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 My first taste and to date only taste of the Penny Black was on a very drunken Wednesday morning. Myself and 2 mates had been to see Jerry Sadowitz perform that previous evening as part of his 2 sell out nights at the Fringe Festival 2002, and the drinking just spiralled from there.
So here we find ourselves attempting to squeeze every last drop out of the night and get the last few pints in The Penny Black which apparently is the pissheads last refuge at that time of night, or should I say morning. It was about 7am and the clubbers who were chucked out at 3am had grabbed something to eat and the place was full of stalwart revellers who weren't quite ready for home.
A taxi driver told me it opens around 4 or 5am on some nights, but from my experience, it doesn't always seem to open late. An apparent haven to the early morning drinker it certainly seems to have attracted a niche and loyal market. The place was buzzing (or was that just me) and I would say that most of it's clientele is local.
It was funny to see the normal world going by outside with people on their way to work as we drank our Guiness inside in what felt like the back end of a Friday night.
The Guinness seemed Ok, the atmosphere lively and chatty with rock and classic tunes in the background. I will have to revisit at some point in a more sober position and add some footnotes to this.
Verdict: Lively late night/early morning drinking den. Could prove useful in emergencies and if you can appear sober enough to get past the doorman.
3 drunken pints from 5  (Subject to sober re-assessment)
YOUR COMMENTS ON PENNY BLACK
Submitted by David the Goliath on Monday, March 29, 2010:
Why is it every single morning someone pished falls down the stairs?
Submitted by Arnie on Saturday, April 04, 2009:
I have been here many times and have always found this to be.
I am from Ethiopia and , too, and now am writing in English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "There are actually many different options for purchasing airline tickets that. Be the best, depending on your circumstances."
With best wishes :o, Arnie.
Submitted by SEAN MCGOWAN on Monday, March 23, 2009:
YOU WONT GET ANY FANNY BUT YOU WILL GET A GOOD LAUGH...WORTH A VISIT
Submitted by Classic Jazz on Thursday, July 10, 2008:
This pub wasn´t featured in The Matrix.
Submitted by Mike on Wednesday, April 30, 2008:
LOVE IT
Had so many hazy morning there, the best place to meet true Edinburgh drunkards!
Submitted by o docherty on Saturday, March 29, 2008:
six mad irish boys are ontheir way to try your great beer
Submitted by the hitman on Saturday, March 29, 2008:
a great place to meet people
Submitted by neil on Thursday, March 06, 2008:
Well my memories of the Penny Black are vast. Worked there for well over a year back in the day and loved every minute of it!
The atmosphere ranges from electric to a little dicey sometimes but is always fun at the very least.
Gonna have to make a trip back at some point soon to see if anything has changed in the last 4 years.
Submitted by nat on Wednesday, March 05, 2008:
used to swally in this after work,great boozer,great memories!!!
Submitted by Fanny Express on Tuesday, May 01, 2007:
To many the Penny Black is just a faint memory. A blurry memory with vague recollections of slurring conversations between many different people. Memories of only two hours ago but you´ve been on the pish for a day and a half.
Welcome to an upside down world were AM is PM and the partying truely begin just before breakfast.
Submitted by Jeff on Friday, December 15, 2006:
Opens at 5am, karaoke with the posties 7am Fridays. What more can I say? :-)
Submitted by Old Jimmy on Friday, August 25, 2006:
I did Mary in the bogs last Friday morning.
Submitted by mary glasgow on Thursday, April 27, 2006:
I work in the Penny Black and i love it !!! It makes a change from posh hotels, it´s a laugh being one of the 3 sober people in there. if u haven´t been, u must go!!
Submitted by me on Saturday, April 15, 2006:
i´ve just got home from the penny black...after several pints... and i´m pished...and it´s great!
Submitted by The Tolcross Tickler on Tuesday, March 07, 2006:
Brilliant! Fantastic! Grointickling great fun! All words I´d use to describe a below average night in the Pennith-o-Blackus. Can´t go wrong with the place. Don´t think I´ve ever been there other than in the morning though...
Submitted by Irish Nicola on Tuesday, November 29, 2005:
Hiya Guys! I totally love this pub! havent been in a while but plan to remedy that soon? The staff are the best (especially Gordon and Scotty boy!)always so patient and great craic. The buzz there on a Saturday morning is magic better than any club in Edinburgh and the jukebox is still one of the best in the city. Nx
Submitted by Yer Ma on Monday, October 31, 2005:
The place that comes after a night on the tiles and fine dining at Pizza Paradise. A morning in the Penny Black is what makes or breaks drinkers. You go in a boy, you come out a wankered up alcy. Everyone, yourself included, is so pished up that it might be the worst place in the world - but to you it´s great!
