The Stables
From sinner
| Name | |
 Caption | |
| Contact information | |
|---|---|
| Address | 95 Tom Morris Drive St Andrews KY16 9QQ |
| Phone | 01334 472681 |
| Opening Hours | Sun - Thu: xxam - midnight Fri & Sat: xxam - xxam |
When I arrived in St. Andrews, I was given two pieces of advice: - Never drink in a pub without windows; and - Never drink anything green.
The Stables has no windows. Neither does the Cellar, but it's still a decent boozer. The Stables is also the nearest pub to where I will be living next year. It's on Tom Morris Drive, near the health centre (presumably this is a coincidence.)
I have only been to the Stables once. Before writing of that visit, I will relate a tale told to me by a friend, whom we'll call Jamie. Jamie is from the deep south of England and has the accent to prove it. Jamie and two pals descend on the Stables on a weekday night, looking for a quiet pint.
Immediately they sit down, Trouble comes across to their table. Trouble is well over six feet tall, and has comparable width and depth. Trouble has far too many tattoos. Trouble has far too many muscles.
Trouble says: "You'se Anglish?"
Jamie says: "Um... yeah," wisely not attempting denial or apology.
Trouble straightens up, looms a little more and snorts before bellowing: "Welcome to my country!"
My visit to the Stables was not as frightening, but somehow similar; it seems to revel in its reputation as the roughest pub in St. Andrews but without ever wanting to prove it. I suppose it helped that it was empty but for the barman, and there were sixteen of us.
It is not somewhere you would choose to drink on a sunny day. The lack of windows does make for a dark, dingy décor, but (if you really put your mind to it) you can imagine you're in a Czech underground tavern. It's quite cheap, if I recall. There's a reasonably-priced but almost Union-standard warped pool table, which it's probably sensible to vacate if people are waiting.
As long as you're sensible in the Stables, you should be ok - don't wear pink rugby shirts, ask for something they clearly have on tap, and don't taunt the natives. Oh yes, and don't drink anything green.
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