To celebrate this year’s World Book Day, on Thursday March 7, we take a look at nine Edinburgh pubs that have inspired famous authors.
9. Deacon Brodie’s Tavern
Where: 435 Lawnmarket, EH1 2NT. About: This historic pub has been around since 1806, named after the infamous Deacon Brodie – a respectable Edinburgh businessman who moonlighted as a burglar and gambler. The true tale (and no doubt the pub itself) inspired Robert Louis Stevenson. After penning an unsuccessful play called Deacon Brodie, The Double Life, Stevenson further explored the duality of man in one of his most famous works, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Photo: Third Party
10. The Hawes Inn
Where: Visit: 7 Newhalls Road, South Queensferry, EH30 9TA. About: Robert Louis Stevenson reportedly stayed in Room 13 at The Hawes Inn while writing part of his famous novel, Kidnapped, in 1886. The seaside setting at South Queensferry provided lots of inspiration for this adventurous tale, and The Hawes Inn even appears as a key location in chapter five of the book. Photo: Third Party