The village pub in the heart of the city

Recognised as one of  the first places in Edinburgh that visitors could purchase an alcoholic drink and sit outside and drink in comfort, the earliest literary mention of the garden is in 1710 when the landlady,  a Mrs Hunter, was in trouble with the kirk session for providing two gentlemen and a gentlewoman with bottles of ale in the pub on the Sabbath, her defence being they drank them in the garden not the house!

Since becoming Scotland’s first real pub to become completely non-smoking indoors the value of our beer garden has become more apparent than ever. We have situated two giant umbrellas  which cover the majority of the garden when it’s raining, and fold away during those intermittent Scottish summer days. These giant parasols have excellent heaters and lights beneath which extend the outdoor evenings until closing times for most of the year, bringing pleasure to smoker and non-smoker alike.

We have just rebuilt the 1930s balcony which overlooks the garden leading from the lounge, allowing dining to take place and the possibility of outdoor music for the first time since the 1970s.

Finally Summer Barbecues make a welcome return after an absence of many years and take place every weekend, monsoon days excepted!, from May until September.

The Beer Garden

The Beer garden at the Sheep Heid, the first place in Edinburgh where you could obtain a drink outside!

The newly restored balcony, book early because space is limited!

Barbecue in full swing, you can almost smell the venison burgers...