John Bain & Son

The best thing about this place is the fact that the pies are fresh. Hot from the oven pretty much trumps everything, anywhere.
I visited here recently with The Man and Baby Unilocal (who gave a two tooth salute to the puff pastry he tried) — we got a bridie and a steak pie. Other than the addition of onions to the bridie, the fillings were identical — heavily peppered, mostly gravy with a few bits of mince. The pies were definitely tasty but from a butcher famous for its pies I was expecting a better meat to gravy ratio.
I would return in a heartbeat though because the fresh factor really trumps any small failings of the filling. Yum.

My mum used this butcher for years so used to the pies and fabulous bridies but got tomato sausages this week when I was in. They are the best I’ve tasted cooked them in the frying pan and there was no excess fat coming out at all. My son works at Ayton in Dalkeith and got me tomato sausages from there to try they were swimming in grease and not very tasty. Baines all the way best butcher in Edinburgh

My dad has nothing but good things to say about Bains pies, and has bought them for years. He introduced my son to them, too, who was equally enthusiastic about Bains small mince pies. With that in mind I decided to buy a family size steak pie and was expecting wonderful things. Steak pies can vary widely in the quality of pastry, the gravy, and the quality and quantity of filling, but having paid £8.40 for a pie I told the family to expect something special. Indeed it was special especially horrible! I have never, ever tasted such a tasteless and utterly revolting pie as this. The pastry, which was nondescript at best, was absolutely the star feature. The gravy was a peculiar grey coloured lumpy jelly-​like substance which had no taste at all and certainly bore no resemblance to any gravy I have ever seen or tasted. The filling was by far the most remarkable feature of this ‘pie’ lumps of grey unidentifiable something which were so tough they were literally inedible. I don’t think any human could possibly have swallowed them. They tasted of absolutely nothing, as did the entire pie, and the only flavour I could taste was a vague unpleasant pepper-​like taste. I really have never eaten anything quite so vile and it was so bad that I couldn’t even bear to keep the remains to return it just the memory of it is making me feel nauseous as I write this! If you have a pound to spare then buy yourself a little Bain’s pie with confidence, I’m sure you will enjoy it as I did when I tasted one. If you have £8.40 then buy anything at all EXCEPT this hideous offering masquerading as a steak pie and save yourself the most repulsive experience ever! Unfortunately I had to give a star rating for this review but the pie didn’t even deserve one star. Bains should be ashamed

best pies by a mile

Used to work with Mrs Bain… whenever we were set to come in for a spot of weekend overtime, she’d take an order of Scotch Pies…
I’d get enough to last me all week!
Good ol’ John Bain makes his Scotchies with mutton as opposed to… whatever meat’s usually in Scotch Pies!!! And boy can you taste the difference.
Can’t vouch for the rest of the shop, but the pies alone merit 4 stars!

The best meat pies in Edinburgh… but get them early as they sellout quickly each day!

The best pie shop in the city in my opinion, it is renowned all over the area and queues can be seen far out the door at weekends and lunchtime. The shop is also a butchers but is mostly well known for its pies. They do a wide range from steak, mince, macaroni to cheese and ham and onion. They are also very cheap and pies can be had for under £1. The staff are also very friendly and make visiting the shop a pleasant experience. Everyone should try a pie from here whether they live near or far just remember your brown sauce!