The Athletic Arms

The Athletic Arms, commonly known as the Diggers, is a historic pub in Edinburgh, Scotland. Located near Tynecastle Park and Murrayfield, it is popular with sports fans on game days. The pub's nickname, Diggers, comes from its location between two graveyards, which made it popular with gravediggers at the end of their shifts. The building is an example of a late-Victorian Scottish pub, well-known for their spacious interiors and central bars. Its bar has a tall fount, a traditional way of serving draft beer in Scotland. In December 2018, licensee Kevin McGhee won the BT Sport Manager of the Month award for the pub's close association with the Hearts football team. In March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pub started a crowdfunding campaign to pay staff. It raised nearly £10,000. In 2024, The Athletic Arms was shortlisted in the Best Pub category at the Scottish Bar Awards. In 2025 The Athletic Arms was named Whisky Bar of the Year at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards and was also shortlisted in the Pub of the Year category. Famous patrons include actors James McAvoy and Ken Stott, and author Irvine Welsh. In February 2026, the company behind the Athletic Arms opened a new venture “Diggers Leith” on Bernard Street, near the Shore. It also owns The Outhouse on Broughton Street Lane.