News

Balgove Larder, the beloved St Andrews farm shop and dining destination, has announced the 2026 schedule for its popular Night Markets and Car Boot events.

The Night Market will take place on the first Tuesday of each month from May to September, from 5pm to 9pm, alongside The Car Boot. In 2026, these dates are: 

• Tuesday 5th May
• Tuesday 2nd Jun
• Tuesday 7th July
• Tuesday 4th August
• Tuesday 1st September

Visitors to the Night Market can enjoy freshly grilled dishes from Balgove Larder’s wood-fired Steak Barn, a distinctive space with walls of recycled potato crates and a central barbecue. A rotating selection of street food vendors will also be on hand, offering a variety of snacks and small bites. Shoppers can stock up on fresh produce from Balgove Larder’s master butchers and vegetable growers, as well as a range of local artisanal food and drink, including chocolates, cakes, craft beers, wines, and more. Live performances from local musicians add to the vibrant atmosphere, creating a lively evening for families, friends, and food lovers alike.

The Car Boot will also be held on the third Sunday of each month from March to October, from 10am to 4pm. The dates are:

• Sunday 22nd March
• Sunday 19th April
• Sunday 17th May
• Sunday 18th June
• Sunday 19th July
• Sunday 16th August
• Sunday 20th September
• Sunday 18th October

The Car Boot offers a treasure trove of vintage and preloved homeware, clothing, jewellery, and unique finds. Shoppers can explore an eclectic mix of items while enjoying the community atmosphere that Balgove Larder is known for. Sustainability is at the heart of both the Night Market and Car Boot, reflecting Balgove Larder’s commitment to promoting reuse and supporting local makers and producers.

A unique collaborative space for food, drink and the arts – Brown’s of Leith – will launch in Edinburgh on 27th November with four new food and drink businesses.

Representing a major step in the regeneration of the area, Brown’s of Leith will open within the historic George Brown & Sons Engineering Works on The Shore. The development comes after the engineering firm vacated the building last year, when the management of the building was taken on by the design hub Custom Lane, under the Creative Direction of Gunnar Groves-Raines.

The first phase of the project will see the following high-profile food and drinks businesses opening:

Haze – From the makers of Timberyard and Montrose, this is an all-day venue (open 8am – 8pm) designed to blur the lines between morning coffee and evening wine. Haze will serve a carefully curated menu of small plates, inspired by some of Europe’s best wine bars, featuring cheese, cured meats and tinned fish, alongside wines, spirits, soft drinks and speciality coffee.

Shuck Bar – a new seafood bar celebrating the best of Scottish produce, created by the celebrated Portobello seafood shack, ShrimpWreck. The new outlet promises a more refined menu, whilst keeping the spirit of its street food origins.

Civerino’s – the Edinburgh-born, NYC-style pizza brand brings a new chapter to Leith with a menu dedicated to East Coast American–style pizza.

Woven – a blending studio that sources single malt and grain whiskies from across the world, and brings them together through craft and curiosity. Providing opportunities for visitors to get involved themselves, Woven redefines what blended whisky can be: borderless, inclusive and unapologetically flavour-led.

A new bakery and workshop are also being developed.

In the future, Brown’s of Leith will also be home to a community of artists and architects. A programme of events, exhibitions and artists’ residencies will be announced after the launch.

As an extension to the wider Custom Lane ecosystem, Brown’s of Leith is designed to act as a catalyst for creativity and will include a system of shared knowledge and mentorship for less-established designers, makers and creative professionals. Custom Lane is a project created by the award winning architecture and design studio GRAS.

Gunnar Groves-Raines said:

“Custom Lane has evolved into a truly enriching community of designers and makers but we’ve always looked over The Water of Leith towards the iconic blue doors of the George Brown & Sons building. Breathing new life into this building is a truly exciting opportunity to build upon our vision, celebrate our Leith home, and develop a productive and energising space both for visitors and the makers based there.

“The space will evolve but by launching with these four outstanding businesses, we’re putting the emphasis on conversation and collaboration – food and drink is the perfect way to bring people together.

As a former engineering works, the building has been home to over a century of making, from boats to bicycles, and we are proud to continue that tradition.”

