The Famous Grouse - Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraph OCTOBER 16 2011 D15
Distributed with The Sunday Telegraph
FAMOUS PUBS | ��� ������ ������
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One of the contributing
factors to The Famous
Grouse’s distinctive
flavour is the use of
sherry casks in the
process of maturing the
spirit, which lend it its
unique, round richness
and colour. In fact,
The Famous
Grouse
distillery
uses more
sherry casks
than
anyone
else in the
industry.
This
technique
is used
at the
insistence
of our
founder,
Matthew
Gloag.
main tourist attractions, the
pub is an ideal spot in which
to soak up the atmosphere
of one of Scotland’s most
historic settlements.
�8 Kirk Square, Arbroath, Angus,
DD11 1DX; 01241 872777
Poets Bar at the Kenmore
Hotel Kenmore, Perthshire
Like The Globe Inn in
Dumfries, this Tayside pub
was a favourite of Scotland’s
national poet Robert Burns.
He stayed there one bleak
winter’s night back in 1787
and was so moved by the
welcome he received that he
composed a poem on the
spot, and wrote it in pencil on
the chimney breast over the
fire. His graffito is still visible
today. The bar hasn’t changed
much since Burns’ time. Its
low chairs, crackling fire and
cosy atmosphere are still the
perfect antidote to the worst
of the Highlands weather.
�The Square, Kenmore, Perthshire,
PH15 2NU; 01887 830205;
www.kenmorehotel.com
The Pretoria Bar
Crieff, Perthshire
This warm and welcoming
pub in eastern Scotland gets
its name from a long-standing
association with the Black
Watch Royal Highland
Regiment – who were heavily
involved in the climax of the
Boer Wars in South Africa. The
pub itself, which is more than
110 years old, is as much of
a hot spot for live-music
aficionados, who flock here
to hear acts performing in a
range of styles, as it is for the
locals of Crieff. The staff are
famously friendly, too.
�The Cross, Crieff, Perthshire,
PH7 3BT; 01764 652386;
www.thepretoriabar.co.uk
The Sheep Heid Inn Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s The Sheep Heid
Inn, which dates back to 1360,
claims to be Scotland’s oldest
surviving pub. Thanks to its
handy location at the foot of
Arthur’s Seat, and between
the palaces of Craigmillar and
Holyrood, it was a favourite of
Mary Queen of Scots and her
son James VI, who would stop
off for a game of skittles en
route to carrying out royal
business. The atmospheric
inn retains its traditional feel,
with plenty of roaring fires,
low lighting and coach housestyle
windows. It’s an absolute
must-visit for anyone in the
Scottish capital.
�43–45 The Causeway, Duddington,
Edinburgh, EH15 3QA; 0131 661
7974; www.sheepheid.co.uk
Shieldaig Bar & Coastal
Kitchen Shieldaig,
Ross-shire
Looking out over an idyllic
harbour on Scotland’s scenic
west coast, the Shieldaig Bar
& Coastal Kitchen is a bit of
an ornithologist’s dream.
Nowhere else in the UK can
you take your whisky dram
over to a pub window and
watch sea eagles soaring
overhead. Sheildaig Island,
just across the water, is home
to a breeding pair of these
rare birds, so you’ve a good
chance of a sighting. But on
days when they stick to their
eyrie, you can pop upstairs
to the wonderful restaurant
and indulge in some of
Scotland’s finest seafood.
�Shieldaig, Ross-shire, IV54 8XN;
01520 755251; www.
shieldaigbarandcoastalkitchen.co.uk
Teuchters Bar Edinburgh
A 20-minute walk from
Murrayfield stadium,
Teuchters Bar is a popular
stop-off for Scotland
supporters on their way to
watch rugby matches. And as
it serves a fine selection of
whiskies – as well as delicious
snacks such as haggis stovies,
cullen skink and Mull of
Kintyre Cheddar macaroni –
it’s equally favoured by those
who’d rather settle down
with a drink and watch the
match on television. And you
might recognise this as the
bar frequented by Jason
Isaacs in the BBC drama
Case Histories.
�26 William Street, Edinburgh,
EH3 7NH; 0131 226 1036;
www.aroomin.co.uk/teuchters
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Blakes of the Hollow
Enniskillen, Fermanagh
A legendary pub that’s as
famous for its atmosphere
as it is for its drink, Blakes
features in the work of the
late Irish novelist John
McGahern as well as in the
travellers’ tales of anyone
who’s ever spent time in
Enniskillen. Originally a
butcher’s, it has been owned
and run by the same family
for more than 100 years, and
its interior of snugs and open
fires remains unchanged
since Victorian times. It has
live folk-music on Fridays.
�6 Church Street, Enniskillen,
Fermanagh, BT74 7EJ;
028 6632 2143
The Crown Liquor Saloon
Belfast
This stunning National Trustowned
construction of gilt,
filigree and mosaics is where
to head for a serious dose of
fin-de-siècle Victoriana.
Though undeniably a tourist
attraction, it is wonderfully
atmospheric with snugs and
gas lighting, and it draws
Belfast’s stylish set. Book
a booth (built for Victorian
moralists who wanted to
drink unseen) and settle down
with a pint and one of the
pub’s excellent pies for some
great people-watching.
�46 Great Victoria Street, Belfast,
BT2 7BA; 028 9024 3187;
www.crownbar.com
Muriel’s Belfast
Muriel’s represents
everything good about the
New Belfast scene. The tiny
bar may be cool and quirky,
but it has its roots in Irish
tradition; and, though it now
has a louche, bordello-like
feel, it doesn’t forget it
occupies a former ladieswear
shop – recent Christmas
decorations have been made
out of lingerie. The drinks are
fabulous (try hot spiced cider
in winter) and the food filling
but unpretentious.
�12–14 Church Lane, Belfast,
BT1 4QN; 028 9027 9595