Submitted by Boony on Thursday, October 27, 2005:
Had many an interesting morning in the Penny Black drinking evil spirit flamers. Great after party venue after a night clubbing!! Used to love that place.
Submitted by Kenbo on Thursday, October 27, 2005:
I have been there many a time - used to drink in it every Saturday morning to help wi the cumdoon - miss the crack there - especially fixing the fridge and getting a free pint off Ricky !!
Just mind enjoy yir sweats!
Submitted by me on Friday, July 15, 2005:
read mindit comments on other bars in edinburgh
clock inns been closed for years!
same with red lion... you mustve been on bender or talkin Pishhhh
`the clock` was my local for 3 yrs.
anyway im sure penny blacks a good place to get yer heed kicked in... used to go yrs ago 85/87 think it was full o nuts then!
Submitted by John boy & Nottingham Boys on Saturday, July 02, 2005:
After a crazy few hours in Edinburgh to find out what our Scottish boss was making all of the fuss about, we were up for a few more beers before heading to Glasgow to sample some whisky. Two of us made it to the fab Penny Black after some recomendation and topped up our allready heavily abused bodies with some warm beer served in live bacteria glassware...after some chat with Douglas & Phylis we headed back to the hotel to collect the rest of the boys and one or two more bevvy´s....slanjha!
Submitted by Alyssa on Monday, June 27, 2005:
My bed was directly above the lovely Penny of the Black. The beer was a bit dodgy, and yes, there were ladies of questionable virtue at the bar, but they were the ones with the best stories. I miss Snax for brekky after many many pints and a small nap in the Penny Black´s toilets.
Submitted by Chris on Monday, June 06, 2005:
This pub is one of a kind. After a night out this is the only place to go. And the best thing is leaving to go to your bed, stinkin, when everyone else is on there way to work. You´ve not experienced Edinburgh if you´ve not been here.
Submitted by bigbaws on Sunday, June 05, 2005:
the penny black is somewhere that is so surreal that you pinch yourself to make sure you are actually there. it´s clientele range from your munter phantoms to classy hoe´s and everything else in between. what this basically results in is a chain reaction of events which will undoubtably bring every single alco in the room into irreversable states of confusion although everyone pretends they are on the ball and they don´t know what a hefty dose of paranoia is. the world´s problems are swiftly dealt with and resolved there and then if only the debators could remember the question. all in all a very strange place for the penny black virgins but if treated right this can be turned into a very entertaining event which you just couldn´t script due to the pure randoms thrown together by the need to top up their alcohol levels at silly hours of the morning and without any prior sleep. apparently sleeping is cheating in accordance to the revised alci laws 2004. anyway if you want complete nonsense surrounded by wankered phantoms trying to fit as many chairs into corners as they can find then this is gonna be pure heaven for you. bring yoursel a big bag o´ bash on and you are onto a winner as long as you don´t go home with one of the classy hoe´s. if you haven´t been treat yoursel to the most random night ever and then start questioning yoursel why you keep going back for more. penny black is the centre of the universe for weirdo´s and phantoms alike. as they say in the penny black, "your ma smokes rollies!!!!!"
ENJOY.
Submitted by total nuggets on Monday, May 09, 2005:
pit it this way folks....the penny black´s that good - am still sittin here and its monday night!!!!!!!!! kaman!
.."whore´s the burdz?!!!"
Submitted by Nuggeter on Sunday, May 08, 2005:
ahhh the penny black!! yi truley canni beat it fur sweaty clubbers swedgered oot their nuts enjoying sum lager at 7am!! i´d defo recomend it for a) paranoia b) houffin breath and c) some wee slappers!!
BASH OAN!
Submitted by MIndEnjoyIT on Sunday, May 08, 2005:
Other TOP Edinburgh bars:
1. Auld Salt
2. The Scotsman
3. The Auld Clachan
4. DJs
5. The Clock Inn
6. Dianes Pool Hall
7. The Red Lion
8. The Bank Hotel
9. The Bowlers Rest
10. Port of Leith
Don´t leave Edinburgh without experiencing these bars.
´The Edinburgh bender pub crawl´ Phone Hector for more details: 07768230428.
Paranoia Gauranteeed or full refund!!!
