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The pub’s story
Dreadnought opened in October 2016 at the former Halfway House, 72 North Fort Street. Its single drinking room has picture windows, a high corniced ceiling and an old-fashioned gantry, according to CAMRA. A large HMS Dreadnought picture echoes the pub name. The changing cask selection includes dark beer, and CAMRA named it Edinburgh Pub of the Year in 2026. Storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks started the Dreadnought Shanty Crew in January 2020. A contemporary TRACS account places their singing sessions inside this pub, while Brown describes the crew continuing online during lockdown. In 2021, the pub reclaimed homophobic graffiti as Gayz Onley, the name used for its Pride celebration. Co-owner Roisin Therese won PubAid's Scottish Community Regular Hero award in March 2024. PubAid describes foodbank and clothing drives alongside her campaign for the neighbouring Pride Bridge.
What to notice
- 01
A large HMS Dreadnought picture echoes the pub name.
- 02
The high corniced ceiling rises above the single drinking room.
- 03
An old-fashioned gantry stands behind the bar.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Dreadnought opened in the former Halfway House.
The pub shared CAMRA Edinburgh Pub of the Year with Stockbridge Tap.
Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks founded the Dreadnought Shanty Crew, whose early sessions met at the pub.
The pub reclaimed Gayz Onley graffiti as a name for its Pride celebration.
Co-owner Roisin Therese won PubAid's Scottish Community Regular Hero award.
CAMRA named Dreadnought Edinburgh Pub of the Year.
Sources & confidence
Contemporary reporting supports the October 2016 opening in the former Halfway House. TRACS records shanty singing inside the pub in February 2020, and organiser Jan Bee Brown dates the crew's foundation to January. CAMRA supports the room details and beer award, while PubAid gives the exact 2024 award category and community work; those award reports share their organisers' evidence. Official opening hours were checked on 2 September 2026. No reliable construction date or dated alteration to the pub's own building or interior has been established. The shanty sessions described here belong to 2020 and are not a current programme.
Research reviewed
- Current address/phone, Mon-Thu 16:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 14:00-01:00, Sun 14:00-22:00; ESTD LEITH MMXVI; Gayz Onley Pride fundraiser reclaims homophobic graffiti at pubDreadnought operatorofficial
SupportsCurrent address/phone, Mon-Thu 16:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 14:00-01:00, Sun 14:00-22:00; ESTD LEITH MMXVI; Gayz Onley Pride fundraiser reclaims homophobic graffiti at pub. Original fundraiser date not established.
SupportsSame address/hours; changing cask ales including dark beer, one room, picture windows, high corniced ceiling, old-fashioned gantry, HMS Dreadnought picture; 2026 Edinburgh Pub of Year. No onsite food preparation; no children.
- 22 February 2019 report: opened October 2016 in former Halfway House, joint 2019 Edinburgh CAMRA award with Stockbridge TapDRAM Scotlandeditorial
Supports22 February 2019 report: opened October 2016 in former Halfway House, joint 2019 Edinburgh CAMRA award with Stockbridge Tap. Award narrative depends on CAMRA announcement.
- 13 May 2024 advocacy account: co-owner Roisin Therese and neighbouring Pride Bridge campaign, Pride/Trans Pride artwork and pub fundraising, foodbank/clothing drivesPubAid, Des OFlanaganeditorial
Supports13 May 2024 advocacy account: co-owner Roisin Therese and neighbouring Pride Bridge campaign, Pride/Trans Pride artwork and pub fundraising, foodbank/clothing drives. Current bridge access not verified.
- Exact node 570313191 with named premises geometry/coordinatesOpenStreetMap contributorsappearance
SupportsExact node 570313191 with named premises geometry/coordinates. HTTP 200 retrieved 2 September 2026. Exact named premises node coordinates. Hours and operator tags not adopted.
- Dreadnought: Leith's LGBTQ+ local, 23 June 2025The Skinny, Rachel Ashendeneditorial
SupportsFirst-person cultural feature dates Gayz Onley graffiti and Pride reclamation to 2021, describes craft beer and queer community role. Photography credited Ines Chapleo. Bridge future restoration statements remain 2025 context, not current access facts.
- Community Pub Hero 2024 winners, 8 March 2024PubAid organiserofficial
SupportsAwards held 5 March 2024. Winner list specifically names Roisin Therese from Dreadnought as Community Regular Hero, Scotland; not Community Support Hero. Award is to co-owner, not a general national best-pub title.
- Dreadnought Shanty Crew: Come All Ye, 20 February 2020Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS)specialist
SupportsContemporary 20 February 2020 account names storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks leading shanty sessions at Dreadnought Pub, Leith, supported by Tasgadh traditional arts funding. The Tuesday sessions described are historical, not a current programme.
- Scuttlebutt Stories: Jan Bee Brown campaign, funded 28 October 2020Jan Bee Brown, via Crowdfunderofficial
SupportsThe organiser writes that she and musician Toby Hawks founded Dreadnought Shanty Crew in January 2020 and continued virtual Tuesday sessions during lockdown. The campaign was funded on 28 October 2020. A proposed performance elsewhere is not proof of a pub event or building work.
