twentieth-century Blue Blanket.
- 02
The lower, stone-floored bar can be used for functions; August and event hours may run later than the regular schedule.
- 03
Current specialist hours: Mon. Thu and Sun 12:00-23:00; Fri. Sat 12:00-00:00. Check directly for August changes.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Holyrood Abbey was founded; city visitor information links the Canongate name with the canons’ route to Edinburgh.
Forever Edinburgh says Mary, Queen of Scots’ French tailor Jacques de Soulis lived at the Plainstanes Close site; this is local site history.
Historic Environment Scotland records plans for alterations and fittings at 232 Canongate when it was The Blue Blanket public house.
The National Record holds views of The Blue Blanket at 232 Canongate.
RCAHMS recorded a series of views of 232 Canongate and its rear entrance to Chessel’s Court.
CAMRA records the pub reopening after refurbishment under new Bruce Group ownership.
The Canons’ Gait trades as a two-level Canongate pub with food, real ale and function use downstairs.
Sources & confidence
Forever Edinburgh supports the Canongate-name context, venue address and close-specific history; the latter is treated as a visitor-history account, not an archaeological survey. CAMRA supports the 2022 refurbishment reopening, current layout and schedule.
Research reviewed
- The Canons’ GaitForever Edinburgheditorial
SupportsCanongate-name context, Plainstanes Close story, current pub description and visitor information.
- Canons’ GaitEdinburgh & South-East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsJune 2022 refurbishment reopening, two-level layout, facilities, current specialist hours and August caveat.
- Edinburgh, 232 Canongate, The Blue Blanket Public HouseHistoric Environment Scotland / National Record of the Historic Environmentgovernment
SupportsBlue Blanket former name, Canons’ Gait alternate name, 1960s alteration plans and 1992/2013 archive images.
- Canons’ GaitCampaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)specialist
SupportsNational specialist cross-check of the current pub and its Canongate address.
- Canons’ GaitApple Mapseditorial
SupportsRecent directory cross-check of address, contact details and weekend late closing.
- Licensed premises dataCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsCurrent City licensing dataset used to cross-check licensed Royal Mile premises.
