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The pub’s story
The Pear Tree at 38 West Nicolson Street is a large sports-and-garden pub in Pear Tree House, a Category B-listed former mansion. Its history can be separated unusually clearly. The City Council dates the house to the mid eighteenth century, identifies Lord Kilkerran as first occupant, Sir Adam Ferguson as a later owner, and Andrew Usher’s 1823 purchase as a family home and business premises. It says whisky may have been commercially blended there, but marks that point as reputed. More securely, the building was used by wine and spirit merchants J & G Stewart before conversion to a pub in 1982. The pub takes its name from the old jargonelle pear tree over the frontage. Today the practical draw is a large beer garden, outdoor sport screen and indoor screens. Come for fixtures and outdoor space, while reading the historic house as a layered former home and business. Not a pub dating from the 1750s.
What to notice
- 01
The mid-eighteenth-century history belongs to Pear Tree House; the site became a pub only in 1982.
- 02
The old jargonelle pear tree at the frontage gives the venue its name. Look up before heading into the garden.
- 03
This is a major-fixture venue: the outdoor screen and garden are central to the experience, so expect a very different atmosphere on sport days.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The City Council dates Pear Tree House to the mid eighteenth century and identifies Lord Kilkerran as its first occupant.
Sir Adam Ferguson, later owner of the house, served as Member of Parliament for Edinburgh in these years.
Brewer Andrew Usher bought Pear Tree House as a family home and business premises.
The council records that J & G Stewart, wine and spirit merchants, occupied the building before its pub conversion.
The City Council records conversion of the building to a pub in this year.
The Pear Tree trades as a current garden-and-sport pub with an outdoor screen and daily late opening.
Sources & confidence
The official site supports present address, garden/sport-screen offer and weekly hours. Its claimed 1759 house date, named residents and pear-tree account are clearly retained as operator history rather than independently established fabric history.
Research reviewed
- The Pear Tree EdinburghThe Pear Treeofficial
SupportsCurrent address, sport-screen/garden offer, daily opening hours and the operator’s historical narrative.
- South Side Conservation Area Character AppraisalCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsMid-eighteenth-century Pear Tree House, first and later owners, 1823 Usher purchase, J & G Stewart occupancy, 1982 pub conversion and jargonelle-tree name origin; the blending claim is recorded as reputed.
- Nicolson Street West, 34 and 36 (LB29440)Historic Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsStatutory listed-building designation for the Pear Tree House address range.
- Pear Tree, 34, 36, 38 West Nicolson StreetBritish Listed Buildingsheritage
SupportsAccessible derivative listing summary for the 1756 building description, 14 December 1970 Category B listing date and the Historic Scotland designation reference.
- List of licensed premisesCity of Edinburgh Councilgovernment
SupportsCurrent council licensed-premises cross-check for The Pear Tree.
- The Pear TreeForever Edinburgheditorial
SupportsCurrent city visitor context for the Southside garden-and-drinks venue.
