Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GAY & LESBIAN EDINBURGH
Edinburgh has a small - but perfectly formed - gay and lesbian scene, centred on the area around Broughton St
(known affectionately as the 'Pink Triangle') at the eastern end of New Town. Blue Moon Cafe (
Click here
), at
the foot of Broughton St, is a friendly G&L caff offering good food and good company. It's also a good place to
pick up on what's happening on the local scene.
Scotsgay
(
www.scotsgay.co.uk
)
is the local monthly magazine covering gay and lesbian issues, with listings of
gay-friendly pubs and clubs. See also
www.edinburghgayscene.com
for online listings.
Useful contacts:
Edinburgh LGBT Centre
(
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
; 9 Howe St)
Lothian LGBT Helpline
(
0131-556 4049;
12.30-7pm Wed)
Pubs & Clubs
CC Blooms
Offline map
Google map
(
556 9331;
www.bebo.com/ccbloomsnightclub
; 23 Greenside Pl;
admission free; 6pm-3am Mon-Sat, 7pm-3am Sun)
New owners have given the raddled old queen of Edin-
burgh's gay scene a shot in the arm, with two floors of deafening dance and disco every night. It's overcrowded
and drinks are a bit overpriced but it's worth a visit - go early, or sample the wild karaoke on Sunday nights.
Regent
Offline map
Google map
(2 Montrose Tce; 11am-1am Mon-Sat, 12.30pm-1am Sun)
This is a
pleasant gay local with a relaxed atmosphere (no loud music), serving coffee and croissants as well as excellent
real ales, including Deuchars IPA and Caledonian 80/-. Meeting place for the Lesbian and Gay Real Ale Drinkers
club (first Monday of month, 9pm).
Newtown Bar
Offline map
Google map
(
www.newtownbar.co.uk
; 26b Dublin St; noon-1am Sun-Thu, to
2am Fri & Sat)
Stylish modern bar serving good food and drink, and basement club with resident DJ that hosts
regular men-only events.
Shopping
Princes St is Edinburgh's principal shopping street, lined with all the big high-street
stores, with many smaller shops along pedestrianised Rose St, and more expensive de-
signer boutiques on George St. There are also two big shopping centres in the New Town
signer shopping complex with a Harvey Nichols store on the eastern side of St Andrew
Sq. The huge
Ocean Terminal
in Leith is the biggest shopping centre in the city.
For more off-beat shopping - including fashion, music, crafts, gifts and jewellery -
head for the cobbled lanes of Cockburn, Victoria and St Mary's Sts, all near the Royal
