Sports Bar · New Town · Edinburgh
The Queens Arms
A handsome basement under Frederick Street where Edinburgh Rugby away days meet cask ale and a sellout Sunday roast.
The Pitch
The Basement Built for Match Day
The Queens Arms hides below the cobbles at 49 Frederick Street in the New Town, named after Mary Queen of Scots. The pub describes itself as a hidden jewel, and the basement room backs the claim with bare stone, a proper bookcase, a fireplace, and a chandelier built from wine glasses.
Sport runs all week across five HD screens carrying Sky, TNT, and Premier Sports. In late 2024 it became the official pub for Edinburgh Rugby away games, confirmed by the club itself.
Fanzo lists it among Edinburgh's reliable rooms for finding any fixture, from Six Nations to midweek European football.
The Room
Stone, Firelight, Five Screens
The main bar runs traditional, all stone walls and firelight, with screens placed so no seat misses the match. Yelp reviewers (n=114) keep noting the same surprise: a sports pub that looks like a country house library.
The Drinks
Cask Ale With Your Kickoff
Handpicked cask ales and craft beer come from Scotland's independent breweries, alongside malts, wine, and cocktails. The kitchen cooks Scottish produce and the Sunday roast sells out weekly, so book ahead. Pints run standard New Town money, around 5 to 6 pounds.
The Crowd
Rugby Shirts and New Town Locals
Edinburgh Rugby fans own it on away days; the rest of the week splits between New Town locals, office groups, and visitors who found the stairs. Big fixtures fill every stone corner, so arrive early or book.
What regulars say:
- Edinburgh Rugby announced it as the home for fans watching away games.
- Fanzo users rate it among the city's most reliable rooms for any fixture.
- Yelp reviewers praise the roast, the ale list, and the firelit basement room.
Who it is for:
- Rugby supporters who want the away game with cask ale
- Sunday roast loyalists; it sells out for a reason
- Avoid if you want daylight or a quiet corner during the Six Nations
The Verdict
Where It Lands
Edinburgh's classiest place to watch sport. Book the roast, claim a fireside seat, stay for the dram.
Good to Know
Visit Information
Getting there: 49 Frederick Street, down the stairs, three minutes from Princes Street trams.
Timing: Match days define the room; check the Edinburgh Rugby fixture list before you go.
Cost: Pints 5 to 6 pounds, roast from 16. Cards accepted.
Make a night of it: Match day pints here, then a quieter cask round at The Cumberland Bar ten minutes north. On non fixture nights the basement makes a fine whisky stop on a New Town crawl.
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