Bar Files: Musician Steven Osborne
In which creative folks reveal their top watering hole. This time, Steven Osborne gushes over a pub packed with canines and community spirit
I’m a creature of comfort so my favourite watering hole is just around the corner from where I live in central Edinburgh. The Cask & Barrel on Broughton Street is an old-man pub with good ales on tap and frequent dogs in attendance. One of its big selling points though is about eight TVs dotted around the space showing whatever sport happens to be on that day. For major sporting events, it can have a great atmosphere, much more fun than watching alone at home. I often head up there during Wimbledon and the World Cup, as long as it’s not too rammed. A fringe benefit is that it’s right next door to a wonderful Nepalese restaurant, Thamel, that does killer cocktails for a change of pace.
Steven Osborne performs at Paxton House, near Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Friday 17 July, as part of Music At Paxton; he also performs at Queen’s Hall, Monday 17 August, as part of Edinburgh International Festival.