Euan McGrory: Time to celebrate Edinburgh's great local pubs
The warm welcome I received from publican David MacDonald, his wife Barbara and several of their regulars at the Bunch o’ Roses has been one of my highlights of this week. Unless you have lived in Restalrig, there is a good chance you wouldn’t know where to find their pub, never mind have stopped to drink there. It is, however, hugely popular with plenty of people in the neighbourhood as their victory in the Evening News’ Pub of the Year competition proves. The title - voted for by you, our readers - is always keenly fought over, especially this year with the Bowlers Rest in Leith aiming for a unique hat-trick of wins.
David and Barbara, who greeted me with broad smiles and tales about life behind the bar and the area’s unique history, are worthy winners. Like every great local, everyone I met at the Buch o’ Roses was quick with a smile and a joke and happy to chat. They made you feel like you had been there a hundred times before even though it was your first time. Great community pubs like this deserve more recognition.