Leith bar named in Good Food Guide's 100 Best Pubs less than year after launch
Historic Nobles by Bellfield wins accolade
A historic Leith pub has been named one of Britain's top bars less than a year after launching.
Nobles by Bellfield in Constitution Street has been listed in The Good Food Guide's 100 Best Pubs 2026.
The recognition is a major achievement for the team at the Victorian hostelry, known for its ornate stained glass windows and one of the most impressive mahogany bars in Edinburgh.
Nobles has long been a landmark pub in Leith. The previous operators announced in October last year that they were leaving the pub and locals thanked them for 20 years of “great food, service and memories”.
Independent Edinburgh-based Bellfield Brewery took over the pub, which remained shut for a short period for minor updating of the bar and a refurbishment of the cellar area.
Chefs Hugh Brown - formerly of The Palmerston and Fin & Grape - and Will Simpson, formerly of the Shibden Mill Inn, took over the running of the pub and quickly developed their own reputation for excellent seasonal Scottish food.
Bellfield said Nobles combined the character of a traditional Leith pub with ambitious cooking and Bellfield’s beers in a relaxed, informal setting.
The kitchen works with small independent Scottish suppliers, offering a menu that's mostly naturally gluten-free, with vegan options. “From bar snacks and lighter lunches to evening meals, there's something for anyone dropping in for a pint or sitting down to eat,” said Bellfield. “The recently introduced Sunday roast, served from noon until 6pm, is already proving hugely popular.”
Head chef Hugh Brown said: "We're cooking with the seasons and working with some brilliant local suppliers. We've got a good team, great produce and the freedom to cook the food we love. To be recognised by The Good Food Guide means a lot to all of us."
Alistair Brown, director at Bellfield Brewery, said: "Leith has a brilliant food and drink scene and we're privileged to be part of it. As a brewery, we wanted Nobles to be a proper pub - somewhere you can drop in for a pint, enjoy great beer and sit down to really good food.
“To make The Good Food Guide's top 100 Best Pubs less than a year after taking on Nobles is fantastic. Hugh, Will and the kitchen team have done a brilliant job, alongside Rudi Shields and the front-of-house team, who have helped make Nobles such a welcoming place. We're hugely proud of what they've all achieved.”