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Before you visit
Happening Here
Thursday folk session
DOUGAL'S · Portobello
20:00
Thursday folk session at DOUGAL'S.
Confirmed by DOUGAL'S. View source. Checked .
The pub’s story
DOUGAL'S opened in March 2026 at 163 Portobello High Street, but the address has a longer pub life. City licensing material describes a purpose-built lounge and bar, and older records attach the Glass Blower and Beaton Docket names to the premises. CAMRA recorded the building closed and boarded in December 2023 and still shut in March 2025. Auld Boy Pubs then announced an Irish pub named for the owner's Uncle Father Dougal Maguire. The present room is a surprisingly deep L-shape behind its corner entrance, mixing fixed seating with stools and loose tables. There is a beer garden at the rear, darts, changing cask ale and recurring traditional music. The official venue hours are used because CAMRA's weekday openings lag behind them. It brings an Irish-style neighbourhood pub back to an established pub address, while keeping the present business's short history clear.
What to notice
- 01
The corner fascia spells the name DOUGAL'S PUB, with the apostrophe clearly visible above the windows.
- 02
The L-shaped room runs further behind the corner frontage than its street view suggests, with a beer garden at the rear.
- 03
Look for the darts area and check the current programme for traditional music sessions.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
City licensing material described 163 Portobello High Street as a purpose-built public-house lounge and bar.
The premises traded under the Glass Blower and Beaton Docket names before the current business.
CAMRA recorded the previous pub closed and boarded up.
The premises remained closed.
CAMRA recorded plans for a new Irish pub called Dougal's.
DOUGAL'S opened under Auld Boy Pubs.
Sources & confidence
The Auld Boy Pubs page establishes the current name, operator, address, concept, beer garden and complete seven-day hours. CAMRA independently supports the March 2026 opening, former names, room shape, cask offer, traditional music, darts, garden and current frontage. City licensing material confirms the address as a purpose-built bar and lounge and fixes the correct postcode. Companies House links 3 Paddy's Limited to the address before its registered-office change. OpenStreetMap fixes the coordinates. Earlier building chronology remains unestablished.
Research reviewed
- DOUGAL'SAuld Boy Pubsofficial
SupportsCurrent name, operator, address, origin of the name, beer garden and complete seven-day hours.
- Dougal's Pub, EdinburghCampaign for Real Alespecialist
SupportsMarch 2026 opening, former names, room layout, cask beer, music, darts, garden, access policy and dated exterior photographs.
- Licensed premises dataCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsCurrent licence-holder context and correct 163 Portobello High Street postcode.
- Capacity by intermediate data zone, December 2023City of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsPurpose-built public-house lounge and bar description for the address.
- 3 Paddy's Limited filing historyCompanies Housegovernment
SupportsCompany association with 163 Portobello High Street before the 2025 registered-office change.
- Dougal's map recordOpenStreetMapappearance
SupportsMapped identity, address and coordinates.
