Menu for Friday the 17th of October 
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding.
What’s on the menu today:
Root vegetable soup
Chicken pasta bake
Veggie pasta bake
Garden salad
Carrot cake
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!
The competition to be CAMRA’s cream of the crop in the prestigious National Pub of the Year 2025 competition is hotting up and Staggs in Musselburgh, a previous title holder, has once again reached the final stages.
The Scottish pub has already won the title before in 1998 and was a worthy runner-up in 2018.
Staggs is a superb pub run by the same family since 1858 with a traditional bar and snug, wooden floors, wood panelling and mirrors from now closed local breweries. The pub’s interior is of historic interest with an attractive Victorian era gantry topped with old spirit caskbarrels. It has a range of regularly changing cask beers and has recently featured in the hit Netflix series Department Q.
After months of rigorous judging, just four pubs remain in the competition. They will now battle it out to claim the National Pub of the Year title, the Campaign’s biggest award and one of the highest accolades a UK pub can win.
All the super regional finalists have proved to be exceptional. The final round of judging is now underway with the winner set to be revealed at the start of 2026.
Beating thousands of entries and showcasing their commitment to quality and their communities, the pubs have been judged on their atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and, most importantly, quality cask beer, real cider and perry.
While this is fantastic news, CAMRA is warning pubs need specific support as they continue to face their toughest year yet.
The consumer group is calling on the Scottish Government to radically reform the unfair business rates system which unfairly penalises pubs, and wants the UK Government to take action on VAT, energy bills, employer national insurance costs and duty served on beer and cider served in pubs.
Speaking from Staggs, Katie McKenzie, a co-owner of the pub, said: “Nigel, Hayley and I are absolutely delighted to be in the final four of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition.
“It is a testament to our hard-working staff, the breweries who supply us with fantastic beer and the community who drink and socialise with us. Staggs is a special place to many and we are grateful to everyone who plays a part in making us a community and more than just a pub.”
Stuart McMahon, Director of CAMRA Scotland, said: “Staggs is a fantastic historic pub tucked away in a quiet corner of Musselburgh and has been run by the same family for almost 170 years.
“Nigel Finlay, owner, assisted by his two daughters, is passionate about the quality of the cask beers they serve and customers are always guaranteed a warm welcome, enjoying their beers whilst viewing the many historic mirrors and previous CAMRA awards that are on display.”
Co-op is bringing its special blend of co-operation and community to Edinburgh on Thursday 16th October with the pop up of the Co-op Corner Café.
Hosted at Coffee Saints on Little King Street, the event invites members and the wider public to discover how co-operation can help revitalise local high streets and strengthen community spirit.
Part of Co-op’s On Your Corner, In Your Corner campaign, the event will be packed with fun and engaging activities, designed to spark conversations about the benefits of co-operatives and the role of local businesses in creating thriving neighbourhoods and helping the people that live there thrive too.
Open to both members and non-members, there will be the opportunity to understand more about the wide-ranging social, economic and ownership benefits of membership and how it shapes the future of the Co-op.
Guests can enjoy free Fairtrade tea and coffee, sample and feedback on new food innovations and even enter to win tickets to a hamper.
The event will also spotlight local and community-owned businesses including Scotmid Co-op, West Granton Housing Co-op and West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust, showing how businesses built on shared values can deliver positive change.
Co-op’s own team members will be in attendance, including Jess Clarke, Democratic Services & Engagement Manager. Jess said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting our members and the wider community in Edinburgh.
“Being at the heart of local life is a real privilege and we want to show how co-operation can help address some of the challenges facing high streets today. It’s sure to be a fun and thought-provoking day – and a great chance for members to tell us how we can do even more to support Edinburgh’s communities.”
On Your Corner, In Your Corner is part of Co-op’s Social Value Strategy – a commitment led by 6.9 million active member-owners to stand firm on climate, opportunity and community.
Since 2016, the Co-op Local Community Fund has shared over £480,000 with 216 community projects across the City of Edinburgh, supporting people to connect, access opportunities and thrive together.
Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, with its history dating back 180 years. Its members own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation.
Co-op is on track to its ambition of growing to eight million members by 2030.
Further information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available at coop.co.uk/membership
For more information about the pop-up cafés and to find local events, visit coopmemberevents.uk
Aldi is rolling out new dedicated reduction zones in stores across Edinburgh, making it even easier for shoppers to find fresh food bargains.
These clearly marked areas will feature discounted bread, fresh produce, and other perishable items nearing their use-by date – helping customers to save even more money while reducing food waste.
The move is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to making high-quality food more affordable, while tackling unnecessary waste in its operations.
