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The pub’s story
The Last Word Saloon is a basement cocktail bar at number 44 St Stephen Street. Its current entrance is deliberately restrained: a black glazed door, a large neighbouring window and a small sign below the pavement railings. Jason Scott and Mike Aikman opened the bar in 2012 after refitting their earlier venue, The Saint. Contemporary trade reports describe reclaimed furniture, a Victorian door, an open fire and a dark green and gold scheme. The name comes from the Last Word, a Prohibition-era cocktail, rather than a literary reference. The current bar lists more than one hundred whiskies alongside its cocktail programme and opens from late afternoon until 1am every day. It is one of the clearer examples of Stockbridge’s modern cocktail chapter, but the attraction is not a fake hidden-door trick. It is the quiet descent from a residential-looking street into a carefully made drinks room.
What to notice
- 01
The entrance is below pavement level at number 44 and is easy to pass without the small sign.
- 02
The name refers to the classic Last Word cocktail, not to a writer or book.
- 03
Current official hours begin at 16:00 every day and run until 01:00.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The founders took over the basement site, first operating it as The Saint.
The premises relaunched as The Last Word Saloon under Jason Scott and Mike Aikman.
A contemporary trade report documented the dark green and gold refit, reclaimed furniture and cocktail-led identity.
Bar Magazine recorded the Victorian door, open fire and the transition from The Saint.
A drinks-trade interview confirmed the bar remained part of the founders’ Edinburgh group.
The official venue site continued to list daily 16:00 to 01:00 opening and the current Stockbridge address.
Sources & confidence
The official site establishes the current name, address, phone, hours and whisky-led offer. Bar Magazine and SLTN provide contemporary 2012 reporting on the founders, the earlier Saint identity, the relaunch and the reclaimed interior. A 2024 SLTN interview confirms the business remains within the founders’ Edinburgh group. Scotsman Food and Drink independently describes the basement bar and cocktail focus. No literary, ghost or screen connection was found, and the classic cocktail naming origin is kept separate from literary storytelling.
Research reviewed
- The Last WordThe Last Wordofficial
SupportsCurrent identity, founding account, whisky offer and cocktail focus.
- The Last Word: visit usThe Last Wordofficial
SupportsCurrent address, phone, email and daily opening hours.
- The Last Word EdinburghBar Magazineeditorial
SupportsContemporary 2012 account of the site since 2009, former Saint identity, founders and interior details.
- Capital bar is last word in cocktailsScottish Licensed Trade Newseditorial
SupportsContemporary report on the 2012 relaunch, colour scheme, reclaimed furniture and cocktail-name origin.
- Bramble founders focus on great drinks and serviceScottish Licensed Trade Newseditorial
Supports2024 account of the founders and current group context.
- Five great cocktail bars in EdinburghScotsman Food and Drinkeditorial
SupportsIndependent description of the Stockbridge basement bar and cocktail programme.
- The Last Word Saloon map featureOpenStreetMapappearance
SupportsMapped position and coordinates at 44 St Stephen Street.
