The Hanging Bat

The Hanging Bat at 133 Lothian Road is a craft-beer pub in Edinburgh's West End, Scotland, close to the city's main theatre and concert district. Lothian Road runs south from Princes Street past the Usher Hall, the Traverse Theatre and the Lyceum, and the pub's position makes it a natural stop before or after a show. The venue focuses on beer: rotating taps feature breweries from the UK and further afield, supported by bottles and cans, and a food menu means that guests can eat as well as drink.

The crowd is casual and mixed, made up of beer enthusiasts, theatre-goers, office workers from the nearby financial district and groups of friends. Ages skew from the mid-twenties to forties, and there is no dress code. The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, with a pub-style layout of tables and bar seating. Music is background rather than a feature, so it is not a club or a live-music venue, and bottle service does not apply.

The drinks programme is the draw. Pints of beer typically cost £5.50 to £7.50 (~$7 to $10), with craft options from about £6.50 (~$9), and drams of whisky start from about £5 (~$7). The changing tap list means that returning visitors may find something new each time, and staff can usually advise on styles for those unsure what to choose. The food menu offers pub-style dishes suited to a pre-show meal.

The pub opens daily, typically midday to midnight or 1am. There is no cover charge, and reservations are not usually required for drinks, though groups wanting to eat before a show at busy times may find it useful to ask ahead. Evenings with performances at the Usher Hall or the Traverse Theatre are the busiest, as are Friday and Saturday nights; weekday afternoons are quieter. The location, a short walk from Princes Street, the Grassmarket and Tollcross, makes it easy to reach on foot or by bus, and it is a practical meeting point for groups heading on to other bars in the West End.