The Sheep Heid Inn

OMG had NYEve meal with special elderly rellies completely spoilt here. Unbelievably bad service. Upstairs at our table pretty quickly just after 1pm, order taken, drinks delivered, and half the starters showed up after quite a wait. 40 mins later I asked if we could have the other half and order more drinks. Waitress apologised. The other starters arrived and the rest of the food 1hr 40 after we sat down - all that time to serve my 10yo chips! No finger bowls for prawns or mussels. Had to remind them to replace cutlery. And still no drinks. We asked again, and when the drinks finally showed order was wrong and took ages to be corrected. We sent soup back 3hrs after we'd arrived! No one even bothered to ask if we'd like coffee or dessert. In fact, we hardly saw a waitress. As we left, though, taking an elderly lady down the stairs, one coming down behind us said "I'm in a hurry here". NEVER again!

It's very sad to see one of Edinburgh's best traditional pubs turn into this disaster. The service was always just okay, but the food, atmosphere and prices used to be excellent and well worth the trip. We've been coming here for 20 years and consistently used to recommend it to friends, visitors and new arrivals to the city. We certainly won't be doing that based on our last visit. The renovation has left the place looking cleaner but full of corporate-hotel-tartan tat.

We called for a reservation and were told it would be busy but that they could fit us in. We had an hour-and-a-half wait for our food. In that time, we couldn't flag anyone down for a drink. When our lunch came at 3:15, we had to wait another 20 minutes for a second drink. The overly expensive food was cold on arrival and tasted like something from TGIF. The staff kept trying to make us feel as if it were our fault for being there.

It's obvious that they are now seating way more people than they can serve (it was stuffed full of folk waiting upstairs and downstairs), whereas before it was rare when both upstairs and downstairs were both serving food. In the past, even when the place was brimming, food was warm, tasty and timely.

Shame!

We had been here previously and when we returned recently we were bitterly disappointed. The food was awful and very over priced. Not recommended!!

On a recent visit from Dubai, my family and a large gathering of friends, some from edinburgh and other areas of the Uk, went to the Sheeps Heid as I often frequented there years back.

What used to be a lovely experience turned into a major disappointment.

I got there and politley asked for a drink whilst sitting outside and the waiters response was "well not from me you wont". Not the best start.

Thereafter this particular waiter became rude, obnoxious and generally unhelpfull.

We left bitterly disappointed and will not be back.

A once great place has now been ruined due to the staff unfortunately.

I'm sorry but this was really awful. The sad thing is the management and staff couldn't have cared less, I think they rely on the constant influx of tourists and arthurs seat walking vistors, as its a great location, and the pints are good. But the food is awful.

Very disappointed.
First visit with a baby.
The restaurant is up a winding stair-case. It is very cramped and no space to move around with the pram.
Changing facilities down stairs.

So sad - former favourite Sunday lunch venue - and great for a walk round Arthur's - ruined by new management. Now grumpy, overpriced, drab food and seriously child unfriendly.