Items are discounted throughout the day, offering shoppers the chance to save on products that might otherwise go unsold.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “Our customers already know they can rely on us to provide unbeatable value, but our new reduction areas will make it even easier to pick up a last-minute bargain.
“By creating dedicated reduction zones in store we’re helping point shoppers towards quality food at cheaper prices, all while cutting down on food waste.”
Aldi separately partners with community giving platform Neighbourly to donate surplus food from all its UK stores every day.
The supermarket also works with Too Good To Go to sell Surprise Bags that contain a range of Aldi products that are approaching their sell-by date.
A team of food researchers who developed an innovative new replacement for palm fat in the bakery industry has received a welcome funding boost from the Scottish Government.
The move will see the team progress commercial opportunities with new industry partners to provide healthy sustainable solutions for the food industry, and a reduced reliance on the use of palm fat in the bakery industry.
The researchers at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh developed Palm-Alt, a new ingredient which replaces palm shortening, margarine and butter in a variety of bakery applications. Palm-Alt is considerably lower in saturated fat and carbon emissions when compared with palm, butter or margarine.
Palm shortening is widely used in a vast amount of baked goods such as biscuits, cakes and pastries, but palm cultivation is linked with tropical rainforest destruction.
The University’s new replacement ingredient could offer significant solutions for the food industry allowing manufacturers to satisfy increasing consumer demand for tasty, lower fat, healthier food products, whilst reducing destruction of the world’s rainforests.
Due to its composition, high yield and low production costs, the global food industry has become dependent on palm shortening, resulting in its over-cultivation. Its high saturated fat content, which allows it to remain solid at room temperature, has proven crucial to the industrial bakery sector.
The new ingredient, which is a clean label blend of rapeseed oil, fibres and proteins, can be produced locally and at a global scale. During its initial trial period, the University’s research team demonstrated that when Palm-Alt was used as a replacement in baked goods, products such as cakes, biscuits and bread maintained their texture, flavour and colour.
When news about its initial success and its health and sustainable credentials went viral in 2023, there was a huge surge of interest from food manufacturers across the globe, all keen to know more about this exciting new replacement product and its potential to positively impact the food industry.
More recently, the QMU team have moved testing out of the University’s labs, with successful trialling of Palm-Alt in industrial manufacturing settings, and with excellent results when tested as an ingredient in partners’ own products. The research team are currently in commercialisation and licensing discussions of PalmAlt with a number of interested UK food manufacturers.
A new funding boost of £239k from the Scottish Government is now allowing the team to progress the development of an extended range of Palm-Alt to enable further applications. This work is set to include new collaborations with food industry partners ranging from ingredient producers to finished food product manufacturers from across the food industry.
The innovative new palm substitute has been developed by Dr Julien Lonchamp, Reader in Food Science, and Catriona Liddle, Head of the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at QMU.
Catriona explained: “We set out to develop a new ingredient that would not only be better for the environment but also healthier than palm fat and current alternatives.
“Our trials at the University and now in industry settings have demonstrated that Palm-Alt works successfully as a replacement for palm-based shortening in baked goods.
“With up to 25% less fat and 89% less saturated fat, it is healthier, and as it can be produced locally, it could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the impact of food miles and deforestation of global rainforests associated with palm production.”
Catriona continued: “After seven years of research and development it is exciting to see the level of interest and enthusiasm from the food industry and our current partners. We are delighted that the Scottish Government is recognising the commercial potential of Palm-Alt as an effective replacement ingredient which offers significant health and sustainability benefits.”
Dr Julien Lonchamp confirmed: “Today, the focus on nutrition and on identifying and developing more sustainable food and food sources has never been higher.
“This Proof of Concept funding from the Scottish Government will allow us to continue our work in commercialising Palm-Alt, seeking out new applications and solutions for the food industry in, for example, the use of Palm-Alt in pastry and confectionery products.
“It will help bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and commercial applications, which is essential in helping bring Palm-Alt to the global marketplace.”
The research team are currently being supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation service at the University of Edinburgh, who are managing the patent and commercial development of Palm-Alt, including engaging in license discussions with a number of interested UK food manufacturers.
Queen Margaret University has been carrying out commercial trials at Opportunity North East (ONE) SeedPod, Scotland’s dedicated food and drink innovation hub in Aberdeen.
Gary McDonald, Senior Market Development Manager at ONE, said: “Delighted to see this project come to fruition at ONE SeedPod.
“The team at the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation have been such a joy to work with on what is such an innovative project for the industry.”
COMMUNITY LUNCH – RETURNS TODAY!
Menu for Friday the 3rd of October
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you tomorrow. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding. What’s on the menu tomorrow:
Roast pork with parsley sauce
Cauliflower cheese (v)
Herby vegetables
Spiced apple cake with custard
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!
