The Volunteer Arms, locally known as Staggs, has been in the same family since 1858. It is superbly run with an extensive range of ales including Australian brews and four changing beers, sourced nationally.
Several Scottish ales plus some of the extensive Oakham portfolio were on tap the day we went.
The wood-panelled bar and lounge is decorated by mirrors from defunct local breweries.
There are also prints from the past of Musselburgh, where the multi-award-winning pub is located, plus some of the Lothians.
However, Staggs does bring itself into the hi-tech age with large TV screens in both the bar and lounge showing various programmes including sport.
The service is slick in this CAMRA National Pub of the Year finalist 2019 which also has cider on tap.
Staggs – who are the main sponsors of Edinburgh Monarchs speedway team – oozes atmosphere and the push button taps on sinks in the toilets show that bosses are keeping pace with change.
The pub at 81 North High Street, EH21 6JE is just behind the popular Brunton, a well-known theatre venue and only a few minutes from the beach and the town centre. Well worth a visit.
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.
