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The pub’s story
Salt Horse opened on Blackfriars Street in 2016 on the site of the closed Blackfriars restaurant. From the outset it paired a craft-beer bar with a bottle shop and casual food, a combination that remains central to its identity. The original trade report recorded twelve draught beers and more than one hundred bottled options; the current operator now describes fourteen rotating draught lines and more than 200 cans and bottles, available to drink in or take away. CAMRA independently confirms the attached off-licence and notes that the bar trades later than the shop. Salt Horse belongs in a modern beer route because it is a specialist bar and retailer, not because beer is brewed on site. Its story is independent Old Town beer culture, built around range and turnover.
What to notice
- 01
The bar and bottle shop are one operation, but the bar stays open later than the retail counter.
- 02
The bottle and draught lists are deliberately changeable; the range matters more than any one beer.
- 03
Salt Horse is an 18+ and card-only venue according to the operator; check before bringing a group.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
The site had traded as the Blackfriars restaurant.
Salt Horse opened as a bottle shop, café and bar.
Launch coverage recorded twelve draught beers and more than 100 bottled choices.
CAMRA published its current interior and bar photographs.
CAMRA updated its venue record, continuing to describe a bar with attached off-licence.
The operator describes fourteen rotating draught lines and more than 200 cans and bottles.
Sources & confidence
The operator supplies the 2016 opening narrative and current scale of the beer offer; CAMRA independently corroborates the attached off-licence, address and current operation, most recently updated in July 2026. The profile carefully avoids the unsupported label of brewery taproom.
Research reviewed
- Salt HorseSalt Horseofficial
SupportsCurrent independent craft-beer bar and food identity.
- Find UsSalt Horseofficial
SupportsCurrent address, bar hours, access information and 2016 founding claim.
- Craft Beer in Edinburgh: 14 Taps & 200+ BottlesSalt Horseofficial
SupportsCurrent fourteen-line draught range, bottle-shop offer and drink-in/takeaway format.
- The Salt Horse opens on Blackfriars’ siteDRAM Scotlandeditorial
Supports2016 opening on the former Blackfriars restaurant site and original bar/shop format.
- Salt Horse Beer Shop & Bar, EdinburghCAMRAspecialist
SupportsIndependent confirmation of the attached off-licence and July 2026 update.
- Salt Horse Beer Shop & BarEdinburgh & South East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsLocal independent description of the shop/bar relationship and published shop hours.
