This website is currently in beta. If you wish to go back to the current site please click here. To provide feedback or find out more about this site, please click here.

Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Join Us
Good Beer Guide
Heritage Pub

Phoenix Ale House, Inverness

106-110 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LX (View on Google Map)
Improve This Listing

restaurant

A choice selection of mainly Scottish real ales beckons, with at least three hand pumps on all the time when you walk in through the front door. Another four the other side may be on at busier times of the year.

The main bar has a stylish central gantry, however the iconic, CAMRA-listed island bar is otherwise unchanged, surrounded by a spittoon; there is even talk of sawdust returning! Mostly standing only but popular with tourists and those who know their ales!

The restaurant next door has plenty of seating for hearty meals all day. Phone / tablet battery flat? There is a USB "tower" to top up the charge, but you may need your connecting cable.

[Update 27 July 2024: "Only three beers on the front six pumps and none on rear four pumps. As my visit is in July, I feel that the quantity of ales described needs changing. The pint of Island Life was excellent!"]

Historic Interest

Island bar with a ceramic spittoon. Early 19th century Category B Listed. Historic Environment Scotland reference LB35122

Information for this venue is provided by the Highlands & Western Isles Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Phoenix
Local Authority
Highland
Last updated
01/08/2024
Last surveyed
18/03/2017
Pub ID
INV/116
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: B

Built in 1894, the spartan public bar is of classic Scottish island bar-style. It is much as it was, with the original island counter, a terrazzo spittoon trough running all the way around the base and three disused Dalex tall fonts. However the island gantry was replaced in 1983. The shallow vestibule has curved, etched side windows and 'Push' on the inner door panels. The floor pattern could indicate a partition that divided the drinking space in two. The water engine used to raise the beer from the cellar has been converted to electric power and can be seen in an illuminated case high up on the rear wall of the bar. In the 1980s the pub expanded into the property on the right and, apart from a ceiling rose, the lounge, 'Morgan's', has no old fittings.

Premium Access Required

You must be a Digital Subscriber or CAMRA Member to be able to view specially curated GBG descriptions

Premium Access Required
Seen some incorrect or missing details? let us know.
Opening
Food
Monday
11:00am - Midnight
Noon - 9:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am - Midnight
Noon - 9:00pm
Wednesday
11:00am - Midnight
Noon - 9:00pm
Thursday
11:00am - Midnight
Noon - 9:00pm
Friday
11:00am - 1:00am
Noon - 9:00pm
Saturday
11:00am - 1:00am
Noon - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 10:00pm
Noon - 9:00pm
Spotted an error with the opening times? Let us know

Current beers

This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Phoenix Ale House, Inverness

Add it to our list and share what's currently being served!.
Are you a CAMRA member? Contribute by submitting a beer score
Spot a Beer
Submit beer score
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Cairngorm (varies) , Cromarty (varies) , Orkney (varies)

Source: National

Do you know what Regular beers or changing beers this Pub serves? Let us know
Your scores
Join CAMRA to access beer scoring and view scores for other pubs.
Become a member.
Retrieving scores
You have no beer scores submitted.

Facilities
Sports TV Sports TV
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Live Music Live Music
Occasionally
Disabled Access Disabled Access
Narrow door at front with step but easy access via side door into lounge.
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Newspapers Newspapers
Restaurant Restaurant
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
LocAle LocAle
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (220m)
Stagecoach: bus station (all routes)
local, district and intercity buses nearby
Nearby Station (320m)
Inverness
Directions
150m W of the bus station
Are these pub facilities or features correct? Let us know

Nearby

View All
(External, Key). Published on 15-11-2019
Blackfriars
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.0 miles - 93-95 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LX
(External, Sign). Published on 07-03-2015
Rose Street Foundry
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.0 miles - 97 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LU
(External, Key). Published on 10-12-2017
MacGregor's
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.0 miles - 109-113 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LX
(Key). Published on 30-09-2023
WoodWinters
Real Ale Available
Other Drinking Establishment
0.1 miles - 99 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1ES
Good Beer Guide
Published on 03-09-2013
Kings Highway
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.1 miles - 72-74 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EN
(External, Key). Published on 30-11-2016
Black Isle Bar
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.1 miles - 68 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EN
(External). Published on 01-03-2014
Hootananny
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.1 miles - 67 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1ES
Published on 03-09-2013
R&Bs
Pub
0.1 miles - 73 Queensgate, Inverness, IV1 1DG
(External, Key). Published on 03-08-2015
Scotch & Rye
Pub
0.1 miles - 21 Queensgate Road, Inverness, IV1 1DF
(Key). Published on 10-03-2018
Platform 8
Real Ale Available
Pub
0.1 miles - 38-40 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1JT

The Good Beer Guide 2025

Explore the UK’s best pubs serving real ale. The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide – the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide – is celebrating its 52nd edition with not one but two covers featuring two of...

Grab a copy of the Heritage Pub Guide for Scotland

Introduction This guide describes the 116 pubs identified by CAMRA as having interiors of national or regional historic or architectural importance, plus a further 24 whose interiors are of some regional interest. Scotland has over 4000 pubs so why do...

Historic pub interiors
Home
© Campaign for real ale 2023 - 2024