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The pub’s story
St Vincent Bar occupies the basement at the Circus Lane corner of an early nineteenth-century terrace. Historic Environment Scotland dates work on the listed group to 1821 and specifically records the recessed public-house entrance at number 11. That establishes the building and the later use, not an 1821 opening date for the bar. The pub is compact, with a wooden gantry, dark panelling, stained glass and an upright piano. A 2014 visit also recorded leather benches and dividers that help the small room feel settled rather than bare. Outside, foliage spills over the railings around the green basement entrance. CAMRA currently lists cask beer, table games and no admission for children. It is a place to notice at close range: the doorway, lantern, stained glass and careful use of a narrow tenement basement.
What to notice
- 01
The pub is reached down to basement level and space inside is limited.
- 02
Notice the stained glass, wooden gantry and painted upright piano rather than expecting a large open room.
- 03
CAMRA currently states that children are not admitted and that the bar is card only.
The time rail
The building, the pub and its interior may date from different periods. The timeline keeps documented dates separate from tradition.
Work began on the Robert Reid and William Sibbald terrace that includes number 11.
Historic Environment Scotland listed the terrace at Category B.
The heritage description identified number 11 as a basement public house with a recessed door and four-pane window.
A photographed visit documented the wooden bar, panelling, stained glass, dividers and leather seating.
A dated exterior photograph recorded the current flowered frontage at the Circus Lane corner.
Current CAMRA records confirmed the hours, cask offer and visitor policies.
Sources & confidence
Historic Environment Scotland provides the strongest building evidence and clearly separates the 1821 terrace from the later public-house use. CAMRA supplies the current hours, phone, beer offer, compact interior and visitor policies. A dated 2014 visit independently describes the panelling, stained glass, dividers and seating. EdinburghGuide supports the Vinnie nickname and current identity, while a July 2026 Wikimedia photograph confirms the exterior. Older directories show a different phone number, so the current CAMRA branch number is used.
Research reviewed
- 5-11 St Vincent StreetHistoric Environment Scotlandheritage
SupportsCategory B status, 1821 building work and the specific basement public-house description at number 11.
- St Vincent BarEdinburgh and South East Scotland CAMRAspecialist
SupportsCurrent hours, phone, interior, cask offer, card policy and child policy.
- St Vincent Bar, EdinburghCampaign for Real Alespecialist
SupportsNational current venue record and current visitor information.
- The St Vincent, St Vincent StreetEdinburgh Pubseditorial
SupportsDated independent description of the traditional interior and fittings.
- St Vincent BarEdinburghGuideeditorial
SupportsCurrent address, Vinnie nickname and visitor context beside Circus Lane.
- St Vincent Bar side view, July 2026Wikimedia Commonsappearance
SupportsDated current exterior appearance and coordinates.
- St Vincent Bar map featureOpenStreetMapappearance
SupportsMapped position and coordinates at the Circus Lane corner.