Overlooking The Water of Leith, the building was home for 130 years to George Brown & Sons, engineers and metal workers. The family business relocated to East Lothian in 2024. The existing space retains period industrial architecture across three generous floors. Keep up to date with the latest developments at Brown’s of Leith at customlane.co or www.instagram.com/browns.leith.

Brown’s of Leith
4-6 Shore,
Leith
Edinburgh

Link here to high-res imagery

For more information, contact Martha Bryce (martha@soundbitepr.co.uk; 07905761525)
and Abigail Dunn (abigail@soundbitepr.co.uk; 07554839707)

A first of its kind for the city, Nishiki, a Japanese-fusion Izakaya is due to open in August, by the team behind Yamato, one of Edinburgh’s leading Japanese restaurants.

The 40 cover restaurant opening in the west end of Edinburgh will be one of Scotland’s first sake-dedicated bars. The drinks menu will be built around the famous Japanese beverage, with food inspired by izakaya-style dining, Japan’s answer to a gastropub. Nishiki will offer an all day dining menu and serve breakfast, lunch, Afternoon Tea and dinner with a focus on sharing plates and authentic Japanese flavours.

The breakfast menu will feature traditional breakfast dishes, alongside Japanese fusion dishes like Japanese style French toast. There will be a drinks menu centred around premium Japanese teas and a curated matcha selection, all made using ceremonial-grade matcha powder. After breakfast, the menu will transition to a variety of izakaya-style small plates, including freshly hand-rolled sushi and a selection of grilled dishes. The bar will feature a carefully curated list of sakes, Shochu-based cocktails, and Japanese whiskies. In addition, Nishiki will serve its own signature IPA. The restaurant space is thoughtfully designed in a Japandi style, blending minimalist Japanese tradition with modern Scandinavian simplicity. Natural materials like wood are paired with modern elements, such as steel lighting, alongside traditional features like Japanese washi paper.  Whether enjoying a quiet moment at the counter or sharing a meal at the long communicable table with friends and family, Nishiki offers a calm, welcoming environment where Japense-inspired design meets modern comfort, from morning to night. 

Max Wang, Chef Owner at Yamato: 

“With Nishiki, we wanted to create something new for the city. We’ve visited lots of Izakayas during our trips to Japan and really wanted to bring the concept to Edinburgh. We have designed the space to be welcoming for everyone. A bright, communal environment where people can come together to enjoy fantastic food and drinks.”

To stay up to date with behind-the-scenes previews, opening day announcements, and exclusive sneak peeks of the menu, follow Nishiki on Instagram @Nishiki_edinburgh

151-155 Morrison Street, EH3 8AG, Edinburgh 

Images here.

The first 1,000 people to join will receive six months of free access when Shuffle officially launches, along with an exclusive 40% cash reward on the first use of the app

Shuffle, the premium rewards app that gives you real money back every time you dine or drink at partner venues, is coming to Edinburgh and Glasgow this September after successful launches in Manchester and Liverpool. Shuffle brings a new way for customers to enjoy dining out while supporting local hospitality venues.

To celebrate the Scottish launch, the first 1,000 people to join the waitlist will get six months of free access when Shuffle officially launches, plus an exclusive 40% cash reward the first time they use the app. After that, users can unlock surprise cash rewards ranging from 5% to 100% of their bill at some of the most loved restaurants, bars, and cafés in both cities. There are no vouchers or points, just real money credited directly to the account, which can be spent anywhere.

Shuffle is a subscription-based rewards app, priced at £2.99 per month, offering users exclusive, surprise rewards at top restaurants, bars, and cafes in the city. From a morning coffee to a tasting menu or a night out, customers will have the chance to enjoy unique perks with every visit.

More than just a rewards app, Shuffle supports local hospitality by driving footfall, encouraging repeat visits, and making dining out and spending locally more fun.

Ollie Purdue, CEO and co-founder of Shuffle, said:

“We created Shuffle to make dining out more rewarding. Scotland’s food scene is incredible. From Edinburgh’s cosy cafés to Glasgow’s late night dining, we’re thrilled to start working with so many outstanding venues.

