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 The Port O'Leith isn't the exclusive domain of seafarers. Past regulars have included David Mamet, Steven Berkoff and Irvine Welsh, author of 'Trainspotting'. When Archaos, the controversial sell-out stars of the Edinburgh Festival, visited Leith a few years ago, the cast adopted the pub as their favourite watering hole.
The anchor above the door broadcasts the maritime connection. Step inside and you are swamped in the sea of impedimenta adorning the walls. All manner of life is contained within and by midnight it resembles the Star Wars bar, but that shouldn't keep you away. It's impossible to drink alone and even harder to leave sober.
The bevvy is cheap and it's very lively on Friday and Saturday nights when it is open till 12.30 am and maybe even later on Saturdays.
Verdict: A special historical pub that is indisputably - yet indefinably - Leith. Look out for the figurehead which keeps on eye on the bar which resembles landlady Mary Moriarty. Worth a visit.
You can visit the Port Of Leith web site by clicking here
YOUR COMMENTS ON PORT O' LEITH
Submitted by Angus on Wednesday, September 01, 2010:
I live just round the corner. Think its the snobbiest place in Leith, without the class or money to make it desirable! I´ve never been tempted to go in as the regulars outside give you dirty looks when you walk past. Don´t think that´s friendly or down to earth! Think if don´t look like you fit in then judgement is passed, and they make sure you don´t feel welcome! Plenty of other friendly spots just round the corner locals go where you can avoid the yuppies.
Submitted by bill shakespear on Monday, July 19, 2010:
a windae licker widnae use the place
Submitted by alan on Monday, June 21, 2010:
a rat trap
Submitted by Frank on Monday, September 14, 2009:
Port of Leith gone! Surely not. What happened to Mary?
Submitted by Leith resident on Sunday, September 13, 2009:
Time for an update methinks- place is no longer
Submitted by nutter on Saturday, May 10, 2008:
It is one of the most mad pubs in the world.However i visit the pub every time when im in Scotland.
Yes lots of crazy people,but a very friendly folk.You either love it or hate.Keep it up Mary..!!
Submitted by Alan Downsdary on Thursday, March 20, 2008:
This is a sad place now, all suburb pubs have their day and this has lost it
Submitted by Garry on Sunday, January 20, 2008:
Quite simply,the best pub in Leith.5***** rating
Submitted by arebi on Saturday, December 22, 2007:
the owners a smelly wee cow
Submitted by jim on Friday, December 07, 2007:
use to drink there a few years back when i was a student. always made feel welcome. great, great pub,
Submitted by joe boy on Friday, June 29, 2007:
Simply the worst pub on the planet.
Filthy and full of vagrants
Submitted by LuLu on Monday, June 04, 2007:
Took some nice people there on Saturday and they all had a great time- yes, it is full of freaks but they were fun freaks. If you want a quiet life, don´t go. The Port is what Leith is all about; characters.
Submitted by CJ on Wednesday, April 25, 2007:
Havent been here in years, however I lived not far away at the time and went several times. Highlight was seeing a prostitute jerk someone off under a table.
Great place.
Submitted by Rachael on Friday, April 06, 2007:
Had heard so many good things and bad I thought I would see for myself. People were very pleasant and the atmosphere great. Was there during the week so a bit quiet, but would definately go back.
Submitted by Matty on Tuesday, March 27, 2007:
The only thing this dive has to do with Leith is the name. Real Leithers wouldn´t use it as a toilet. Full to the gunnells with bawbags posing as bohemians. Still, it keeps all the arseholes in one place. There are plenty of other real bars in Leith without having to bother with this kid on boozer.
Submitted by Tel from Us on Monday, January 22, 2007:
I would work live and love in that place all over again. I miss it like a dick. Terry
Submitted by Jaykay on Thursday, January 18, 2007:
Before entering the Port´o´Leith, leave your pretences at the door! This is a bar for those who like it rowdy & real! If thats not your cup´o´tea then don´t go! To me its what a bar should be for those who are after a good blether of nonsense whilst getting inebriated!!!
Submitted by Stewart on Sunday, December 17, 2006:
I feel this to be an excellent establishment. Not that it´s a nice place. But provides a service for the poor and the great unwashed.
Submitted by Gazza on Monday, October 02, 2006:
A shitehole for pretentious tourists and tossers like Irvine Welsh. Stay clear, even the Tam o Shanter is better !
Submitted by carlos on Tuesday, September 19, 2006:
hello!! i want knows people of port leith soly for writer me e i cAN KNOW AS IT´S THE LIFE THERE
ALL THE BEST!CARLOS
Submitted by Brian on Tuesday, August 22, 2006:
Was there last Sat... crazy place but great fun. People dancing on the bar, never seen anything like it. Only for the brave or the mad!
Submitted by BeautyGal on Thursday, August 10, 2006:
Full of ar*eholes - if you fancy getting rid of some built up anger and frustration, head there on a fri/sat nite - gaurenteed to get yourself into a fight with local tit!! Hate the place and I´m from Leith - do yourself a favour and head to nobels for a drink instead
Submitted by sickdude on Saturday, May 27, 2006:
I only know about this pub through Irvine Welsh and from the comments its seems he described it perfectly
Submitted by Rudeboy on Sunday, April 16, 2006:
briliiant pub
Submitted by Norrie on Thursday, April 13, 2006:
as u can tell by the other comments u ethier love it or hate it, but at least people will speak to u.
