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The pub’s story
Artisan Bar occupies the gable end of the Abbeyhill Colonies, in a building erected in 1871 by the Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company. Its elaborate pub front dates from the later nineteenth century, and the building is Category C listed. The green timber frontage is unusually complete: Ionic pilasters divide arched doors and windows, cream details sharpen the mouldings, and a double-sided clock projects over London Road. Two entrances lead into a broad, wood-panelled room organised around a large island bar and old mirrors. Three handpumps pour changing independent beers, while a separate function room and match-day trade keep the pub closely tied to the neighbourhood. The current offer is straightforward rather than styled as a heritage display. The building, frontage and room plan do most of the historical work, while the bar continues as an everyday Abbeyhill local.
What to notice
- 01
The hanging clock projects from an ornate wrought-iron bracket above the London Road pavement.
- 02
Fluted Ionic pilasters divide the green timber frontage into arched doors and windows.
- 03
Inside, the large island bar and mirrors organise the room more strongly than later decorative additions.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company erected the colony building at the gable end of Regent Terrace.
The ornate timber public-house front was added, including pilasters, arched openings and a hanging clock.
The public-house site appeared on the Ordnance Survey map.
The building was added to the statutory list at Category C.
The upstairs rooms hosted portraits, oral history and historic Abbeyhill views for the tenth Colony of Artists festival.
Sources & confidence
The official site and CAMRA agree on identity, address, telephone, hours and present use. Historic Environment Scotland supplies the 1871 construction date, late nineteenth-century bar-front description and Category C designation. Trove provides an independent heritage record, while OpenStreetMap fixes the mapped position.
Research reviewed
- The Artisan Bar and LoungeThe Artisan Barofficial
SupportsCurrent identity, address, telephone, exact hours and present neighbourhood-pub offer.
- ArtisanEdinburgh and South-East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsCurrent hours, ornate exterior, island bar, mirrors, cask pumps, function room and match-day character.
- 35 London Road, Artisan BarHistoric Environment Scotlandgovernment
SupportsCategory C listing, 1871 building date, late nineteenth-century bar front and precise architectural description.
- Artisan BarTrove Scotlandheritage
SupportsNineteenth-century public-house classification, heritage coordinates and 1972 photographic record.
- Artisan map recordOpenStreetMapappearance
SupportsMapped identity, address and coordinates.
- Colony of Artists tenth anniversary programmeColony of Artistsofficial
SupportsOfficial 2015 festival programme recording local-history exhibitions, portraits and historic Abbeyhill views upstairs at Artisan Bar.
