food and drink – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Kids eat free deals and family fun on offer at Fort Knnaird

Fort Kinnaird is inviting families to make the most of the October week, with a range of activities, offers and seasonal treats available across the centre.

Whether families are planning a full day out or simply looking to fill a few spare hours, there’s plenty to enjoy this autumn, from discovering the latest seasonal fashion trends to trying new menus and making the most of family activities.

This includes:

Kids eat free offers: Families can enjoy a meal out for less, with Kids Eat Free at Frankie & Benny’s until 25^th October, where children can tuck into a free main, two sides, a drink and a dessert with every paying adult main. Over at Wagamama, children can enjoy the £7.50 Kids Bento, a mix-and-match meal served with gyoza and crispy prawn crackers.

Family films at ODEON: Big-screen favourites have hit cinemas in time for rainy days, including the animated Minions & Monsters, action-packed Avengers: Endgame Encore and Halloween favourite Hocus Pocus. Families can also look out for ODEON Kids screenings, with discounted tickets available for selected family films.

Halloween crafting at Hobbycraft: Hobbycraft has everything needed to get creative this Halloween, from pumpkin-decorating kits and paints to costume-making essentials and spooky decorations – ideal for keeping children entertained on rainy afternoons.

Pumpkin spice and autumn treats: For those who love a seasonal drink, Starbucks has brought back its popular Pumpkin Spice Latte, alongside new additions including the Iced Apple Crumble Matcha Latte and Pumpkin Marble Loaf Cake. Frankie & Benny’s autumn menu also features the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Burger, Pumpkin & Ginger Sponge and Spiced Pumpkin Latte.

Autumn fashion inspiration: From UGG boots and suede styles to oversized knits and burgundy shades, there are plenty of new-season trends to explore ready for autumn. Families can browse the latest footwear at schuh and OFFICE, or pick up inspiration from Primark, M&S and Next for everything from chunky jumpers and autumn accessories to fluffy slippers and pyjamas for a cosy night in.

Halloween treats from M&S: Shoppers can stock up ahead of Halloween with themed biscuits, chocolates and sweets for trick or treaters, as well as seasonal baking kits and ingredients for making treats at home.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know keeping the kids entertained during school holidays can be a challenge, particularly when the autumn weather isn’t on your side.

From a trip to the cinema and a family meal out, to getting creative with some Halloween activities at home, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the October break.

“Whether families are planning a full day out or just looking for a few hours of fun, we hope these ideas help them make the most of their time together.”

To plan your visit to Fort Kinnaird, please visit https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

Sotto welcomes back Ping On in aid of Dementia UK

The former Stockbridge favourite Ping On returned to its original home for one night only on Sunday 4th October, as Sotto celebrated its second birthday by recreating the much-loved Cantonese restaurant for an evening in aid of Dementia UK.

Ping On was a Stockbridge institution for 56 years, having first opened in the area in 1968 under the ownership of Kenny Mak. It went on to become a firm favourite with generations of Edinburgh locals before Sotto opened in its former premises in 2024, transforming the space into an Italian trattoria and enoteca.

To mark Sotto’s second birthday, owner James Clark brought Ping On back to the restaurant for one night, with the Sotto team temporarily swapping Italian cooking for some of the dishes that had made the restaurant a Stockbridge staple.

The menu featured Kenny’s family recipes, including sizzling ribs, spring rolls, lemon chicken, beef in black bean sauce, egg fried rice and banana fritters.

The evening brought together former Ping On customers returning to the restaurant, alongside Sotto regulars, with more than £4,000 raised for Dementia UK.

North Edinburgh Arts: Act Like You Own the Place!

CELEBRATION and AGM

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER 5 – 7pm

Act Like You Own the Place!

Join us for our Celebration and AGM

Wednesday 21 October, 5pm – 7pm

– Food & refreshments provided by our NEA Community Café

– Take a self-guided tour around the NEA building

– Take part in fun demonstrations and taster sessions

– Find out more about what’s on at NEA

– Meet local organisations and people living in your neighbourhood

– Bring your family and friends along

North Edinburgh Arts is owned by the people of North Edinburgh and is here for the long term; over 800 local people have already joined our membership scheme and are community owners of this incredible building.

