Where There's a Will...

I did it. With a massive haul of 37 yesterday, I managed to visit each and every one of the 258 Edinburgh Fringe venues. It was a long day yesterday but was definitely worth it. I only managed to get lost four times as well which is always a bonus!

There have been some unbelievable highs and lows on this amazing journey. The highs include seeing some incredible acts such as Milton Jones, Daniel Sloss and all the new 'unknown' acts like 'How To Be A Phsycic Conman'. And, of course, having the opportunity to try Deuchars in so many different settings which has to be the biggest plus.

The lowpoint, obviously my illness, was clearly an unfortunate setback, but it did allow me to really appreciate the quality of the beer I was drinking when my health improved. Getting lost in Musselburgh yesterday wasn't the most fun in the world but at least I found the venue eventually!

In the perfect pint competition, there are two solid contenders and first prize is split between them. Firstly, Ryans Bar (venue 6) at the West End. Quite an upmarket pub, there is a classy feel about the place without being snobby. The Deuchars purchased from here was just perfect for the moment. Refreshing, good-tasting and just the right temperature, I didn't think anything could come close to competing. Then I went to Bannermans (venue 357) down on the corner of Niddrie Street and the Cowgate. This was a completely different style of bar, geared towards entertaining younger, student types. The performance stage here usually plays host to live music from new, up-and-coming bands when the festival isn't on and is a very friendly place to have a drink. Whilst I was at Bannermans, the Deuchars was sublime and very similar to the drink at Ryans although it was very slightly warmer, bringing out even more flavour while retaining its refreshing qualities. The Southsider, Voodoo Rooms and Malones Irish Bar all deserve honourable mentions as well.

All in all, I thought this was a very successful and enjoyable trip. If anyone has any questions please continue to tweet @DeucharsIPA and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you all for following my posts and I hope this blog has been both entertaining and informative, and that it can provide some sort of guidance on where to grab a good pint of Deuchars.

Cheers,

Andy

One More Day...

As it turns out, I don't know my days of the week so I do in fact have one last day to try and complete the challenge.

Today was cut short at 7 venues due to prior committments but I am still just a few short of my target. Tomorrow is going to have to be a massive day to do this, but I'll give it my all in my quest for the perfect Deuchars.

Andy

There is no way I'm going to make every single venue and I am genuinely gutted about it. On the penultimate day of the Edinburgh Fringe, I completed my visit to every venue that can be seen on this map without an arrow on it:

I went to another free comedy today as well, a chap called David Bratchpiece doing his show called 'Beer and Loathing and Lost Wages' at The Counting House. Whilst enjoying a fine bottle of Deuchars I witnessed a very eccentric show with some cheap, throwaway gags and a little bit of self-depriciating humour, all of which made for an enjoyable viewing.

So tomorrow is the final day and I shall be finishing my job with my head held high and so much better off after this experience.

Andy

The End Is Nigh

Not long now until the end of the Edinburgh Festival and today was a frantic push to try and cover all the venues, with my most prosperous day of another 32 venues.

My trip took me to all corners of the city centre, starting at the Edinburgh Playhouse and the surrounding area and from there to the northern section, in and around Queen Street. There were not many outlets for Deuchars to be sold in this part of town as it seemed to be the highest concentration of art exhibits in the city so from there I moved swiftly on to cover all remaining venues in the Old Town. Not before I stopped for a quick Deuchars at the Mound, where although it was a fairly dull day, people were still out enjoying a nice drink outside.

It was up near Bristo Square where I stumbled across Malones Irish Bar (venue 258) and also the Deuchars of the day where I had the last pint of the stuff before it ran out! The place itself has a very relaxed atmosphere and you can enjoy some good craic with the barstaff while enjoying your drink. I definitely reccomend this place with live, but not intruding, music on most nights and a fine pint.

Tomorrow will be another hectic day in my final dash to the finish line, Here's hoping I'll make it.

Andy

Just What The Doctor Ordered. Or Not...

Firstly, apologies for the delay in posting, I had yet another doctors appointment on Tuesday where I was told to take it very easy and relax. Which I did to an extent until yesterday, however, when I went straight back out. My intention after that was to come home and write this post but I ended up looking after a friend of mine after she took very suddenly ill. Lucky charm me! She is ok now though.

At the start of the day I went to Bannermans Bar (venue 357) at the bottom of Niddrie Street for a quiet pint of Deuchars, that ended up in a couple because it was that good a pint, so Bannermans has to win Deuchars of the day. It was also here I decided to go to the show that was on at the time, a comedy sketch show by a group called 'Four Screws Loose' in the small, but not uncomfortable, stage room accomodating around 80-90 people. The show itself was a bit hit-and-miss but when they hit, they nailed it perfectly. My particular favourite sketch was a conversation that took place in the form of song lyrics. I'm not doing it juistice in words, but I was in stitches.