Submitted by MindEnjoyIT on Sunday, May 08, 2005:
Yi cannae beat the penny black for a sweaty bender wi nae sleep - the gid thing is paranoia, schembo´s and the ´last updated in 1853´ jukebox!
kaman!!!!
Submitted by the diggler on Monday, April 18, 2005:
I was stunned silent by this dingy monstrosity of a boozer. Mouthy chavvy burds being ochstered out, local gadgees wantin´ a pagger. This was a Friday night/Saturday morning I must add which certainly added to the wanks outnumbering the good guys. One of the best pints in Edinburgh for taste and temperature. It has old plastic school chairs and desks for furniture which says it all really.
Submitted by irish on Sunday, February 27, 2005:
just got back from a three day bender in edinburgh went there three nights in a row its brilliant
Submitted by john white on Thursday, February 10, 2005:
IT IS A DOWN AND OUT PLACE,I COME FROM LEITH IN EDINBURGH AND IVE BEEN BEFORE. ITS FULL OFF THE CITYS BEGGARS, TRAMPS AND JUNKIES, YOU WOULDNT TAKE YOUR GIRL THERE, GIVE IT A MISS....…
Submitted by Kelly on Tuesday, January 25, 2005:
many many drunkin mornings spent at the penny black!!! go down to snax for a little morning meal!! best time of your life i promise!!
Submitted by Mark on Sunday, October 10, 2004:
Aye did you spill my pint, or was it me ?
Fine pub indeed.
Dinnae miss it.
Submitted by doug on Sunday, October 10, 2004:
Aye my missus loves me going to The Penny Black, walking down Rose St. eating pies from Greggs at 9am and welcoming all the tourists to Edinburgh.
You cannae whack it !!!!!
Aye she isnae speaking to me, but hey that´s bevvy.
Submitted by grunge on Wednesday, September 29, 2004:
two words.............LIVER FAILURE
Submitted by Lisa on Wednesday, September 15, 2004:
Used to go just to watch all the drunks... pretty interesting. It´s nice that´s there´s a place open late enough for all the bartenders to go to after a long night at work.
Submitted by Iain Moss on Monday, August 23, 2004:
Many a night ruined by this place! Ha! The place to be still, after a good night at Whistle Binkies (see my website: igmoss.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk) and a dodgy meal from the dodgy Italian place above. Not open ´til 6am now - used to be 5am - boooo! Ah well...
Submitted by Jez on Sunday, August 08, 2004:
Some fab bankers here, but the locals were not very receptive to the word of Jesus.
Submitted by ted on Monday, May 03, 2004:
for an early house chock full of paedophiles and black belt fifth dans in the ancient art of poofery the staff were great
xoxo
Submitted by Scottie Boy on Wednesday, April 28, 2004:
been in once.. it was a saturday morning and we´d just spent the last three hours in darios on lothian road (good pizzas..)then someone bright spark fancied another drink.. i thought what the feck i´m not working today! half past six in the morning, one pint of lager later and i´m sleeping on a bar table. no-one bats an eyelid coz it´s par for the course.. top class! postal workers come in fresh as daisies (off the night shift) and quaff guinness by the gallon.. i go home and recuperate ready for saturday night.
Submitted by Sassy on Tuesday, December 16, 2003:
I love the Penny Black. I used to go there at 5am after work and leave at about 9am. Its a strange experience walking up Princes street pissed at that time while everyone else has just got up and are on their way to work
Submitted by Dominique on Saturday, December 06, 2003:
I worked at the Penny Black a few times as a fill in and have had many a drunken morning there after every decent night out. When the clubs shut at 3am and you´ve had enough grub from Pizza Paradise and you are still on a roll... as dodgy as it may seem, the Penny Black is the place to be!
Submitted by Paps on Tuesday, November 11, 2003:
This pub is great if you want to drink with prossies and taxi drivers who have just finshed work at 5am
Submitted by Edinburgh Bartender on Friday, November 07, 2003:
Opens at 5am. That´s all you need to know. Wine? ha ha. Cocktails? You must be joking. (Good Bloody Marys though) This place has saved many a bartender after a bad Friday night. Great place.
Submitted by scooby on Monday, November 03, 2003:
mmmmmm drink!!! at 5am!! sheer class! its a different world!! just remember not to ring your mates, cus just cus your watch says 7 its 7am not pm!! great place to round off the night or plann the next one!!
Submitted by Foo_Fighter on Wednesday, October 22, 2003:
Been there a few times cant remember leaving though.
Submitted by bling bling bt on Tuesday, July 08, 2003:
wha...wha...what time ish it pleashe? hic !
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