The hospitality industry has been through a challenging few years. Shuffle is our way of bringing people back through the doors while giving them something fun in return, the thrill of a reward they weren’t expecting, in real cash they can use anywhere.”

“Edinburgh and Glasgow have incredible hospitality scenes, and we’re excited to start working with so many outstanding venues.”

Shuffle is changing the way that people dine out and support local businesses. Launching in Glasgow and Edinburgh this September, the waitlist for early access is now open. To be one of the first 1,000 customers and receive six months of free access, unlocking surprise rewards at some of the cities’ most loved restaurants, bars, cafes and more, sign up here to join the waitlist for Edinburgh and here for Glasgow. 

For further information, visit https://getshuffle.co.uk/ or follow https://www.instagram.com/shufflerewards/

Images here

Bar Prince at The Balmoral has joined forces with the iconic, family-run Jannettas Gelateria of St Andrews to launch an exclusive wine and gelato pairing from 25th August – 7th September. The menu will celebrate the pairing of artisan gelato with fine wines and Champagne, inspired by the growing dining trend in cities such as New York, Paris and London.

Bar Prince has worked closely with Jannettas to select four gelato flavours for the pairings, including one created exclusively for this menu. Led by Bar Manager Giovanni Cassino and Assistant Bar Manager Stefano Pinna, the team has carefully selected two wines and two Champagnes to complement the four distinct gelato flavours on the tasting menu, with each pairing including two scoops of gelato and either a 175ml glass of wine or a 125ml glass of champagne.

Tasting menu:

Tahini – £24.50 (paired with Sancerre) 

Created especially for this occasion, this gelato blends toasted sesame seed paste with rich cream for a refined balance of savoury and nutty notes with a smooth finish.

Pistachio – £26.50 (paired with Charles Heidsieck Champagne)

Made with pistachios from Sicily, this flavour is deep, earthy and subtly sweet. The pairing with Champagne highlights its creamy texture and delicate taste. 

Tayberry – £28.50 (paired with Charles Heidsieck Rose Champagne)

A tart sweet gelato made with tayberries, a blackberry and raspberry hybrid, grown locally just fifteen minutes from Jannettas. This flavour celebrates the best of seasonal Scottish produce. Fruity notes are complemented by the bubbles, creating a refreshing pairing.

Chocolate sorbet – £21.50 (paired with Valoplicella)

Rich and indulgent, made with high-quality cocoa. The pairing with Valpolicella, a red wine from the Veneto region of Italy, enhances the chocolate with fruity notes. 

Stefano Pinna, Assistant Bar Manager, said, 

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Jannettas. Lots of us have fond memories of visiting their shop in St Andrews, and as a family-run business with Italian roots, it feels like the perfect fit. It’s been such fun exploring how these unusual pairings bring out new flavours in both the gelato and the wine. Each one has been expertly paired to create a truly experiential tasting, and has been great fun, challenging our expertise into something so playful.”

Lewis  Hazel, Co-owner of Jannettas added,

“This collaboration is a special one to us and a true milestone since taking over from the previous generation. The idea of pairing gelato with wine and Champagne opens up exciting possibilities for flavour. Our tayberry gelato, for example, has a unique sweet profile that works beautifully with certain wines and it comes from berries grown by a family friend just down the road.”

“We’ve grown up in this business,” says Lewis Hazel. “It’s not just about making gelato; it’s about continuing something bigger than ourselves, something our family has built for over a century.”

The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel with 124 years of history, continues to be an iconic part of Edinburgh’s culture and hospitality scene. This collaboration celebrates the shared Italian heritage with Jannettas Gelateria, also a family-run business that has been serving authentic gelato and sorbet in St Andrews for 117 years.

Founded in 1908 by Benedito Jannetta, Jannettas is a family-run business now led by fifth-generation brothers Lewis and Ross Hazel. Every generation has upheld a legacy of craftsmanship, using traditional Italian techniques and high-quality ingredients including local Fife berries, Sicilian pistachios, and rich Scottish dairy. Gelato is made fresh year-round by the family and their team of skilled gelato makers. 

