Dreadnought: Leith's LGBTQ+ local
Great beer, vocal support for their queer community, local activism and, every so often, a large group of cats – as Rachel Ashenden explains, Leith pub Dreadnought has it all
Few pubs embody community spirit quite like my LGBTQ+ local, Dreadnought. On the edge of Leith – and, importantly, within stumbling distance of Alby’s legendary focaccia sandwiches – Dreadnought is about as loud about gay pride as it is on a Friday night with its music bingo. It’s a place where mullets, boardgames and inquisitive doggos abound, sure to warm up your queer and ally friends and family alike.
Dreadnought’s owners, Róisín Thérèse and Toby Saltonstall, are hellbent on serving their punters the very best of craft beer and real ale in a Brexit misshapen landscape where prices have surged. Their philosophy is: "If you’re spending £5-6 on a pint, at least make it a good pint." Local breweries, such as Pilot and Campervan, often frequent their specials board, while wacky brews such as Tzatziki Sours and Star Wars-themed guest beers have been known to be on tap. But Dreadnought’s extensive beer selection (which can be paired with a takeaway delivery) is not its only draw.
In 2021, as if living inside a tragi-comedy, this beloved pub was graffitied with a misspelled attempt at a slur: ‘Gayz Onley’. As if that isn't a draw? Just as queer people have reclaimed and repurposed homophobic language throughout history, Dreadnought adopted the name "Gayz Onley" in celebration of Pride month. After successfully seeking permission from the Edinburgh Council, they further marked their territory with pride by painting the nearby bridge with the colours of the rainbow flag, now known as the Pride Bridge. Any chance of a bit of sunshine and Leithers flock to this LGBTQ+ landmark for Dreadnought’s premium beer offering.
Image: Ines Chapleo.
That same year, Edinburgh Council declared the Pride Bridge structurally unsafe and barricaded the pathway that connects Lindsay Road to North Fort Street. When the Council deemed it more cost-effective to demolish the pathway than to repair it, Dreadnought stepped in, with Róisín spearheading an ongoing campaign to save it in the name of accessibility, community, and pride. The pressure Dreadnought put on the Council worked. While ugly (yet necessary) scaffolding currently blocks convenient access to beer, grand plans for its restoration awaits. Following extensive public consultation, including with LGBT Youth Scotland, the Pride Bridge will be transformed into a rainbow-coloured amphitheatre structure, further connecting the Hawthornvale Path to Lindsay Road. Deservedly, Dreadnought won an 2024 PubAid Community Pub Hero Award for all this community activism.
Beyond saving local infrastructure, Dreadnought has innovated 'Catz Onley'. On or around Valentine's Day, Dreadnought bans those inquisitive doggos, instead opening up the establishment to felines. Dressed up in their finery, the confident cats explore the bar, often causing chaos in their stride. This year, the pub was graced with 17 cats (although don't hold me to that number because sensory overload), including a mountain-climbing influencer cat who goes by @jasper_the_chocolate_ragdoll (he/him) and probably has more followers than you.
All the joy that abounds inside Dreadnought eclipses the vandals' attempt at a homophobic slur. I'm convinced that the pub's community activism makes the beer taste better too.
Dreadnought, 72 North Fort St, Edinburgh
Rachel Ashenden is The Skinny's art editor, and a freelance arts writer, curator and researcher
This article is from issue two of GNAW, our new Scottish food and drink magazine. Free copies are available in venues across Scotland, or read the full thing via Issuu. Follow GNAW on Instagram @gnawmag