Earl Of Marchmont

Back in the day, the nineteenth century, when Sir George Warrender and his mates were building Marchmont, there wasn’t much call for drinking establishments in a nice middle class Edinburgh suburb. Drinking dens were best left to the main thoroughfares in and out of the city (running through Bruntsfield, Newington and the like) while the middle class oft professional man preferred to keep his drinking — and to an extent his wife — inside the home. Joy of joys therefore that the Earl of Marchmont offers today’s residents a home from home: men, women and students are all welcome.
A few years back the EoM was a pub to walk past, perhaps en route to the place across the road. These days it’s small in scale, but has a good range of drinks for its bijou serving area. The exterior exudes a sense of style, the inside manages to combine tables and chairs, bar stools, standing areas and some couches to stretch out on: it’s a marvel that it all fits in.
If you’re unlucky enough to catch the chemical aroma of the toilets which can quickly invade such a small space then think yourself lucky that this place in better than it was a decade ago. Then marvel at the high quality workmanship of Victorian residencies.

I used to quite like this place; however I feel it has gone downhill in the last few months.
Decent back bar, and a few pumps of real ale and the other usual beers on tap. Its always hard to tell the mood in here, they don’t tend to put the TV on, which just seems like a waste to me, I wa sin the other day and they could have had the Tennis on, just an example.
They do gigs quite often, which is great for those of you who know the band, but the place is so small that you obviously can’t escape the music, and the place turns into a sauna.
Saying all this, if you go in and its busy then the atmosphere can be quite good — though I can never escape the feeling that I am inconveniencing the regulars — everyone turns round when you walk in and nobody moves when you are trying to get to the bar.
I have based this review on well over a dozen visits to this bar –like I said, I used to quite like it.

I’ve been here a few times. It’s nothing special really. I enjoy my time here but feel that everything here is a touch half arsed. The staff are lovely but I feel they are slightly held to ransom by some sort of owner/​operator who has their idea of how the place should be run and sticks with it. Of course this might be hugely unfair however theere are a few things that nettled me.
Food — I was starving so ordered some pasta carbonara stuff. It was the worlds tiniest bowl of carbonara with some rubbish bread… Clearly microwaved out back. £6… Either do food or don’t — there is a perfectly good chipper over the road.
Beer wise there is a fairly rubbish selection… and it’s pretty expensive.
It’s also a bit confused as to exactly what it wants to be — for me it should be a cozy, nice pub. Not some sort of wannabe jazz café.
I’d still come back, just not that often.

This is a cool bar right in the middle of Marchmont. It always seems to be busy which is a good sign. I wouldn’t consider it the cheapest bar around but it has a nice vibe with a mix of locals and students.

Pro: Interesting selection of booze for a neighbourhood bar, and some tasty food on occassion.
Cons My problem is that it doesnt really know what it wants to be the seating is really odd and on the back of this it can be really difficult to get to the bar if there are other patrons standing there
My only other real problem is with some of the staff I have encountered recently and their terrible bad moods. Last time the bar man was doing his best to avoid the very grumpy bar maid, as were the customers. We all have bad days but the last 3 times I was in she was like that. Going to avoid the place for a few months and give it another go later in the year.
On a plus side the majority of the bar staff and maangement have been excellent which is what pulls this to a 3. The locals that drink in here are also very friendly with some very interesting characters dropped in the mix.

A wee neighbourhood local, and wee it certainly is. And local. And friendly.
I’m only wavering on 3 stars just now as I need to come back. They serve food, which looks like standard pub food (mac n’ cheese, curry etc.) For a small bar they don’t just serve the usual — they have alcoholic ginger beer and the like.
The only thing that gets me is the layout of the place. THere are chairs around the outskirts of the pub, and a wee bar but with some seats quite close to the bar. Not much room at the bar to chill, but not many seats either. This isn’t awful per se, but if I want to find a wee local where I’m guaranteed a comfy seat, well it’d be nice if there were a seat.
I also couldn’t hear any music when I was in here which makes me sad. I like a good few hours in a pub randomly interspersed with «ohmygod I remember this song!» and «Shazaming this!» Just another wee note.
As far as bars go, it’s friendly (really friendly, kudos to the staff) and the regulars are a mix of students and «old men», all of whom were happy to chat with one another. Def somewhere where I can imagine «Everyone knows your name» after a wee while. Llike I said, just needs a few return visits!

