The Edinburgh Reporter January 2020

22
FEATURE
The Edinburgh Reporter
Some bars for you to try this winter
Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar
There’s no better time of the
year for warming whisky than the
festive period, and there’s no-one
that does it better than The Scotch
Malt Whisky Society (hyperlink).
You can cosy up in their wonderful
ground floor bar, Kaleidoscope,
which offers an exceptional range
of the finest single cask whiskies
money can buy.
Choosing whisky can often seem
overwhelming, but at the Society
all the bottles are characterised
in one of their 12 flavour profiles,
making it much easier to find your
favourite dram.
Throughout the festive period
they have a calendar of colourful
events and intriguing whisky
experiences, so be sure to get
along and catch-up with other
like-minded whisky lovers.
28 Queen Street, EH2 1JX
https://www.smws.com/about/
venues/kaleidoscope-edinburgh
Whiski Rooms
Continuing on the winter whisky
theme, here’s another bar that
knows a thing or two about the
nation’s favourite tipple. Perfect
if you find yourself wandering
around the Royal Mile, and not
far from Edinburgh’s Christmas
markets, the famous bar,
restaurant and shop offers more
than 300 varieties of whisky.
The relaxed environment plays
host to whisky lovers and tourists
alike, so whether you’re a malt
aficionado or a dram novice
you’re bound to find something
memorable.
4-7 North Bank Street, EH1 2LP
http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/
Bramble
If you really want to feel like
you’re escaping the crowds
(and the winter conditions)
then consider settling into the
dark and intimate surroundings
of this notorious underground
bar. Recently crowned ‘Best
bar in the UK’ (https://www.
edinburghnews.scotsman.com/
news/edinburgh-cocktail-barnamed-best-in-the-uk-1-4749911),
Bramble really is a cocktail haven.
However, you’ll need to do a bit
of exploring first, just look for the
Queen Street venue’s mysterious
staircase to discover something
unlike anything you’ve experienced
before.
16A Queen Street EH2 1JE
http://www.bramblebar.co.uk/
Nightcap
This cosy, intimate underground
bar feels like a local secret. With a
wealth of interesting cocktails and
spirits, you’ll be spoilt for choice
and the friendly staff can guide
you to finding your perfect tipple.
With levels of cellars, candlelight
and a tasty American food menu,
it’s a place you can happily lose an
afternoon (or evening) in.
3 York Place, EH1 3EB
http://nightcapbar.co.uk/
The Bow Bar
This iconic bar sits in the heart of
the Old Town and is definitely one
of the best whisky destinations
in the city. They often stock
more than 300 bottles of single
malt, from fan favourites to real
rare finds. Their selection is
ever-changing as new releases
are brought in, ensuring there is
something for everybody
The traditional pub is simply
furnished with wooden fixtures
and fittings, a beautiful mahogany
gantry displaying their collection
and old memorabilia on the walls,
making it the ultimate authentic
Edinburgh watering hole.
80 West Bow, EH1 2HH
https://www.thebowbar.co.uk/
ESPC says house prices held
steady in last quarter of 2019
Over the last three months of
2019, the average property price in
Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and
the Borders stayed fairly steady
compared to last year, with it now
sitting at £248,235 compared to
£248,320 last year.
In Edinburgh, the average selling
price of a house or flat also
stayed steady, sitting at £268,325
compared to £268,404 last year.
Within the city, the greatest
growth in average selling price
was seen in the north west with
properties selling for £273,583
on average, a 7.8% increase
compared to last year. In the south
of the city there was the greatest
decrease, with properties selling
for £293,169 on average, a 7.6%
decrease compared to last year.
Three bedroom houses in South
Queensferry and Dalmeny enjoyed
the greatest year-on-year increase
in average selling price of any
property type, with an average
selling price of £333,829, a 46.8%
increase compared to last year.
This is due to a much greater
proportion of higher value homes
being sold this year.
There was a significant year-onyear
increase in the average
selling price in the price of three
bedroom houses in Cramond,
Barnton and Cammo, rising by
38.6%.
This is again due to an increase
in the number of higher-value
homes being sold this year.
However, the average selling
price dropped by 20.4% year-onyear
of three bedroom houses in
Blackhall, Davidsons Mains and
Silverknowes.
This is due to a greater
proportion of lower value
properties being sold this year.
www.espc.com
A good night’s sleep
by Nigel Duncan
YOTEL, said the promotional
blurb, offers guests a completely
new hotel experience. The idea
is to take essential elements of
luxury hotels and turning them
into a compact, but smart space.
Bosses aim to deliver a sense
of community with areas for
co-working, social gatherings and
exercise.Edinburgh is the brand’s
first city centre hotel in Europe and
the 270-plus bed hotel is centrally
located on Queen Street, rubbing
shoulders with the capital’s
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Well, what is it like? Check-in is
automated by touch screen but
there is a bod at Mission Control
(reception) nearby if you get stuck.
Signs throughout are clear and
your choice is from a Premium
Queen Cabin (YOTEL speak for
hotel room), perfect for two
guests, to a VIP Suite for those
extra special occasions.
Cabins all feature luxury bedding
– believe me it is – rejuvenating
rain showers, relaxing mood
lights (you can switch to different
colours), numerous charging
points and a huge smart TV –
great picture – that can easily
be connected to guests’ own
devices. Our cabin was compact
and spotlessly clean.The bed was
one of the most comfortable I’ve
ever slept in and you sink into the
pillows. I enjoyed a great night’s
sleep after lowering top of the
bed by use of a convenientlypositioned
button. There is
ample hanger space and hair
dryer and an iron are conveniently
stored in that area. The ironing
board is at the back of the open
wardrobe. The easy-to-work,
overhead shower was augmented
by a hand-held. There was no
shower cap, a point mentioned
by Mrs D, but the soft, white fluffy
towels were a real bonus. Soap,
shampoo and conditioner were
well-positioned at the shower
and sink and the toilet cabin –
separated from the shower by
glass – was fine for me but I felt it
could be cramped for a big guy.
Heating controls were beside the
door and were no problem to work.
The rooms didn’t have a huge
amount of available space and
they lacked a desk area if you were
using it as a business base.
The hotel has, incidentally, two
interconnecting meeting rooms
that can be booked for groups of
between six and 50 delegates,
depending on set up. The wi-fi
worked and the room was ideal for
our one-night requirement.
The social komyuniti – breakfast
area – had bags of room. The
offering – for an extra charge –
was substantial and the menu
included soya and almond milk,
porridge (in a pot), cereal, pastries
and a selection of cooked food.
The sausages were delicious and
the bacon was lusciously smokey.
Scrambled eggs, hash brown and
beans were also there. Apricot jam
and orange marmalade (Essexbased
Wilkin and Sons, deliciously
orange taste) plus crusty bread or
sliced with pats of Anchor butter
made this a most satisfying start
to the day.
Drinks machines – tea and
coffee – are touch screen and
above your head are displayed
scenes of Edinburgh. A giraffe did,
however, walk across the screen at
St Andrew Square, a talking point.
Guests who do not want a
full breakfast can adjourn to
the coffee bar where there are
morning rolls with bacon or
sausage available along with
muffins, yoghurt and granola pot.
There is a spacious basement
gym – well equipped with cycling
and walking machines – plus
weights.
Our reaction? We’d have no
hesitation in recommending
YOTEL for a good night’s sleep. It
was wonderfully quiet and the bed
so comfy.
Catch the bus
this New Year
A resolution that
is sustainable
www.lothianbuses.co.uk
Join us on