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The pub’s story
Holyrood 9A is a genuinely historic pub building at the lower Old Town edge, not merely a modern bar with a heritage label. Historic Environment Scotland dates 9 and 9A Holyrood Road to 1895: a Scots Baronial tenement with the public house at ground level and a surviving contemporary timber frontage. CAMRA describes a bare-boarded pub built in 1898, retaining its two-tier mirrored gantry, old counter, panelling, Usher’s mirror, snug remnants and a 1930s rear extension. The business was previously Holyrood Tavern and is now a food-led bar with burgers and breakfast, but it is not a real-ale stop: CAMRA says its cask taps have been out of use since October 2022. It is particularly useful for a pub with historic fabric, a Sunday folk jam and a firm daytime-to-late schedule.
What to notice
- 01
Historic fabric survives in the gantry, counter, panelling and mirrors. This is a real heritage-interior stop.
- 02
Alcohol is not served until 11:00; CAMRA says the former cask taps are out of use, though bottled real cider may remain.
- 03
Official hours: Sun. Tue 09:00-23:00; Wed. Thu 09:00-00:00; Fri. Sat 09:00-01:00. Sunday folk sessions vary.
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 dates the listed 9 and 9A Holyrood Road tenement, including a ground-floor public house, to 1895.
CAMRA dates the bare-boarded pub and its surviving mirrored gantry to 1898.
CAMRA records an extension to the rear of the pub, with the rear room now used for Sunday folk sessions.
CAMRA’s record includes an exterior photograph of the venue under the Holyrood name.
CAMRA records the side-turning cask taps as out of use, ending its real-ale offer.
CAMRA updated its record of Holyrood 9A, noting current food, room layout and operating details.
Holyrood 9A continues at 9A Holyrood Road with breakfast, food, drinks and official daily hours.
Sources & confidence
The official venue page supports current name, address, contact details, character and weekly opening hours. No historical age, interior or continuity claim is made.
Research reviewed
- HomeHolyrood 9Aofficial
SupportsCurrent address, identity and official weekly opening hours.
- Holyrood 9A, EdinburghCampaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)specialist
Supports1898 pub date, interior details, 1930s extension, former Holyrood Tavern name, cask-ale status, current facilities and 2026 update.
- 9 and 9A Holyrood Road and 18 Gullan's CloseHistoric Environment Scotlandgovernment
Supports1895 Category C listing, ground-floor public-house use and surviving timber frontage.
- Scotland’s True Heritage PubsCAMRA Pub Heritage Groupspecialist
SupportsHeritage-pub documentation for the former Holyrood Tavern interior.
- The Holyrood, 9A Holyrood RoadGeograph Britain and Irelandarchive
Supports2013 geolocated record of the venue at 9A Holyrood Road.
- Capacity by impact zoneCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsCouncil licensing dataset entry for the public house at 9A Holyrood Road.