One of my most favourite pubs in Edinburgh. I’ve been a few times and every time has been fun.
The beer selection is good. This is one of the few places where you can get interesting ciders and ginger beers (Jeremiah Weed!)
There’s friendly and patient staff. The pub is cosy and small, with cute outdoor seating when the weathers right. I love the vibe of Marchmont.
I also got the macaroni and cheese here, was so delicious. Pretty sure it was just microwaved, and i’m not sure if it was home made in the first place (must have been) but was so delicious anyways. yum.

Living in Marchmont, this is without a doubt my favourite bar in the area and they only one I would go to if I was going for a drink locally, in fact its probably in my top 5 in Edinburgh.
This tiny bar has great décor, a wonderful atmosphere and is a genuinely enjoyable place to have a quiet drink with a couple of friends (I would even try turn up with a large group!). Although its always quite busy, I have never had a huge problem getting a seat and they also have outdoor seating as well (not your typical cheap plastic chair affair, nice chairs and tables) which is great when the weather is OK.
While the music is manly on as background music, I have always been impressed with their choice of tunes!
Its not the cheapest bar in Edinburgh, but that’s OK as they have a great selections of beers, wines and ciders (much more than you would expect from a bar this size) and this is the the kind of bar you would go to actually enjoy a drink while having a chat, not get hammered.
Definitely a gem, and well worth making time to visit if its not in your local area.

I live right across from the Earl of Marchmont, which makes it the kinda place I like going to. Because it’s close and I’m lazy. I actually genuinely like the pub, too, though I’m not at all a fan of the prices. It’s a comfortable, cosy space, though don’t expect to get a seat if you come late on a weekend.
Another great thing about the Earl (as we lazy locals call it) is that it has outdoor seating (though not after 10). And by ‘outdoor seating’ they don’t just mean 1 or 2 tables with a couple of rickety chairs, but several tables and several chairs and enough room for many a person to grab some fresh air outside on the few, but certain days where the weather is actually bearable.
They do a great brunch deal that is a panini (served with salad and crisps) and a bloody mary for 5.50 (or something around that price). They also have London Pride on tap at an affordable price and Hoegaarden on tap at an extortionate price. So, there’s enough for all tastes, you see.

If you ignore the fact that it is ludicrously small, the Earl of Marchmont is a brilliant pub. Situated right in the heart of Marchmont, it is what the place needed, a good pub for students (sorry Argyle Bar). the décor is pretty cool, and lends itself to a relaxed environment. During the summer they put out seating on the street so you can have a few chilled out beers outside, which was a nice addition.
There is an okay selection of beers, and although not too cheap are really good. As well as the normal beer, wine and spirits they have cocktails, with special offers changing, meaning you can get a pretty good cocktail for good value. The food is pretty tasty as well, especially the Nachos which are hee-​owge.
The atmosphere is really chilled out, with most people just coming in for a few drinks, but there is a TV for those wanting to watch a bit of sports. Another bonus is that the bar staff are awesome, definitely the friendliest around and make the experience much better than in many other bars.

Earl of Marchmont is a really friendly, sociable and small pub situated right in the heart of Marchmont. When my flatmates and I first moved to the area we thought, at first glance, that it was just an ‘old man’ pub. After about a moth, however, we went there for the pre-​drink before a night out and were pleasantly surprised by the cosiness of the atmosphere and how well priced the drinks were. There is always a good range of people inside (including old men), all of which are pleasant. Further, their food is delicious. On a number of occassions I’ve had their soup and panini combo for less than a fiver. The soup is always an interesting and delicious flavour and they have a great selection of paninis, my personal favourite being the cheese and smoked ham.
I really couldn’t fault this place as it also had great service and screens showing the latest sporting events — always a winner.

I was made to watch football in the Earl recently — my man was impressed by the plasma screen, ho hum. There’s too much football on these days
That aside, I’d heard from a few of my friends who studied at uni in Edinburgh that this was where to hang out and I wasn’t disappointed.
The only thing that took me aback was that it was quite as small as it was. Not the place to come on a hen or stag! However it didn’t matter, it’s size only added to the aura of the place.
Fairly competitive prices for drinks and also surprisingly not every seat was taken up by studenty looking types — it was a mixed bag of people of different ages.
The regal sounding name was paid homage to by the décor, you can’t beat a chandelier to light you up at night time. The prices weren’t quite as regal, much more affordable.
I can see why so many pick this as their student-​life-​local, I think I would have too if I’d served my student sentence in Edinburgh.