One of the sketches included a school photographer taking pictures of the 'year 3' crowd, can you spot me in the audience?

You can find more 'class photos' here

After the show I took the bus to the West End and covered all the remaining venues in that area including 'St Georges West' (157) where they also served an admirable pint of Deuchars.

Tomorrow I'll be picking up all the venues that I may have missed on previous ventures into the town centre and will be likely to revisit some places, so again, I'm happy to listen to suggestions for shows and venues.

Andy

Less Than A Week To Go, Another 12 Down

Determination prevailed over illness today, for a little while at least, as I clocked a further 12 venues around the top of Lothian Road.

While I'm still not at full health I am not drinking, so again there is no Deuchars of the day. Tomorrow I will be taking it easy as all my energy was sapped today so I will see how it goes. I didn't manage to catch any shows today because I managed to go everywhere when there wasnt a show on for at least another hour, but tomorrow I'll try and get to a couple to make up for it.

Andy

Knocked Off My Stride... Again

This virus just refuses to go away.

I began my day brightly enough, walking in to the new town with a positive spring in my step but very quickly my energy levels began to sap and I found myself really struggling to keep going and eventually had to call it quits after only four venues. Despite this, I found myself a decent spot on the Royal Mile and watched a few street shows and tried to enjoy myself despite the best efforts of this illness.

Not sure how I'll get on tomorrow but will keep you posted.

Andy

Back on My Feet

I was a little nervous as I ventured back into town on my own again today, as I resumed venue-visiting duties. I'm still not 100% so took it relatively easy and clocked up another 12 places, mostly branching off from Nicholson Street in the city centre.

My health prevented me from enjoying some Deuchars but an ever so reliable friend generously took on the task of beer drinking for me and concluded that two places deserved Deuchars of the day.

The first of these is Captain's Bar (venue 62) where we spent a good wee while chatting gibberish to the very friendly and welcoming staff, with some entertaining live music in the background.

The other venue with a cracking pint was the Southsider (venue 148) where it was just starting to really fill up as people headed out for their Saturday nights out. Again, the bar staff were very pleasant and one even filled me in on all the latest football scores after telling me he had just poured my friend 'the perfect pint' Deuchars. And fair play to him, it was a top notch pint.

Now that I'm back up and running, I will start having bigger and bigger days so that hopefully I can complete the challenge.

Andy

And He's Back in the Game

With a little aid from a friend, a car and a whole load of painkillers, I was able to resume my venue hunting today! And it felt pretty damn good to be back.

With the car, we managed to cover a significant chunk of the northern part of the city, tallying up a further 12 venues including four at the Royal Botanic Garden. Only one of the places I visited had a bar however, the Malmaison Hotel (venue 24), where I had a lovely, refreshing pint on what was a very warm day so this was awarded Deuchars of the day.

Heading out again on foot tomorrow to complete all the city centre venues that I may have missed previously, so again, I'm open to suggestion on where to go.

Andy

Update

Been to the doctors today and it turns out I have a nasty wee virus but I will head back out again as soon as I can. Two hundred or so in the remaining time I have left may be ever so slightly tricky, but I do love a challenge.

So far, Ryans, at the west end of Prices street, is definitely the early front runner for the best pint although Medina on Lothian Street is a close second and still very much recommended.

If anyone has any reccommendations on shows or a good pint tweet @DeucharsIPA and I'll take everything on board. In the meantime, enjoy your Deuchars for me!

Cheers,

Andy

Illness Strikes Again

I attempted to get back on my feet today, heading into Edinburgh full of determination not to let feeling rotten hold me back from my journey. This approach, however, proved fruitless as I was eventually overcome after just a couple of hours.

I did manage to visit 8 more venues in my brief spell in the capital, including an hilarios adaption of 'Fawlty Towers' at B'est Restaurant (venue 243) on Drummond Street, which is definitely worth going toif you're a big comedy fan.

Will do my very best to get back out tomorrow for a proper day, so fingers crossed I'm feeling better.

Andy

Another Setback

Unfortunately on the way into town yesterday I took ill so haven't been able to get around since then. I'm going to wait another couple of hours and if I'm not feeling any better by then I'll postpone my travels until tomorrow morning.

