ICONS

£6 pints and live sports sum up ICONS at EDI

ICONS sits airside in Edinburgh Airport’s departures area, past security and before most of the high street shops. It runs from early morning first-wave departures through late evening departures, so you can usually get a seat for a 7:00–21:00 departure window. Expect a standard sports-bar setup: big screens showing Premier League, rugby, and whatever is on Sky Sports, plus a mix of high tables and bar stools that fill up fast during major matches.

Pricing lands in the mid-range: burgers around £14–£16, fries at roughly £4, and draught beer typically £5.50–£7 a pint depending on brand. The menu leans pub-ish — think burgers, wings, and nachos rather than proper restaurant mains. Portion sizes read “airport normal,” not giant, and water is free on request, which matters once you’re past the refill stations.

Drinks are the stronger play: Scottish lagers and ales on tap, standard spirits, and basic mixed drinks in the £8–£11 range. House wine pours run about £7–£8 a glass. The food is fine for a layover bite, but the 3.5 rating tracks with “OK if you’re already here,” not “reroute your walk from another gate.” If you care more about watching the match than dissecting the menu, it does the job.

ICONS works best if your gate is within a 5–10 minute walk, since service can stretch to 20–30 minutes during busy banks of departures. Bar seats usually turn faster than tables, and staff are quicker on drink-only orders than full meals. There are plug points at a handful of tables, but not every seat, so don’t count on charging a dead laptop.

Tip: If you only have 25–30 minutes before boarding, skip hot food and order at the bar for drinks and a snack like chips or nuts; you’re more likely to close your tab before your gate starts final call.