Unexpectedly catching the tail end of a live jazz band (Swing Supreme) one Sunday afternoon at the Earl of Marchmont, an entertaining social drink ensued.
The interior is a mix of oak beams and subdued lighting resulting in a relaxed drinking environment. A large sports screen above the door ensures that the sports fan are satisfied as well as those simply wanting a mellow local drinking spot.
The food isn’t the best (most of it being reheated pub grub), but as far as fitting the brief of a typical modern pub, it fits this criteria well.

The pub offers a laid back atmosphere. There is a nice mix of old and young ages, something unusual for any pub in the city centre. The pub is owned by the Ross family, who own also Renroc café business. Meals are not bad, especially the moussaka and the nachos. Prices are affordable.

I had heard a lot about the Earl from my friends living in Marchmont, so I was really excited when they suggested we go there for our pre-​drink rather than our usual haunt.
Firstly, I was surprised at how small the Earl was. There were around 25 seats, every one taken, and people standing everywhere. I bumped into a friend (literally bumped into him) but couldn’t stop to chat because there seemed to be a one-​way flow of human traffic around me. Don’t get me wrong, it was a really nice wee bar with a lot of character to it, but I think it’s reached a stage where it’s reputation precedes its reality. I wouldn’t choose to go there if I wanted a nice drink with my friends, but I would choose to go there if I wanted to re-​live my first year at uni and socialize with Marchmont’s elite.

I lived in Marchmont during my second year at uni, and everyone I knew always said that the only thing wrong with the area was the fact that there was no pub; no «local» that you could meet in after lectures or before a night out.
Then the Earl opened. I miss living in marchmont now!
The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is the size of it, or lack of it. It holds roughly 30 – 40 people, so as pubs go it’s not huge; although the result is a friendly and welcoming pub with an inviting atmosphere, it does mean that it’s sometimes hard to find a seat.
The food here is fantastic. It’s all home-​made according to the menu, and it offers great value for money — you can get a panini & soup combo for £4.95, or if you’re after something more substantial you can get macaroni cheese bake for only £3.95, or a huge portion of nachos for 2 to share for £5.95.
Despite being in the heart of student-​ville, this pub attracts young professionals and students in equal measure — maybe it’s the good range of drinks behind the bar, the fancy bar snacks such as wasabi peanuts, or the huge comfy sofas in front of the huge windows with fairy lights overhead.
Whatever the reason is, this place works.
Don’t miss… They have Bulmers on tap here, unlike most places where you have to buy it by the bottle.

In the affluent, student-​drenched area of Marchmont comes a royal pub whihc is altogether amenable. Its dim lighting adds atmosphere to the place, which has been decorated as some kind of mock speakeasy, or so it seems. Leather seats adorn the floor, where students and locals liase upon all sorts of matters, nursing a drink or taking advantage of the excellent bar snacks. You can bring your Ipod in to fill the airways with your personal music taste, or just sit back and enjoy the relaxing pace of this jovial bar.

The Earl of Marchmont recently re-​opened after a complete refit by the new owners. It is still a bejous establishment but is comfortable, stylish and stocks a wide range of beers and wine. Great bar snacks!
Quite happy to visit for just a coffee and a snack or for a bottle of wine in the evening!
A vast and much improved Earl of Marchmont to the last one — it’s simply unrecognisable!

I used to study in Marchmont and spent a great deal of time in this little pub. Unfortunately this was down to convenience more than a desire to visit. The pub istelf has a décor which is nothing much to speak of and the range of drinks on offer are limited. It used to be really smokey but I reckon the smoking ban will have much improved this situation! The owner didn’t seem to have put much effort into the quality of service or indeed the overall ambience and comfort of the pub. However, because it is so small there is something quite cosy about it. The staff are friendly but don’t expect a chat. There is no food menu and the drinks aren’t the cheapest in town. You can find a variety of chracters there though, I used to end up chatting to the folks I had to practically sit on to get to my own seat so I suppose it was a good way to meet others.