Popular Edinburgh pub on historic Royal Mile set to change name and undergo major refurbishment

A popular pub on one of Edinburgh’s most historic streets is set to undergo a major refurbishment – and will even be given a new name as part of the overhaul.

Kilderkin, located on the Canongate, at the foot of the Royal Mile, will be rebranded as The Abbey. Until it changed hands in 2011, the pub had been known as Jenny Ha’s since the 1960s, when it was a slightly down-at-the-heels boozer.

Heinekin-owned Star Pubs is looking for a new operator for Kilderkin, which benefits from a strategic location opposite the Scottish Parliament and near Holyrood Palace.

The company says: Despite the competition, The Abbey [Kilderkin] stands out favourably, benefiting from proximity to key landmarks, residential areas, and student hubs.

“Available on our management agreement, Just Add Talent, this pub has a tried and tested food offer featuring small plates and flatbreads alongside crowd pleasers like burgers and steak frites. There will be a wide range of drinks featuring premium lagers, craft beers, and ales, alongside a wide selection of soft drinks, wines, and spirits. With its high street location coffee will play an important part of the offer.

“This is a drinks led business but food will play an important part of the mix accounting for around 20% of the take.”

Anyone interested in taking over the pub can get more information on Star Pubs’ website.

The name change and refurb of Kilderkin comes as Heineken to announced plans to invest £39 million in more than 600 of its UK pubs – a move it says will create more than 1,000 new jobs.

The Dutch beer giant said the cash injection into its Star Pubs operation will also allow it to reopen 62 long-term closed pubs this year.

Star said that more than a quarter of its 2,400-strong pub estate – 612 pubs – are in line for improvements through the investment programme.

As well as Kilderkin, the company is also planning to invest in The County Hotel in North Berwick.

The company said its refurbishments will “concentrate on transforming tired pubs in suburban areas into premium locals”, as people commute less regularly into city centres for work.

Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs’ managing director, said: “People are looking for maximum value from visits to their local. They want great surroundings and food and drink as well as activities that give them an extra reason to go out, such as sports screenings and entertainment.

“Creating fantastic locales that can accommodate a range of occasions meets this need and helps pubs fulfil their role as vital third spaces where communities can come together.”