Find out more about the events and activities happening at North Edinburgh Arts – have a shot at carpet bowls or riding an electric bike; or try out your crafty skills with the Knit and Natter group.

There’ll also be the chance to meet many of our tenant organisations Curious Seed, Tinderbox Collective, Flourish Jewellery, Cutting Edge Theatre, Project Esperanza, U-Evolve and more.

We want to share more about what Community Ownership means and the difference it makes. We hope you’ll join us!

If you would like to come along, please RSVP by 14 October on our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/act-like-you-own-the…

Edinburgh set to benefit from £900 million investment

Aldi has revealed that Edinburgh is set to receive around £3.5 million in 2027 as part of its £900m investment programme.

The investment will see Aldi extend its existing store in Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh, creating more space for customers and improving the store layout.

The supermarket plans to open 40 new stores across the UK during the year, alongside continued investment in its distribution network.

Aldi currently has 1,095 stores and plans to grow to 1,500 across the UK, with a focus on communities that do not have easy access to affordable groceries because of a lack of local choice or competition.

Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: “We’re continuing to invest significantly across the UK as we progress towards our long-term ambition of 1,500 Aldi stores.

“These new locations are part of our £900 million investment programme for 2027 and will help us bring Aldi’s award-winning quality and unbeatable value to even more communities. We’re excited to take the next step in our expansion plans and look forward to welcoming customers through the doors of these new stores in the years ahead.”

The investment builds on Aldi’s existing expansion programme, with the supermarket set to open 30 stores during the final months of 2026. Its continued growth will create thousands of jobs and further opportunities for British suppliers.

Aldi has 113 stores in Scotland and employs more than 3,600 people.

Tomorrow: Last Monday Cafe at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

All good things must come to an end!

This Monday (12th October) will be our last Monday Café, and what a lovely few months it’s been! We’ve loved cooking for our community, meeting new people and trying out new recipes. Together, we’ve served 412 meals, all freshly prepared each Monday using lots of rescued food and produce from our garden.

A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who have helped make this project possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!

But don’t worry, our community lunches aren’t going anywhere! We’ll be moving them to Friday afternoons, making it easier for more people to join us, including families after school pick-up and anyone popping along to Dr Bike at the centre. We’ll share more details about timings over the next week or two.

Fancy getting involved in cooking up our community lunches? We’re starting a cooking group where people can come together, share skills and learn new recipes on a Friday morning. If you’re interested, get in touch with Rebecca at rebecca@drylawnc.org.uk to find out more.

And we’re going all out for our final Monday Café!

Breakfast: All your usual favourites, plus homemade blueberry scones.

Lunch: Bangers and mash, followed by an indulgent Banoffee Pie.

Come along, enjoy some good food and help us give the Monday Café a lovely send-off. We’d love to see you there!

Popeyes® announces their third Edinburgh restaurant

Edinburgh… get excited! The legendary crunch, the Louisiana spirit and the chicken sandwich that broke the internet are returning to the city centre, because Popeyes® has confirmed it’s opening a brand new restaurant at 46 North Bridge.

Since landing in the UK in 2021, Popeyes® has been on a mission to bring bold New Orleans flavour to every corner of the country, and Brits have been loving it.

Locations nationwide have seen queues around the block as fried chicken fans race to get their hands on Popeyes®’ signature Shatter Crunch Chicken Sandwich. Following a warm welcome from fans across Edinburgh, Popeyes® is continuing its expansion in the Scottish capital with another exciting city centre location.

Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK CEO said: “Edinburgh has given Popeyes® such an incredible welcome, so we’re delighted to be growing our presence in the city with a new North Bridge restaurant.

“Whether you’re a local, commuting through the city or visiting Scotland’s capital, we can’t wait to welcome everyone through our doors to enjoy our famous Louisiana hospitality and unmistakable Popeyes crunch.”

The new restaurant will serve everything Popeyes® is known and loved for, from its hand marinated chicken to those iconic buttermilk biscuits, all made fresh every day and inspired by the heart of Louisiana.

Located on North Bridge, just a five minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station, the new restaurant will bring Popeyes® even closer to commuters, tourists and local residents in the heart of the city.