EDINBURGH COCKTAIL WEEK 3 – 12 OCTOBER 2025
Wonky fruit, farm-to-glass gin and border-crossing spirits; guilt-free cocktails are set to shake up Edinburgh Cocktail Week this October, with 100% electric train operator Lumo helping festival-goers raise a glass to sustainability and arrive smoothly not shaken.
Running from 3rd to the 12th October 2025, the UK’s biggest cocktail festival is set to welcome more than 25,000 visitors across the city.
This year, sustainability is firmly on the menu thanks to Lumo, the official travel partner of the festival, which offers relaxed, 100% electric train services between Edinburgh, Newcastle, London and, from December, Glasgow Queen Street. Thousands of revellers can swap motorways and short-haul flights for a greener journey direct into the heart of the celebration.
Lumo will also host a special sustainable cocktail reception during the week, showcasing innovative suppliers including:
To mark the partnership, passengers on a recent Lumo journey between Newcastle and Edinburgh were surprised with cocktails and mocktails mixed onboard by an expert mixologist, bringing a taste of the festival to the 125mph train service.
Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access (Lumo), said: “We’re proud to be back supporting Edinburgh Cocktail Week for 2025, not just as the official travel partner but as a champion of sustainability and collaboration.
“Festivals like this showcase the very best of Scotland’s hospitality, tourism and creativity, and we want to make sure people can enjoy them in the greenest way possible.
“From our 100 percent electric trains to our partnerships with socially conscious suppliers, Lumo is committed to making sustainable choices more accessible, enjoyable and inspiring.”
Gary Anderson, Managing Director of Edinburgh Cocktail Week, added: “This year’s festival promises to be bigger, greener and more inclusive than ever, with more than 120 bars, masterclasses and pop-ups across the city.
“Having Lumo onboard as our official travel partner makes it easier than ever for cocktail lovers across the UK to be part of it without racking up an environmental hangover. I’m particularly excited about Lumo’s sustainable drinks reception, which brings together some brilliant suppliers from Scotland and beyond.”
Karina Sudenyte, Co-Founder and CMO of Flawsome! Drinks, said: “We’re very proud that our sustainable drinks are available for Lumo customers and particularly delighted to be supporting this fabulous event in Edinburgh.
“We’ll make sure that the cocktails on offer will not only be delicious, but also crafted from wonky and surplus fruit to prevent food waste.”
Elaine Borland, Owner of Blowin’ Free Gin, said: “This is an unmissable opportunity for a small business like mine.
“The Lumo team have been hugely supportive, and I can’t wait to see our gin showcased at one of Scotland’s biggest celebrations.”
Jordan Rutherford, Spirit Sales Manager at Ad Gefrin, commented: “To be part of Edinburgh Cocktail Week is unbelievable for us.
“We’re Northumberland’s first legal whisky distillery in over 200 years, and working with Lumo gives us a fantastic platform to share our story.”
With guilt-free cocktails and guilt-free travel, Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 proves that the best journeys and the best experiences can go hand in hand with protecting the planet.
Lumo is also proud to announce that it’s the prestigious sponsor of the Net Zero Champion Award at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, which take place in February 2026.
The Capital’s finest pubs, bars and hospitality stars were celebrated last night (Monday, 22 September 2025) at the Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball, where the winners of the 2025 Edinburgh Bar Awards were revealed in front of a packed house of 300 at The Biscuit Factory.
The awards, voted on by the public and Edinburgh’s bar community, recognised the very best of the Capital’s world-class drinks scene, across 11 categories from cocktail creativity to pub culture, rising talent, and the people making it all happen behind the stick.
Top cocktail bar, Panda & Sons, were the night’s big winner, scooping Best Bar sponsored by Schweppes and Best Bar Team sponsored by Monkey Shoulder.
Leith-based Nauticus took home Best Pub, while Uno Mas was crowned Best Late Night Venue. Neighbourhood favourite, Old Pal, picked up the top prize in the Best Restaurant Bar category, with team member Freya Kemp named Rising Star.
The Legend Award, recognising outstanding contribution to Scotland’s hospitality scene, was presented to Siân Buchan by Backs! Hospitality.
Speaking about the winners, David Smillie, co-founder of Backs! Hospitality and organiser of the Edinburgh Bar Awards and Bartenders’ Ball, said: “Last night was incredible, congratulations to all our winners, finalists and everyone who came out to celebrate the Capital’s licensed trade.
“From iconic venues to rising stars, the winners represent the best of the best, the people and places that make this scene truly world-class.”
The second Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball brought together over 300 of the city’s hospitality community for a night of complimentary drinks, food, and entertainment, celebrating a city that continues to set the standard for hospitality on the global stage.
