The pub’s story
Malt & Hops is a useful reminder that a pub’s lineage and its building fabric can tell different stories. Historic Environment Scotland identifies 45-46 Shore as a Category B-listed former warehouse dating from 1912, and specifically describes the pub frontage as modern timber. CAMRA and a 2025 local-heritage account support a longer public-house lineage to 1747; the latter says the premises traded as The Drawbridge for much of the twentieth century and became Malt & Hops in 1992. Those are distinct claims, so this record does not turn 1747 into the building date or a blanket “founded” statement. Current evidence supports a traditional painted timber pub front on the Shore, but not an exact colour, lettering hierarchy or date panel. It is a strong harbour-trade story now, with the portrait work deliberately held back.
What to notice
- 01
Contrast the warehouse-scale building with the modern timber pub frontage at street level.
- 02
Keep the 1747 public-house lineage separate from the 1912 date of the present building.
- 03
The Shore setting and name are secure; exact fascia wording and colour are intentionally left for later imagery.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
A qualified public-house lineage is recorded for the site; this is not the construction date of the present building.
The present 45-46 Shore former-warehouse building dates from this year.
The premises are described as trading as The Drawbridge for much of the century.
A local-heritage account records the change to the Malt & Hops name.
A local-heritage account set out the qualified public-house lineage and later-name history.
CAMRA recorded Malt & Hops as open and current at 45 Shore.
Sources & confidence
Seven sources checked 14 August 2026. Heritage evidence firmly dates the present warehouse and modern timber frontage; CAMRA and local history support the qualified public-house lineage. Current contact and exterior evidence are good, but not sufficient to reproduce the exact sign.
Research reviewed
- Malt & HopsMalt & Hopsofficial
SupportsVenue contact lead only; inaccessible social content is not used as corroborating evidence.
- Malt & Hops, EdinburghCAMRAspecialist
SupportsCurrent operation, address and hours with an older exterior baseline.
- Malt & HopsCornerappearance
SupportsCurrent exact-address gallery and operating-status check.
- 45/46 Shore (LB27892)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsCategory B, 1912 former-warehouse evidence and the record that the pub frontage is modern timber.
- Everyday heritage in a Leith pubScottish Community Heritage Allianceeditorial
SupportsQualified public-house lineage, Drawbridge history and 1992 Malt & Hops name change.
- Malt and Hops Pub, Shore, EdinburghDouglas Brownappearance
SupportsIndependent 2024 exterior reference; linked for evidence only, never reused as an app image.
- Save the ShoreNorth Edinburgh Newseditorial
SupportsCurrent community-operation evidence and live-music context.