Featuring 60 covers, the restaurant will provide a vibrant new dining destination in one of Edinburgh’s busiest locations.

While full details about opening plans are yet to be revealed, one thing is certain – Edinburgh is about to get another taste of Popeyes®’ southern charm.

To stay updated, visit the Popeyes® UK website or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @PopeyesUK.

Today’s Menu at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

Monday’s menu for the cafe!

A cafe classic of baked tatties for lunch, and we’re still planning dessert, so it’ll be a surprise! Check our page on Monday to find out what we’re making.

We welcome everyone along to our community cafe – so hope to see you there!

Making healthier food choices easier

New changes introduced to the sale and placement of foods high in fat, sugar and salt in shops come into effect

Following the passing of regulations by Parliament last year, new restrictions will be introduced from 1 October 2026 in Scotland to support people to make healthier food choices.

Businesses with more than 50 employees will no longer be allowed to display prepackaged junk food such as sugary soft drinks, confectionary, biscuits and breakfast cereals in prominent locations, such as entrances, checkouts and at aisle ends.

Certain price promotions including free refills of sugary soft drinks will also be restricted.

The regulations, which will apply both in-store and online, are intended to create a healthier balance of products on offer, support healthier eating habits and help lower levels of obesity.

Similar restrictions are already in place across England and Wales.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “We want to make it easier for people to live healthier lives. “In Scotland, two out of three adults are overweight or obese, with those living in our poorest areas more likely to be overweight and experience the most harm as a result.

“We know that promotions and the prominent product placement can encourage over-consumption and impulse buying of foods with high levels of calories, fat, sugar and salt.

“By restricting the promotion of less healthy food and drink we can make it easier for people to make healthier choices, improving health and wellbeing and create a Scotland where everyone eats well and has a healthy weight.

”We have engaged extensively with business and industry extensively in developing this approach.

“These restrictions strike a balance between improving the health of people in Scotland whilst reducing any potential effects on smaller businesses and shops.”

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Scotland’s retailers are committed to helping consumers make healthier choices. For example, fresh fruit and veg are heavily price promoted and grocers have led the way on reformulating products to reduce salt, sugar, and fat. We’ve pioneered traffic light labelling and signage to help consumers make informed choices.

“We believe these new regulations are proportionate and will enhance the positive work being done by retailers in supporting consumers to make healthier food and drink choices. The choice to implement a consistent model with other UK nations should simplify and reduce the cost of implementation: albeit retailers will still invest around £20 million to deliver the policy.

“We hope this approach, where industry is meaningfully consulted and government acts in a constructive manner, can serve as a model going forward as we work in partnership to make Scotland a healthier and wealthier nation.”

Monday Menu at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

The days are getting shorter, the mornings getting colder… Autumn is here!

We have a hearty, comforting menu for you all this Monday. Come in and warm up in the morning with our hot filled rolls and tea and coffee.

We have freshly made lentil soup on for lunch, with fruit crumble for dessert.

As always, this is for everyone in the community. You can sit in or take away your meal.

Five Edinburgh businesses crowned winners at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026

Five food and drink businesses from Edinburgh have been crowned winners at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026, securing six of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, including the coveted Product of the Year category.

The winners proudly representing the capital are:

Edgefield Craft Butchers, Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle (Scotch Brand Product of the Year, and Product of the Year)
Woven Whisky Makers, Woven WXC Coffee Infused Whisky (Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits)
east PIZZAS, Topped Spicy Pizza (Grocery Product of the Year)
Bon Accord Soft Drinks, Rhubarb Soda (Healthy or Free From Product of the Year)
Howies Restaurants (Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year))

Product of the Year is awarded to the category winner who scored the highest marks among the esteemed panel of judges made up of experts from retail, foodservice and hospitality.

This year’s winner, Edgefield Craft Butchers’ Prime Rib, was praised by judges for its depth of flavour, juicy, melt in the mouth texture, and exceptional quality.

Edgefield Craft Butchers was founded in 2024 by fourth-generation butcher, Simon Gilmour, and supplies Scotland’s leading chefs and restaurants with premium meat.

