The Standing Order Visited

Photos

Local Area

Visited Edinburgh for the football – Hibernian versus Partick Thistle in the Premier Sports Cup at Easter Road. Hibs edged it 1-0 in a tight contest; Thistle played well, particularly in the second half, and will feel hard done by after a penalty decision was overturned by VAR. The Standing Order sits on George Street in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, the elegant Georgian planned extension north of the Old Town. James Craig’s 1760s grid was deliberately grand: George Street (named for George III) runs along the ridge between St Andrew Square and Charlotte Square, designed as the principal thoroughfare to attract the wealthy out of the crowded Old Town. Victorian money later turned many of the townhouses into banks, insurance offices and shops. The result is still one of the most handsome commercial streets in Scotland – wide, classical, and full of listed buildings. You’re a short walk from the National Gallery, St Andrew Square and the Castle, so the area mixes bankers, tourists, shoppers and the odd Jambo or Hibee on match day.

The Pub

The Standing Order is one of the more impressive Wetherspoons conversions. It occupies the former Edinburgh head office of the Union Bank of Scotland at 62–66 George Street. The Grade A listed building was designed by David Bryce in neo-classical style between 1874 and 1878 and finished by his nephew John after David’s death. High ceilings, polished granite pillars, ornate detailing and the original Chubb vault door (still visible and occasionally used for glass storage) all survive. The name is a banking pun – a standing order being the instruction you once left with your bank manager – and the place has the scale and grandeur to match. It’s frequently ranked among the best-loved or most-reviewed Spoons in the country, which is both a compliment to the building and a slight on the competition. Toilets are down a steep flight of stairs near the front door, staff were OK for a city centre pub.

Football Team

Nearest (and today’s opponents) are Hibernian. Founded in 1875 by Irish immigrants and members of the Catholic Young Men’s Society in the Cowgate, Hibs were Scotland’s first major Irish club. They won the Scottish Cup in 1887 (first east-coast winners) and have three league titles from the Famous Five era of the late 1940s/early 1950s. Easter Road has been home since 1893; the ground’s current capacity is just over 20,000. Today’s 1-0 win (Owen Elding’s early goal) puts them into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup. Thistle made a real go of it after the break and will head back west feeling they deserved more.

Travel

Out: Citylink 900 from Glasgow Buchanan Street to Edinburgh after a First number 2 into Glasgow. The 900 is the workhorse Glasgow–Edinburgh coach – frequent (up to every 12 minutes at peak), roughly 1 hour 20 minutes end-to-end, and running 24 hours. Return the same way, then the 77 from Buchanan Street back to Partick.

Beers

Started with a pint of Mòr Blue Gold (Blue Berry Ale) at £4.15. Expensive by usual Spoons standards but fair for central Edinburgh, and its a great pint – I’ve drank it at the Lord of the Isles, and at the James Watt in Greenock. MòR Beers is an independent Scottish craft microbrewery in Kellas, just outside Dundee in Angus. Established in 2012 and taken over in 2018 by experienced brewer Dominic Hughes, it has moved fully to cask production. It is the only brewery in the Angus region dedicated entirely to real ale, deliberately bringing modern craft twists to traditional pub pumps. Blue Gold is a 4.0% ABV golden/blonde ale brewed with real blueberries and Mosaic hops, plus Scottish-grown SupaBlu spirulina. The spirulina gives the poured cask ale its distinctive greenish-blue tint – a visual party trick that works surprisingly well. Expect a crisp pale malt base, light berry sweetness and the tropical citrus/stone-fruit character of Mosaic. It sits in the easy-drinking session range and pairs nicely with lighter desserts, salads or seafood if you’re eating. A solid, slightly quirky Scottish guest that stands out on the bar.