The Queens Retreat Pub — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

I would give 1,000 stars if I could! Hubby and I (Americans) found ourselves in Edinbrough for a quick overnight. I found Queen's Retreat on Google Maps and we made the quick and very pleasant walk over from our hotel Dakota. When we walked in, what a sight! Fifteen or so men, from 20-60 years old, many wearing matching maroon flowered shirts touting the name Midlothian FC, shooting pool on a comically small table, and singing Kenny Rogers at the top of their lungs, playing air guitar with their cue sticks. We knew that we were in Our Element. They weren't so sure and tried to be helpful by directing us to the birthday party in the event space next door. We assured them that we wanted to join their party and were welcomed in with open arms. This is a Long Standing Pub of Choice for the men of South Queensbridge. Nobody has to tell us this. It's clear. We were the first Americans they'd ever seen there! The beers were cold and the cocktails were precise. The music was spot on, but often drowned out by the Midlothian FC fight song, Sunday loud and proud by men standing with hands up on their mates shoulders like the Rockettes as they kick their feet in the air. (There was no kicking conducted by the singing men of Scotland.) They played our wedding song on the jukebox, and when my husband, trying to wrap his engineering mind around English Pool with it's tiny bals and table, didn't notice the song...I was quickly asked to dance by one fellow and another. When I asked where their wives were, they were reported to be home "Ironing r Hoovering." Two sweet ladies did manage to break free of their vacuum and arrived at nearly midnight. In all honesty, that night is one that will forever be the standard of A Good Time. We laughed, we cried, we talked like humans should about life, lessons, blessings, wins, losses, and the value of friendship. We learned the joy of buying a pint for another, and receiving one back from a person who was a stranger moments before really is the essence of humanity as it was intended. Any time that we have a choice of layovers, I will choose EDI (Edinbrough) just so that we can go to Queen's Retreat and see our Friends.

Oh yeh, the flowered shirts...They'd just come from Bowling League where their team is named Midlothian FC because they can't play football, but they can surely support theitr team while doing something else that they love doing, drinking....err, I...

Fantastic bar in South Queensferry. The history of this place is truly amazing. Her Majesty always used to call in for a cheeky campari and Lemonade, as it was her favourite retreat, whenever she was staying at Holyrood. She especially loved the darts but wasn't so keen on the pool table. After a few glasses, she would nip next door to the bodrum fry to pick up a kebab for Phil before making her way back to Holyrood. Such happy days. God...

Nice friendly local pub, lounge recently refurbished with addition of timber framing looks well and bar area is now finished looks great and very welcoming, staff have pub properly set up for safety measures...