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The pub’s story
Dirty Dick’s at 159 Rose Street is a present-day cluttered whisky-and-pub-food bar in a much older listed New Town tenement. Historic Environment Scotland dates the building to around 1780 and records a shop and bar at ground floor, but its interior was not inspected in 1995; this does not date the present business. The Edinburgh pub was already named in a 2006 CAMRA travel feature, but the reviewed evidence does not establish an 1859 opening or continuous operation. In particular, the celebrated Richard or Nathaniel Bentley ‘Dirty Dick’ story belongs to a different pub, the Old Jerusalem/Dirty Dick’s at 202 Bishopsgate in London. Edinburgh’s own colourful house legends should therefore not be presented as documented history. Visit for a dense, eccentric interior, whisky and food; treat the antiquarian atmosphere as the contemporary venue’s character, not proof of a Victorian lineage.
What to notice
- 01
Do not conflate this Edinburgh bar with the London Dirty Dick’s: the Richard/Nathaniel Bentley legend is documented for Bishopsgate, not Rose Street.
- 02
The listed building is around 1780, but the statutory record does not inspect the interior or prove the age of the present business.
- 03
The venue’s official site says walk-ins only. Exact closing times come from a business-managed third-party listing because the operator publishes only ‘late’; recheck before a late visit.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Historic Environment Scotland dates the 159-161 Rose Street tenement to around 1780, with a shop and bar at ground floor.
159-161 Rose Street was added to the statutory list at Category B.
A CAMRA travel feature named Dirty Dick’s among Rose Street pubs, establishing the Edinburgh pub name in publication by this date.
A Scottish food-and-drink guide listed Dirty Dick’s at 159 Rose Street alongside other current central Edinburgh pubs.
The operator lists Dirty Dick’s at 159 Rose Street as a walk-in food, whisky and merchandise venue.
A business-managed restaurant listing records the current weekly schedule; the operator’s own site gives only opening time and ‘late’ closing wording.
Sources & confidence
The official site and CAMRA record establish the current pub, food, whisky and cask offer. Research found inconsistent origin stories for the name, including a well-known London history that cannot be transferred to Edinburgh; this profile therefore presents no founding date or origin legend as fact.
Research reviewed
- 159, 161 and 161A Rose Street (LB43334)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsCirca-1780 tenement date, Category B listing date, shop/bar ground-floor description and note that the interior was not inspected in 1995.
- Dirty Dick’s Pub – 159 Rose StreetDirty Dick’s Edinburghofficial
SupportsCurrent Edinburgh address, contact details, walk-ins-only policy and the operator’s broad opening-time wording.
- Take a flight or train to EdinburghNottingham CAMRAspecialist
SupportsDecember 2006 CAMRA travel feature naming Dirty Dick’s in Rose Street; it does not substantiate an 1859 founding story.
- The best places for food and drink in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley, Dundee and StirlingSnack Magazineeditorial
Supports2024 guide confirming current Dirty Dick’s Rose Street address and website alongside Fierce and Black Cat.
- Dirty Dick’sThe Listeditorial
SupportsIndependent description of the Edinburgh venue’s compact, old-style interior, whisky/ale character and weekly hours cross-check.
- Dirty Dick’s Pub HistoryDirty Dick’s London / Young’sofficial
SupportsThe Richard/Nathaniel Bentley and Old Jerusalem story belongs to the separate 202 Bishopsgate London pub, not the Edinburgh venue.
- Dirty Dick’s, EdinburghTripadvisorappearance
SupportsA business-managed current listing for 159 Rose Street with day-by-day hours. It is used because the official Edinburgh site says only ‘late’ and does not publish exact closes.