Bar Prince offers an extensive drinks selection, from Old and New World wines to French Champagnes, providing the perfect menu, team and setting to create inventive gelato pairings. Stylish, yet relaxed, the bar features comfortable cornflower-blue leather seating, a long marble bar and a cosy fire in the adjoining library. Finishing touches like gleaming copperware and fresh garnishes create a welcoming atmosphere. 

Guests will be able to order gelato pairings directly from the menu or can choose to book a  full tasting experience of the four flavours on the menu matched with selected wines and champagne. The full tasting menu, priced at £50 per person must be booked via the Bar Prince website here and will be available from 25th of August- 7th of September. 

Timings:

Monday – Friday: 12pm-9pm

Saturday – Sunday:  12pm- 9pm

Bar Prince at The Balmoral
Address: 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Phone: +44 131 556 2414
Email: barprince@roccofortehotels.com

Website

For media enquiries, images or interviews, please contact: 

Emma McVeigh on emma@soundbitepr.co.uk / Abie Dobie on abie@soundbitepr.co.uk  / Gemma Robertson on gemma@soundbitepr.co.uk

Images HERE.

Balcaskie Estate opens gates to food, drink and rural businesses 

Why grow a business alone when there’s land, resources, investment and know-how to tap into?

That’s the message from Fife’s Balcaskie Estate, which is opening the gates to its organic and regenerative-focused farm to sustainable businesses and start-ups looking for a leg-up to help them grow, as part of Pitch Up! 2025. 

Pitch Up! is a farmer-led movement that invites businesses at all stages to share land and space on organic and regenerative farms at a low cost.

From today, entrepreneurs and businesses can submit an expression of interest, ready for the Pitch Up! Applications season, which returns in November.

Growing together

Pitch Up! is a positive story about farmers working together, independently of government initiatives and funding bodies, to create a different model for farming and food businesses.

The initiative connects organic and regenerative farms with sustainable businesses needing access to land/ space. They then share resources, knowledge and land to feed one another and grow together. 

Sam Parsons, Balcaskie Estate Manager said:

“Fertile land is at the core of everything we do at Balcaskie and we have grown a community of businesses around that. We really want to hear from both new and established enterprises with a view to them to joining us here as part of our network. It’s a brilliant way to share expertise, distribution and staff and to support innovation. For us, this is a really useful way of developing a sustainable rural economy.”

Pitch Up! welcomes businesses at all stages – supporting established enterprises with relocation, renovating space customised to their specific needs, or readying land for use. For start-ups, it could be more about experimental space, trialling packaging and dispatch, or support developing their pricing models, product offer or production processes.

In return, Pitch Up! farms gain partners, not tenants. Each agreement is different, shaped to be fair to both sides – whether that’s profit share, turnover rent, produce use/ reuse, or longer-term regeneration goals. It’s about helping farms diversify in a future-focused way. 

Successful pitchers will join and work with an existing community of Balcaskie businesses already focusing on a circular economy approach that ‘stacks’ enterprises to make the best and most sustainable use of the land including:

• Scotland the Bread, a collaborative farming, milling and bakery project to grow better grain and bake better bread with the common purposes of nourishment, sustainability and food sovereignty. It also supplies Baern Bakery at Bowhouse who specialise in naturally leavened bakes

• East Neuk Market Garden, a 4 acre agroecological farm growing vegetables, salads, herbs and fruit, which supplies the local community as well as Stocks Kitchen, a catering business, food shop and cook school that focuses on produce grown on the estate including The Butchery at Bowhouse. 

The Balcaskie team is particularly keen to hear from those involved in pastured dairy, leather processing and design and those who can make use of the organic grains grown on the farm.

Balcaskie Estate covers 4,500 acres in the East Neuk of Fife. With an organic and regenerative focus, farming practices include mob grazing, improving soil health, native wildlife conservation and the reintroduction of heritage breed livestock for a more sustainable future for food production and rural communities. At the heart of the estate is Bowhouse, a growing community of producers, which work to transform local ingredients into artisan food and drink. The Bowhouse Market Weekends have become a well-established fixture, welcoming around 4,200 members of the public every month. 

Interested businesses can take the first step and fill out an expression of interest form today.

To find out more, visit  pitchupandgrow.com – and follow @pitchupdandgrow on Instagram for the latest updates. 

