Quick info
About Old Blackfriars
Old Blackfriars is a pub at 52 Castlegate in Aberdeen, on the cobbled pedestrian area where the fall of Aberdeen Castle was witnessed in 1308. Inside, low beams, stained glass and pews fill the rooms, and a ghost legend gives visitors a reason to choose their table with care. Cask ales are on the taps, and the pub sits under the Belhaven and Greene King umbrella. The kitchen cooks fish and chips, crispy squid and mash and gravy, and a bar supper is served for a lighter meal. Folk music sessions bring live music to the bar, including a weekly community meet-up for fiddlers and folk music makers. The pub is open daily.
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention folk music sessions, crispy squid, cask ales and chicken tikka.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention folk music sessions, crispy squid, cask ales and chicken tikka.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often point to the friendly staff and the live folk music, with a weekly fiddlers' meet up drawing praise from one visitor who followed the sound in from the street. Food comes close behind. Diners name the crispy squid, steak, chicken tikka, mash and gravy, and fish and chips, and one calls the food honest and affordable. A few say the beers and house red were good. The main complaints concern cost and pace: one reviewer finds drink prices steep, and another thinks portions and taste did not match the prices, with dumplings that seemed undercooked. One longtime regular misses the upstairs bar and notes only two cask ales on tap since the pub joined a larger chain. Another reports a long wait for beer while waiters chatted behind the counter, and the kitchen closing thirty minutes earlier than listed online, which ended with a refund on an order already placed.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often point to the friendly staff and the live folk music, with a weekly fiddlers' meet up drawing praise from one visitor who followed the sound in from the street. Food comes close behind. Diners name the crispy squid, steak, chicken tikka, mash and gravy, and fish and chips, and one calls the food honest and affordable. A few say the beers and house red were good. The main complaints concern cost and pace: one reviewer finds drink prices steep, and another thinks portions and taste did not match the prices, with dumplings that seemed undercooked. One longtime regular misses the upstairs bar and notes only two cask ales on tap since the pub joined a larger chain. Another reports a long wait for beer while waiters chatted behind the counter, and the kitchen closing thirty minutes earlier than listed online, which ended with a refund on an order already placed.
Featured reviews
- Jason Overton
“Kelsey was super great! Excellent atmosphere and friendly staff. Food was good too. Thank you!”
- Ian Allan
“Lovely bar supper before going to the Tivoli theater. Service was good and friendly. It was getting busy as we left as there was folk music on.”
- None Relevant
“The place deserves the praise. They make good, honest food. The prices are affordable. Honorable mentions go to mash amd gravy. Both simple and excellent.”
- maressav
“I was visiting Aberdeen for a work conference, and was just walking around city center taking in the city and atmosphere, and heard music playing, so followed it to The doorstep of Old Blackfriars and was thrilled to see (and hear) what I later found out is a weekly community meet up for fiddlers and folk music makers. It was such a treat! The staff were incredibly kind, hardworking and so happy to have not only the musicians there. What a gem of a community spot! I didn’t try the food because I’d just come from dinner but the beers were great 👍”
- Bruce Innes
“Another Aberdeen pub that's now under the Belhaven/Greene King umbrella.. used to be a regular haunt of ours on a Friday when we lived in the city ,still as nice as it was but the upstairs bar is no more and sad to see only 2 cask ales pouring from the taps .”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Old Blackfriars is a unique historic pub in Aberdeen. Located in the cobbled pedestrian area, where the fall of Aberdeen Castle was witnessed in 1308, you’ll get a dash of history with your pint. Step into this family-friendly pub for an authentic experience, with low-beamed ceilings and traditional décor, including stained glass and pews. You can also take in our history from the beer garden whilst having a refreshing sip of your favourite drink, and be sure to try some of our pub classic dishes from our extensive menu. You’ll get all the modern and accommodating facilities too, from disabled facilities to free Wi-Fi. Legend has it you might even see a ghost, so choose your table wisely! So come on in for a warm welcome.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Assistive hearing loop
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Location
Bars near Old Blackfriars
- Ma Cameron's4.31,7210.3 miReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
real ales and cask ale, neeps and tatties with haggis, Korean burger
- Noose & Monkey4.56440.6 miWheelchair accessible
fish and chips, chicken and haggis pie, sunday roast
- The Justice Mill4.02,7940.7 miWheelchair accessible
pizzas, scampi and chips, medium rare steak
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Blackfriars | 4.41,555 | — | folk music sessions, crispy squid, cask ales |
| Ma Cameron'sReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.31,721 | 0.3 mi | real ales and cask ale, neeps and tatties with haggis, Korean burger |
| Noose & MonkeyWheelchair accessible | 4.5644 | 0.6 mi | fish and chips, chicken and haggis pie, sunday roast |
| The Justice MillWheelchair accessible | 4.02,794 | 0.7 mi | pizzas, scampi and chips, medium rare steak |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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