Andy

Back on Track

Thankfully, the weather of the previous two days had eased off a bit allowing me to get round the city without feeling like I’d just been for a swim. This meant another 22 venues could be ticked off the list ranging from Lothian road to the top of Leith Walk.

First, I took a wander up Lothian Road up to venue 155, Lebowskis, where I sat down for my first Deuchars of the day, where it was more than satisfactory. There was a very welcoming atmosphere and I did not feel out of place at all amongst the locals, most of whom were sipping from Deuchars glasses.

After this, external circumstances meant I had to go back to the east end of Princes Street. It was in this area I went to the first show of the day, Sophie Alderson at The Voodoo Rooms (venue 68).  I sat and watched a very original comedy/musical performance where Alderson was acting as a presidential candidate and the crowd was her ‘focus group’. There were also lots of other shows going on at the same time all branching off from a central bar, well stocked with bottles of Deuchars.

My journey then took me back westward to Ryan’s Cellar Bar, where I had been the other day, but to see a show I was quite interested in called ‘How to be a Psychic Conman’ run by the Edinburgh Skeptics. Again, thoroughly enjoyed my pint there while watching a very interesting and informative presentation and hearing some choice language for some particular ‘psychics’!

I called it a day after this, taking my total number of venues visited to 92. So far all the places I’ve been to have been walking distance from each other but now they start to become much further afield so it will be quite a challenge to reach them all but I’m determined to do it.

Andy

Scottish Summer At Its Best

These last 2 days in Scotland’s capital have been wet. Very wet. As a result I haven’t been to very many venues, just another 8. This included ‘Ryan’s Cellar Bar’ (venue 6) just off Princes Street where the staff all looked as if they could have walked straight out of a modelling studio! Apart from the ridiculously attractive staff, the place itself was cosy and comfortable and sold a fine pint so claims the accolade of Deuchars of the day.

Last night I went to ‘The Hive’ (venue 156) for a long planned social event which just so happens to also tie in with this job. Whilst in the place with all my friends I end up chatting away to none other than Daniel Sloss, the very man whose show I’d seen just the other day. He’s a top bloke and is always cracking jokes. Just my luck that my phone had totally died so I couldn’t even get a picture.

Then my luck really ran out on the walk to the station from Princes Street after my umbrella decided it didn’t fancy working anymore and succumbed to the Scottish summer and I got soaked. I also had a meander up to the outside beer tent at the mound and there wasn’t a single soul braving the weather to sit down for a drink.

Hopefully the weather tomorrow lightens up and I can get back on track on my journey.

Andy

The Lion Whisperer

Milton Jones: The Lion Whisperer. Wow. Probably the funniest hour I have sat through for a long time, I was in fits of laughter for almost the whole show. He is at the Assembly Hall (venue number 35) and is only here till the 11^th so I urge you to get tickets for him, well worth it, especially if you are in the front row like I was.  It was here I met a young man called Brian who had travelled down from Wick and had an exam at nearby Heriot Watt University, and had travelled down 2 days early just to watch Jones. As we stood in the huge queue together we got chatting and bought each other a pint of Deuchars and shared some banter.

I'm on the right, Brian is left.

I managed to squeeze in another 27 venues today, taking the total up to 62, including venue number 162 ‘Sin Club and Lounge’. It was here I caught a free magic show ‘Young and Strange’ in the small, but cosy, main room. This was a very entertaining show and definitely worth a wee visit.

On my quest for the perfect pint, I stumbled across ‘The Beehive Inn’ (venue 178) down in the Grassmarket. There were no shows on whilst I was there so I headed out with my pint to the fantastic beer garden hidden outside, and thoroughly enjoyed my drink in the peace and quiet with the castle looming over my head.

Today I plan to visit the west end of Prince’s Street and see what shows I can find there, and whether or not the perfect pint of Deuchars lies in this area of town.

Andy

The Pint, The Joker and The Pear Tree

I am feeling far more awake and refreshed now after a solid night’s sleep so time to fill you in.

Started my day by heading up Cockburn Street and onto the Royal Mile where I visited a couple of venues before buying myself some food and watching the street acts where I saw a mermaid casually lying in the street. After taking in a few performers I walked down towards the Cowgate to check out another few places including Underbelly where the whole place was buzzing with long queues everywhere and a general hubbub amongst the crowds.

At this point I decided I was in need of a Deuchars so went to a bar/restaurant called Medina (venue 205) on Lothian Street near Bristo Square where I found easily the best pint of the day.  Medina is quite a deceptive place as on first viewing it seems like one small room with a few table and chairs outside but once inside it was actually very spacious and stretched back quite a way. Whilst ordering my drinks I asked about what shows were on upstairs and none of them had any idea! They were all quite pretty though so they were excused...