The awards recognise excellence across Scotland’s food and drink sector, with the Northeast winners demonstrating innovation, business excellence, growth and product quality on a national stage.

The Edinburgh winners were announced alongside businesses from across Scotland at the award ceremony in Glasgow, highlighting the breadth and diversity of the country’s food and drink sector. Other winners included Benbecula-based Salar Smokehouse whose Flaky Smoked Salmon won in both the Artisan and Fish & Seafood Product of the Year categories.

Alongside the tasted product categories, Aberdeen-based Vanilla Labs won Business Innovation of the Year for redefining how vanilla is grown, cured and delivered. Glasgow’s Dear Green coffee roasters was named Sustainable Business of the Year, and Growth Business of the Year was won by Aberdeenshire-based Duncan Farms.

The Excellence Awards recognise the highest quality of produce, as well as leading suppliers, individuals and companies.

Individuals were celebrated too. Jaynie Kean from Jackton Distillery won the Young Talent of the Year award, with the judges describing the RAER Scotch Whisky Managing Director as an aspirational role model for young people entering the industry.

The winners were revealed by Matt Tebbutt, Saturday Kitchen presenter and MasterChef: The Professionals judge.

Simon Gilmour, Founder and CEO of Edgefield Craft Butchers, winner of the Scotch Brand category and overall Product of the Year, said: “It’s an honour to win both Scotch Brand Product of the Year and the overall Product of the Year.

“We are quite a new company, so to be in the position to win an award like this is just such a ‘pinch me’ moment. The team have worked very hard to get us here, so this award really belongs to them.

“Some of the best food and drink companies in the world are here in Scotland, and we’re very lucky to have the larder we do. For us here at Edgefield to be on that radar now is pretty special.

“Our Dry Aged Prime Rib has been born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland, so it’s Scotch through and through.”

Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Seeing winners from every corner of the country reflects the strength of our sector. From the northern isles to the borders, from Aberdeen to the Hebrides, the quality and variety of what our producers make is remarkable.

“The Excellence Awards are the gold-standard that every food and drink brand in Scotland aspires to, and our winners thoroughly deserve to be celebrated for their achievements.

“Congratulations to all our winners, and to those who were shortlisted. We look forward to seeing them all continue to innovate, prioritise quality, and shine a light on our incredible food and drink sector.”

For over two decades, The Excellence Awards have brought together Scotland’s finest producers with key decision makers and influencers from across the industry. Underpinned by people, passion and perseverance, the awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s achievements of the past year while looking ahead and supporting the next wave of innovation and creativity.

See the full list of winners here:

https://foodanddrink.scot/events-and-membership/the-excellence-awards/2026-winners

The full list of winners

Category	Company	Product / Person
Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits)	Woven Whisky Makers	Woven WXC Coffee Infused Whisky
Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits)	Orkney Gin Company	Aatta Gin
Beer & Cider Product of the Year	Six Degrees North	Raspberry Beer
Dairy Product of the Year	Giacopazzi’s Wholesale Ice Cream	Ricotta, Pistachio & Sour Cherry Gelato
Meat Product of the Year	Brownings the Bakers	Kilmarnock Pie
Grocery Product of the Year	east PIZZAS	Topped Spicy Pizza
Artisan Product of the Year	Salar Smokehouse	Flaky Smoked Salmon
Healthy or Free From Product of the Year	Bon Accord Soft Drinks	Rhubarb Soda
Bakery Product of the Year	S. Collins & Son	Sausage Roll
Fish & Seafood Product of the Year	Salar Smokehouse	Flaky Smoked Salmon
Scotch Brand Product of the Year	Edgefield Craft Butchers	Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle
Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year)	Howies Restaurants
Food & Drink Campaign of the Year	Mackie’s of Scotland	Full Cream Ahead Campaign
Young Talent of the Year	Jackton Distillery	Jaynie Kean
Business Innovation of the Year	Vanilla Labs
Sustainable Business of the Year	Dear Green
Employer of the Year	Bidfood Scotland
Food Tourism Business of the Year	Rae’s
Growth Business of the Year	Duncan Farms
Best for Scottish (Multiple Business of the Year)	Brakes Scotland, a Sysco company
Product of the Year	Edgefield Craft Butchers	Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle