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A stone tenement in Edinburgh, a carved crest above its green door flanked by barrel planters.
Edinburgh

Bard

A shop and gallery of Scottish craft and design in the old Custom House on Leith's Customs Wharf, opened by Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens.

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Welcome

In the old Custom House on Customs Wharf, by the Shore at Leith, Bard is a shop and gallery given over to Scottish craft and design.

A room at Bard set with Scottish furniture and stone pieces.

It was founded by Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens, who moved to Edinburgh from London and set out to make a home for the country's makers.

Over two floors, rooms laid out like a lived-in house show the work of dozens of contemporary Scottish makers and designers, in silver, stone and seaweed, ceramics and glass, textiles and leather, wood and willow, even plastic gathered from the sea. Everything is for sale, and the rooms change with each exhibition, so there is always something new to find.

Bard opens from Friday to Sunday, from eleven until five. It is free to wander, and a short walk from the restaurants of the Shore.

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Before you go

Open from Friday to Sunday, from eleven until five.

Where
1 Customs Wharf, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AL.
Telephone
0131 210 0106.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
11am–5pm
Saturday
11am–5pm
Sunday
Closed

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Where it is

On Customs Wharf by the Shore at Leith, in the old Custom House.

Close byThe Shore.
  1. Williams & Johnson Coffee CoWilliams & Johnson Coffee CoUnder a mile 1 min by road
  2. The hall at Brown's of Leith under its timber roof, with the Haze counter on the left, a round steel table and people at tables by the tall windows.Brown's of LeithUnder a mile 1 min by road
  3. The Keelson's stone building on the Shore at Leith, seen across the Water of Leith on a sunny day, with gulls on the river.The KeelsonUnder a mile 1 min by road
  4. Friends chat round a candlelit table beneath a "Guest Keg" chalkboard menuTeuchters LandingA bar in the old Aberdeen ferry waiting room on the Shore.Under a mile 1 min by road
  5. Water of Leith winding through Dean Village's stone tenements and old mill buildingsWater of LeithEdinburgh's river, followed by a walkway to the sea at Leith.Under a mile 3 min by road
  6. HeronHeronA Michelin-starred restaurant by the Water of Leith.1 mile 4 min by road
Directions
The green front of Malt & Hops on the Shore, with hanging baskets, barrels and pavement tables.BarsMalt & HopsA step away
A fillet of fish on greens and green beans in an orange sauce, on a white plate at a table at Barry Fish.RestaurantsBarry FishA step away
Stepped gable buildings and the Toast shopfront reflected in Leith's still waterAttractionsLeith ShoreA step away
The room at Chez Bernard, with red pillars, wooden tables and chairs with red seats, and racks of wine behind the bar.BarsChez BernardA step away
Restaurant Martin Wishart's white frontage with large paned windows on Leith's waterfrontRestaurantsRestaurant Martin WishartA step away
The round stone watchtower on the Shore at Leith, with Fishers' blue and white restaurant front at its foot on a cobbled corner.RestaurantsFishers in Leith0.2 miles
The dining room at The Kitchin, with grey stone walls, dark beams and blue-green chairs at tables laid for dinner.RestaurantsThe Kitchin0.2 miles
A Greek salad topped with a slab of feta beside a grilled octopus tentacle on a wooden table at Kafeneion to Steki.RestaurantsKafeneion to Steki0.3 miles
Sunlit table set for two beside a leather booth and windowRestaurantsRoseleaf Bar Café0.3 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near Bard, and when each is next free.

A hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from Bard
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from Bard
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • 3 miles from Bard
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • 3 miles from Bard
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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