Juniper Green Inn, 542 Lanark Road, Juniper Green, Edinburgh EH14 5EL
RATING: Food (not sampled); Atmosphere 4; Service 4.5; Drinks 4.5; Toilets 4; Website (not found)
WHEN you walk into a pub for the first time you generally seek a welcome smile, good service (and sometimes advice), a good atmosphere, comfortable seating and warmth, particularly on a chilly November night.
Well, the Juniper Green Inn (formerly The Railway Inn) ticked all those boxes and more. My selection, a thirst-quenching pint of one of my favourites, Black Sheep, was poured with reverence and allowed to settle and then topped up. Good training. The glass was cleaned before hand-over and it was obvious that they had taken care of the product in the cellar.
My companion plumped for a diet coke and was immediately given a choice, bottle or skoosh. Ice and lemon were added to a swish glass with a straw.
The décor may be a tad dated but the old prints around the walls were interesting. The music selection (Oh Happy Day by The Edwin Hawkins Singers was one which stands out) largely mirrored the age-group of clients.
There is also free wi-fi (sign-up displayed on the bar) and the beer selection is shown on blackboards with the prices. A wine list – good range – is also on tables and includes a Dom Perignon 2000 (£130), for special celebrations no doubt. The Christmas lunch menu – two courses £16.95 and three £19.95 and available from Monday, December 5 – looked value.
We found this an ideal meeting place – ours was business but it would also be ideal for pleasure – and another major plus, the pub is lucky enough to have a bus stop outside towards Edinburgh and on the other side of the road towards Balerno. (service 44)
Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.