Submitted by joedog on Sunday, April 09, 2006:
Been to worse places and have been to better places.
Submitted by Matt on Monday, March 20, 2006:
F'ing great
Submitted by Edwin McPherson on Friday, March 17, 2006:
This place is what makes Scotland great, a fantastic crowd of people, great atmosphere, a wide range of music and a good range of alcohol.
It is a must for anyone visiting Edinburgh.
Submitted by Angus McDonald on Thursday, March 16, 2006:
This pub is the real Leith, the best that Edinburgh has to offer.
Submitted by sioux on Monday, March 13, 2006:
This is one of my favourite pubs, the people keep it real, staff are brand new and mary is always friendly and asks how you are, if you(snooty) don´t like it leave, it´s not like they´re desparate for customers or dragging you through the door, unless it´s to make you leave.
Submitted by ian on Sunday, March 12, 2006:
without a doubt one of the most bizzare pubs on planet earth , full of junkies , crazy old women , gangsters gays freaks and weirdos (noteably the dancing old man in the corner with the giant green hat and massive spectacles), the port of leith is possibly the best bar i have ever visited in my life.f****d up , mad dangerous and friendly violent and rife with drugs all at the same time , this bar has it all.i f***ing love it.
Submitted by Ron Peacock on Monday, March 06, 2006:
Fantastic place, highly recommended. This is the true Leith Mary and her team are great.
Submitted by Rab Fox on Wednesday, February 01, 2006:
After hearing so many good things about the Port and it´s friendly bar staff, I was disappointed to discover that the Port O´ Leith is quite possibly the worst bar in the city.
The staff are inexperienced and openly hostile and the regulars look like the cast of "Deliverence"
Give this dump a body swerve and try Nobles instead.
Submitted by fjbd on Wednesday, December 21, 2005:
cant wait for the smoking ban this pub is like diving into a packet of cheap fags
Submitted by drew murray on Monday, December 19, 2005:
a shithole. Nuff said.
Submitted by ANTE DROPULIĆ on Wednesday, November 30, 2005:
place with soul
Submitted by Stevie on Sunday, September 18, 2005:
The best thing about the Port of Leith is that it keeps all the pretentious arseholes who like the idea of an old fashioned spit´n´sawdust pub but don´t want to mingle with anyone who might be working class, in the one place.
Don´t believe the hype! This place is a dive.
Submitted by blacky an avril on Tuesday, August 30, 2005:
to those who think the port is full of window lickers and red necks. get a life an stick to your wine bars the port is one of the best pubs in leith. long live qeen mary an all who sail in there
Submitted by mhairi on Thursday, May 19, 2005:
Don´t care about the pub so much - fantastic curry just up the road
Submitted by Darryl Costello on Thursday, March 17, 2005:
Great place, had a blast for the month i was in Leith. Can´t wait to get back someday!
Submitted by paul malone on Saturday, December 18, 2004:
i went along to this pub on fri dec 17
it was about half full ,,,had a good yarn with mary.she has been owner of the pib since 1984. good selection of music and what i would call some very interesting characters of mixed nationalities as the evening wore on the atmosphere became electric with dancing and clapping and general merriment it reminded of a place down the west of ireland as rough as hell a bit like dirty nellies but the people make the place . fell out of the place at 1-30 am and spewed up on the way back to my ship fantastic night
Submitted by Dixy on Wednesday, November 10, 2004:
A complete and utter shitehole. The bar staff are incompitent beyond belief. The place is filthy and the locals are windae lickers. I heard that this was one of the best pubs in Leith but I can assure you that it´s one of the worst in Scotland.
A pure dump.
Submitted by kevan on Monday, June 28, 2004:
Went here was quite looking forward to it but went on sat afternoon full of people with kids the only 3 ok things about this bar are 1 nice friendly blonde bar staff 2 quite good juke box
3 a very nice pint met mary found her unfriendly. altogeter a bad experience but if you do go there plent of good bars on the way down constitution st ie norries bar homes bar
Submitted by Walter on Wednesday, May 12, 2004:
Take ur body armour!
Submitted by Odysseus on Thursday, May 06, 2004:
briliiant pub, good music, nice people.
Submitted by shiter on Thursday, April 22, 2004:
pissheads
Submitted by Radge Gadgy on Thursday, March 11, 2004:
For a good night... er no I mean fight... this is the place to go.
Submitted by fatty on Sunday, February 29, 2004:
If your idea of a great night out is standing in a room packed to the point of bursting with no chance of getting near the bar while a local junky picks your pocket, then this is the place for you.
Most importantly, don´t belive the hype about friendly bar staff. They treat you like scum and if you complain to Mary she bars you.
The Port O´ Leith is without a doubt one of the worst bars in Edinburgh.
Submitted by kerr on Thursday, February 19, 2004:
really hated this pub.That atmosphere was hostile.It was full of pissheads and people looking for a fight.Dont go there!!!!!!
Submitted by Kerry on Friday, July 18, 2003:
This is my favourite pub out of all of Edinburgh. Its definitely a mad place but I would rather have mad than snotty and false like so many pubs up the town, at least the people here are real.
Submitted by jay on Tuesday, July 08, 2003:
absolutely mental ! and pure brilliant on a saturday night - this pub is a one off!
Submitted by Malcolm on Sunday, July 06, 2003:
This is a mad place!
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