After leisurely sitting with my drink for a good hour and flicking through the Fringe programme, I decided to see the show ‘Daniel Sloss: The Joker’. Even though he is only 20, Sloss will be huge in the world of comedy. Genuinely hilarious and devilish, as the poor 13 year old who was in the audience with his father found out to his cost.

While waiting for the show to start I decided on the short walk to The Pear Tree (venue 257) where there was live music in the large outdoor area. I got chatting to an American couple who told me they were staying with some relatives for the duration of the festival and had been for the past 11 years! They were fans of Deuchars and said one of the reasons they liked coming back every year was because of the beer!

After the show I went back to the Medina for another quick pint, after eating the greasiest, best burger ever, then headed home after 12 hours, 22 venues and an aching pair of feet. 35 venues done now and a lot more to go.

Check back tonight for an update on my day today where I am going to see Milton Jones of ‘Mock the Week’ fame.

Andy

Long Day, Time For Bed!

First real big day today, quite exhausted after 12 hours of trudging round Edinburgh (not constantly drinking I hasten to add!) so heading straight for my bed!

I took in Daniel Sloss at the Guilded Balloon this evening so look out for my next post tomorrow morning for my thoughts on it and which venue had the Deuchars of the day.

Good night,

Andy

Some More Preparation

I thought today I should stay in and devise some routes for myself rather than go gung-ho and see where I end up.  Anyone reading have any suggestions on where they’ve had a particularly good pint of Deuchars? I will be in and around the Grassmarket area tomorrow so if anyone can recommend a good show or venue to visit I’ll make an effort to go and take a few pictures along the way.

I’ll be the tall, young, handsome chap wandering around with a black rucksack on so if anyone reading fancies buying me a pint or a wee chat (but mostly the pint thing!) don’t hesitate to come and say hello.

Cheers,

Andy

Day 1: 13 Down, Many, Many More To Go

Began the adventure today and what happens? It rains. On the day I forget my jacket. Of course.

Started off my day in the nice, indoor, venue of Prince’s Mall where I went for some lunch. I’ve never seen the place so packed so I was left wandering about with my food tray, on my own, looking a bit daft, for a good 15 minutes looking for a seat. Unfortunately there were no shows on or anywhere that served Deuchars so I had to move on fairly swiftly!

I then moved on to the venues around Prince’s Street, George Street and Queen Street only going for a quick visit as most were not licensed to sell alcohol. Satisfied with reaching 13 venues, I decided to head along Prince’s Street and up towards the Oxford Bar, which even though it isn’t a venue, is the favourite pub of author Iain Rankin and of the main character in his book, Inspector Rebus, for a pint of Deuchars. I can see why Rankin enjoys it here, a great pub that serves a cracking pint.

I decided to call it a day after that since I didn’t fancy getting much colder and wetter than I already was. Still managed to witness a man standing upside down with his head in a bucket, three human statues and a chap on a bicycle, smoking a cigar, with a dog in the front basket on my short walk to the station Only at the Fringe.

Till next time,

Andy

And So It Begins

Hi everyone, this is my first blog post so here’s what you can expect to see over the next month.

Once again, Deuchars is sponsor of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and it is my intention to visit every single venue (around 350!) and recount my story through this blog and on Twitter. Hopefully this will give an insight to readers on some of the best and most entertaining venues and shows at the Fringe and encourage some of you to share my experience while indulging in a nice cold pint of Deuchars.

Before 2011 I have only been to a couple of Fringe shows, with my favourite having to be the ventriloquist David Strassman. I know ventriloquists aren’t everybody’s cup of tea but I was in stitches watching this guy who unfortunately isn’t performing this year. However, my other favourite act, Milton Jones, will be at the Assembly Room, and he just cracks me up whenever I see him. Other notable names performing this year are Al Murray at George Square, Tim Vine and Rich Hall at the Pleasance Courtyard and the up and coming comedian Daniel Sloss also at George Square.

Unfortunately in previous years I haven’t been old enough to sample Deuchars IPA at the Fringe! But this year I will make it a mission to sample the beer from every venue I can to find the perfect pint and hear the best stories from the people who drink it.

So hopefully now you have an idea of what I hope to achieve from this adventure. I aim to make this the ultimate Deuchars venue guide to allow you all to share my experiences so come and join in my journey over a pint or two and share your own stories. Also, look out for some fun pictures I’ll be posting from my travels so give me a follow on Twitter @DeucharsIPA and feel free to comment on the blogs and post your own cool Fringe pictures.

See you there!

Andy