The pub’s story
The Haymarket is a Nicholson’s pub at 11-14A West Maitland Street, occupying a prominent late-Georgian-to-early-Victorian corner at the Haymarket crossroads. Its surroundings, rather than a specific ancient pub lineage, provide the story: the operator identifies the former hay market, Haymarket Station’s 1842 opening and the nearby clock commemorating the 1914 Heart of Midlothian team enlistment. CAMRA adds a practical modern chronology: the pub was refurbished in 2020, with historic local prints, a raised mezzanine, restaurant arches and a seven-handpump cask range. It is a large, dependable pre- or post-train stop and can be especially busy for Murrayfield and Tynecastle fixtures. This is a functional station-side pub in a historic streetscape, not a claim that its current fit-out dates to 1842. Official hours are 11:00-23:00 Sunday. Thursday and 11:00-00:00 Friday. Saturday.
What to notice
- 01
Treat the 1842 station and 1914 memorial as Haymarket area context, not proof that the current pub interior dates from either event.
- 02
CAMRA reports seven handpumps and warns it can be especially busy on Murrayfield or Tynecastle match days; it may close early when quiet.
- 03
Official hours: Sun. Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri. Sat 11:00-00:00.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Nicholson’s says Haymarket Station opened at the western end of the former market square.
Nicholson’s identifies the nearby Haymarket Clock as a memorial to the Heart of Midlothian team who enlisted for the First World War.
CAMRA published exterior photographs of Haymarket Bar at the West Maitland Street corner.
CAMRA records refurbishment of the current pub, including historic prints and its present bar, mezzanine and restaurant arrangement.
CAMRA’s latest recorded survey documented the current interior, cask offer and facilities.
CAMRA updated its Haymarket record.
The Haymarket continues as a Nicholson’s pub at 11-14A West Maitland Street with official daily hours.
Sources & confidence
The official venue page supports current name, address, hours and real-ale/pub offer. Its market, station and clock narrative is kept as operator-provided area context rather than independent dating of the present pub building.
Research reviewed
- Nicholson’s Pub in Edinburgh | HaymarketNicholson’s Pubsofficial
SupportsCurrent pub identity, address, weekly hours, real-ale/food offer and operator’s local-history account.
- Haymarket, EdinburghCampaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)specialist
Supports2020 refurbishment, layout, cask offering, fixture-day caveat and survey/update dates.
- A Story to Tell about Scotland’s Pubs and Bars: The HaymarketScotland’s Pubs and Barseditorial
SupportsIndependent presentation of the former haymarket and 1842 station context.
- West End Conservation Area Character AppraisalCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsContext for Haymarket as a major junction and the historic route relationship between Morrison Street and West Maitland Street.
- Section and elevations for proposed alterations at Haymarket BarHistoric Environment Scotland / National Record of the Historic Environmentgovernment
SupportsHistoric archive record specifically naming Haymarket Bar at numbers 12 and 13 West Maitland Street.
- Licensed premises dataCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsCouncil licensed-premises cross-check for central Edinburgh.