Perthshire-based scientist, Dr Marian Bruce, has created The Wild Scottish Flavour Wheel to enable people to rediscover the lost tastes of wild Scottish ingredients and encourage greater understanding and use of wild plants. Dr Bruce is now seeking community collaboration to make available the stories, recipes and opinions of the people of Scotland to create an online library of Scottish wild flavours. 

The project is part of work seeking to understand how individual people experience and describe wild flavours and use Scotland’s wild species. 

The wheel identifies fifty Scottish species – from more familiar plants like elderflower to seaweeds and fungi – and divides them into ten flavour profiles. Ingredients like pignuts and heather are placed into the Earthy category, while nettle and ground elder are in the Bitter section, for example. Other categories include Forest, Berry, Seaweed, Fungi, Fresh, Spice, Hedgerow and Floral. 

The project seeks opinions, feedback, folklore and recipes, which will be collated into a new online resource, available for everyone to use.

Dr Bruce said:

“There are wild flavours all around us but so much of our knowledge of this is at risk or needs to be rediscovered. Broadening everyone’s understanding of this is a way of enhancing the richness of our world and reconnecting with nature. We want as many people as possible to rediscover these lost flavours of Scotland.

“Flavour is somewhat subjective and often hard to describe so we’re asking everyone to take part in the further development of the wild flavour wheel. This collection of community resources will be made available to everyone and help us to better understand these national natural flavour assets. The more people leave feedback about how they perceive the flavour of different species, the better understanding we’ll all have of this.

“I’m looking for a wide range of contributions, particularly the community of foragers. This input could take the form of words for flavour, descriptors of species on the wheel, family recipes, stories or folklore around the species and suggestions for new additions. This community collaboration will bring the flavour wheel to life. The Wild Scottish Flavour Wheel will expand with more information, become more interactive and is an evolving resource and tool for people to enjoy, use and be part of.”

To view the Wild Scottish Flavour Wheel and provide your feedback, visit https://highlandboundary.com/pages/wild-flavour-wheel.

The Wild Scottish Flavour Wheel will be launched at the Scottish Wild Food Festival https://www.scottishwildfoodfestival.co.uk/ which takes place on 17^th and 18^th May 2025 at Tir na nOg in Stirlingshire. 

The Wild Scottish Flavour Wheel is protected under a Creative Commons Licence, which allows use of the wheel for non-commercial purposes only. 

Media Enquiries

Media enquiries or to set up an interview with Dr Bruce, contact Martha Bryce, Abie Dobie or Nikki Whyte at Sound Bite PR

Martha@soundbitepr.co.uk / abie@soundbitepr.co.uk / nikki@soundbitepr.co.uk

Tel. 07905761525 / 0131 510 3252

Link to high resolution images here.

Scotland—First Table is officially launching its popular restaurant discovery platform in Scotland next week. Edinburgh and Glasgow food lovers now have an exciting new way to explore the cities’ thriving dining scenes. Starting April 9, diners can take advantage of First Table’s signature offer: 50% off the food bill for two, three, or four guests as a reward for dining at an off-peak time.

Already present in nine locations across the U.K., the platform provides an innovative approach to dining and restaurant discovery, making it ideal for diners eager to explore new restaurants and cuisines while staying connected to Edinburgh and Glasgow’s evolving culinary scenes. 

The offer is simple: book an off-peak table through the platform and enjoy 50% off the food bill for two to four diners. Sign-up is free, and diners pay a booking fee of between £4 to £8 to secure the offer (drinks are regular price).

Mat Weir, CEO and founder of First Table, is excited to offer First Table to Scotland’s food lovers. “We’re delighted to connect diners with the vibrant culinary scene in these two cities. After all, they’re ranked among the top food destinations in the U.K.,” he notes. “First Table is all about helping people discover great new restaurants, and we’re excited to introduce our concept to Scotland.”

First Table is proud of its win-win approach, delivering a great experience for both diners and restaurateurs alike. “Becoming a restaurant partner is completely free; there are no sign-up fees or commission, just great exposure,” says Weir. “The platform connects our restaurant partners with diners looking for somewhere to dine out, making it easier for foodies to try new spots and for restaurants to be discovered.”

