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The pub’s story
Cold Town House is a multi-level brewery bar at 4 Grassmarket, opened in 2019 in the former Robertson Memorial Church after a £4m conversion. It is the public home of Cold Town Beer, with brewing visible from the Pizza & Prosecco floor and a rooftop terrace trained on Edinburgh Castle. That makes it a lively, beer-and-food viewpoint rather than a hushed hotel lounge: pizza, sport, live entertainment and large groups are part of the character. The operator says its name recalls Calton Hill Brewery, said to have brewed lager in 1835; that is brand history rather than the history of this building. In April 2026 the terrace reopened after a £500,000 revamp, adding a retractable roof and extending the view-facing area. Come for a close castle sightline and brewery feel, not a quiet, historic alehouse.
What to notice
- 01
This is a lively brewery bar with food, sport and events. Not a secluded rooftop lounge.
- 02
The operator’s standard hours are extended during August 2026; recheck after the month ends. The roof terrace is published as open until 10pm daily.
- 03
Under-18s are welcome with a responsible adult until 10pm; bookings are available for food, drinks or both.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Cold Town’s operator says its name recalls Calton Hill Brewery, which it describes as brewing lager in 1835; this is a brand-history claim, not the venue’s building history.
The 2019 launch coverage records that Cold Town Beer had been launched the previous year.
Cold Town House opened at 4 Grassmarket as a brewery, pub, restaurant and rooftop-terrace venue in a former church.
Launch reporting described the £4m conversion, eight 500-litre beer tanks and a terrace looking uninterruptedly towards the Castle.
Cold Town House reopened its rooftop after a £500,000 refit, reported to include a retractable roof and an enlarged terrace.
The operator published temporary August opening extensions, with roof-terrace service stated to finish at 10pm daily.
Sources & confidence
Cold Town House’s current rooftop page supports the 2026 refurbishment, food-and-drink use, booking advice, published terrace closing time and castle view. Forever Edinburgh independently describes the building’s three-level beer and rooftop offer. Postcodes.io supplies the map coordinate.
Research reviewed
- Rooftop TerraceCold Town Houseofficial
SupportsCurrent operator description of the roof terrace, current drink/food context and visitor guidance.
- Opening TimesCold Town Houseofficial
SupportsCurrent standard and August 2026 opening hours, kitchen/terrace service, booking, age and dog guidance.
- Cold Town House will be warm and invitingThe Edinburgh Reportereditorial
Supports2019 opening, £4m former-church conversion, on-site brewing, brewery tanks, roof-terrace view, 2018 Cold Town Beer launch and the operator’s brand-history claim.
- A new rooftop bar brings you castle views and cold brewsDesignMyNighteditorial
SupportsFebruary 2019 opening, three-floor former-church context, on-site brewery and castle-facing rooftop terrace.
- Cold Town HouseForever Edinburgheditorial
SupportsCurrent three-floor visitor context, brewery view, food, entertainment and rooftop/castle-view classification.
- First look inside the newly revamped rooftop bar with unbeatable views of Edinburgh CastleTime Outeditorial
SupportsApril 2026 £500,000 rooftop revamp, retractable roof and expanded terrace reporting.
- Iconic castle-view bar reopens after half-a-million-pound glow-upWhat's On Edinburgheditorial
Supports2019 opening and April 2026 rooftop-refurbishment context.
