The Pond

An agreeable little boozer, its splendid isolation at the end of Salamander St seems to have protected The Pond from some of the shite up on Leith Walk.

In great contrast to many a Leith pub it seems to know what it is: a pint-serving domicile at the end of vice alley. The selection of beers is fairly outstanding: The Pond truly has everything you could want - German, Czech, Chinese beers, the whole damn lot and all at good prices. I got a decent amount of change from a fiver for two Krusovice on tap. Not bad at all!

Sometimes you have to regress to progress: it ain't up Leith Walk that you find a pearl in the ocean because all the clever little fishes are biting the bait down at The Pond. If you're looking for a quality pub at the foot of the walk (please don't go to the actual pub Foot of the Walk) then cast your attention to the joy that is The Pond.

It takes all of a nanosecond to get the aquarium theme but it is all cheery enough. I particularly liked the pictures of sharks in the toilet, and even found myself murmuring the jaws theme tune as I let the current flow.

The only problem is its isolation, but geography isn't everything and considering its surroundings The Pond is something of an Atlantis for Leith. [Dave Hynes]