Among the restaurants joining on April 9, are Laila Cockburn and Laila New Town, two foodie hotspots where the ambience is just as captivating as the cuisine. The venues are owned and operated by Edinburgh-based directors Sabrina Gali and Lisa Cairns. “We’re thrilled to bring Laila to First Table Diners and join as a restaurant partner from day one,” says Sabrina. “It’s a no-brainer for us to be on the platform and offer our off-peak tables, to create a buzz early on in our shift,” she adds. 

Food lovers will be able to explore a vibrant mix of dining experiences, from laid-back taquerias to dynamic, ever-evolving menus crafted by artisan chefs. Of course, some classic local venues are included, where local talent and traditional Scottish cuisine take centre stage.

First Table launched in Queenstown and is available across the U.K., New Zealand, and Australia. The platform has over 2,500 restaurants and two million foodies in its community worldwide. You can read more about the First Table story here. 

The First Table app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

SoBe Burgers, the Miami-style smash-burger brand, will celebrate landing in Edinburgh on 14 February by offering a free burger to its first 50 customers, with a further 50% off burgers for the whole of its opening weekend.

Opening at 75 Lothian Road, for sit-in and takeaway, this will be the first SoBe Burger in Edinburgh. The casual burger brand, which was founded in London in 2019, has been making waves across the UK with 11 sites and 200 delivery outlets making it the fastest growing burger brand in Britain. SoBe (short for South Beach, Miami) is famous for the smash-burgers discovered by friends Tom and Alex in Miami and brought to life this side of the Atlantic, plus its incredible range of signature sauces – garlic confit, truffle and green chilli. Signature burgers include:

• Truffle cheeseburger: two beef patties, melted cheese, crispy onions, crunchy dill pickles, and umami truffle mayo
• Confit garlic cheeseburger: two beef patties, melted cheese, crispy onions and confit garlic mayo
• BBQ cheeseburger: two beef patties, melted cheese, crunchy dill pickles and smokey bbq mayo
• Green chilli cheeseburger: two beef patties, melted cheese, pickled green chillies and spicy chilli mayo

All the burgers can be made vegan and there is a selection of chicken burgers made with crispy buttermilk coated chicken tenders and seven different types of fries including Truffle fries served with truffle mayo, crispy onions and chives and the Cheeseburger fries served with aged beef, cheese sauce, ketchup, mustard and pickles. The full menu is also Halal friendly.

Open to 3am on weekends and 1am weekdays, SoBe Lothian Road is set to be the go-to place for a  late night burger with 20% off after 11pm every day. Make sure to leave your mark with the giant DIY sticker wall. And if you are craving your SoBe burger fix from home, it’s also available through Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

Opening offer runs from 5pm on 14 February until 1am 17 February.

75 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9AW

Images available here.

https://www.sobeburger.co.uk/edinburgh

@sobeburger

An island food hub is seeking food, drink and street food producers from across Scotland to add to its roster of monthly Sunday markets on the Isle of Bute. The application form is now live and will close on Sunday 26th January.

Launched in June 2023 in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Bute Yard is a contemporary space that showcases the best local food, drink, art and crafts the island has to offer. The organisers are now regularly providing a selected number of spaces for producers from across Scotland and would welcome queries for market stalls, food trucks and pop-up restaurants.

Just a short walk from the ferry terminal, the markets already host around 2,000 people at each event and have become a destination for locals and visitors to the island alike.

Applications are now open for:

Sunday 4th May 2025, 10am – 4pm

Sunday 1st June 2025, 10am – 4pm

Sunday 6th July 2025, 10am – 4pm

Businesses can apply for single or multiple markets using the Market Application Form and will be contacted if they are successful in February.

Bute Yard is a versatile covered space with an outdoor courtyard area. A multi-use venue with flexible and scalable event areas, the modular space features an open-plan bar service and impressive kitchen facilities. The space is also the permanent home to Bute Distillery and Bute Smoke House. To find out more about Bute Yard, email hello@buteyard.com or visit  https://buteyard.com/ and follow their Instagram and Facebook channels with the handle @buteyard.