2025 Edinburgh Bar Awards Winners
Best Bar (sponsored by Schweppes)
Winner – Panda & Sons
Highly Commended – Hey Palu
Best Pub
Winner – Nauticus
Highly Commended – The Mother Superior
Best Restaurant Bar (sponsored by Liberty Wines)
Winner – Old Pal
Highly Commended – Little Capo
Best Bar Team (sponsored by Monkey Shoulder)
Winner – Panda & Sons
Highly Commended – The Cocktail Geeks
Best Late Night Venue (sponsored by Red Bull)
Winner – Uno Mas
Highly Commended – Nightcap
Unsung Hero (sponsored by Jubel)
Winner – Cam Chittleborough
Highly Commended – Sam Baxendale
Rising Star (sponsored by Bacardi)
Winner – Freya Kemp – Old Pal
Highly Commended – Emily Weston – The Cocktail Geeks
Best Shake (sponsored by Royal Mile Trade)
Winner – Logan Pope
Highly Commended – Saul Lavelle
Best Cocktail (sponsored by Marie Brizzard)
Winner – Yuzu Margarita – Hey Palu/Chancho
Highly Commended – Porridge Colada – Nauticus
Social Star (sponsored by Atomic10)
Winner – Ross Lawrie – Schweppes
Highly Commended – Groundskeeper Fanny (Murray Tait)
Far Side of the Bar (sponsored by Dunns)
Winner – Connie Macdonald – Port of Leith
Highly Commended – Kaitlin Wilkes – The Ada Coleman Project
Legend
Winner – (sponsored by Backs! Hospitality) Siân Buchan
Follow on Instagram: Instagram.com/theedinburghbartendersball
Livingston Designer Outlet, Scotland’s largest designer outlet, is thrilled to announce that bold new culinary destination, Hamilton & Brown, will be arriving at the centre this autumn. Set to tantalise the tastebuds of West Lothian, the new delicatessen and tasting bar will bring an eclectic range of Scotland’s finest producers to residents and visitors alike.
Born from the rich heritage of David Stein Butchers and inspired by a legacy of over 40 years in premium Scottish meat and dining, Hamilton & Brown will offer an elevated gastronomic experience.
From hand-selected artisan cheeses to locally sourced wines and rare single malts, every element will be curated with precision and passion. Guests will be able to dine-in at a stunning tasting counter designed to bring people closer to the craft, whether indulging in a perfectly paired cheese and wine board, or a dram of whisky with expertly carved meats.
For the meat connoisseur, a dedicated rotisserie and deli-style counter will serve succulent roasted chicken, slow-cooked pork, and gourmet cuts. All will be prepared with the same care and expertise that has defined David Stein’s award-winning reputation for decades, promising depth, flavour, and perfection.
For those with a sweet tooth, the dessert counter is a showstopper overflowing with decadent patisserie creations, elegant tarts, rich cakes, and irresistible handmade treats. This is not just another food hall it’s a destination!
The arrival of Hamilton & Brown follows the success of Cafebar 1962, also part of the David Stein group, which opened at the centre last summer and has proven to be a hit with visitors seeking a leisurely lunch or delicious dinner or quality cocktails and entertainment.
David Stein, founder of Hamilton & Brown, said: “With the success of our hospitality ventures, including five unique restaurant experiences across Scotland and the North of England, launching at Livingston Designer Outlet was a natural next step.
“This is a tribute to our roots in West Lothian, but also a bold step into the future of Scottish food culture.”
Michelle Whitelaw, Centre Director at Livingston Designer Outlet commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming another David Stein opening to Livingston Designer Outlet. Hamilton & Brown will bring a truly exciting new gastronomic offering to our visitors.
“It is also a wonderful opportunity to support Scottish produce, which we know is important to the local community. We look forward to seeing the doors open and to enjoying a taste of Hamilton & Brown for ourselves!”
For all the information on Livingston Designer Outlet, please visit the website here:
The countdown is officially on for one of the biggest nights in Scotland’s hospitality calendar – the Edinburgh Bar Awards 2025, as the longlist of nominees is revealed.
Now in its second year in the Capital, the awards will culminate in the Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball, taking over The Biscuit Factory on Monday 22nd September 2025. Promising an end-of-summer blowout like no other, the Ball will bring together Edinburgh’s bar community for an unforgettable night of cocktails, music, food, and celebration.
This year, more than 150 bars, bartenders, and hospitality stars have made the longlist across 11 categories, following an overwhelming public response to nominations. From iconic cocktail institutions and legendary pubs to fresh talent shaking up the city, the longlist is a true showcase of the people and places that make Edinburgh one of the world’s leading drinking destinations.
And now, it’s time to vote. The longlist will be narrowed down to five finalists per category, with results decided by a 50/50 public and trade vote. The final winners will be revealed live at the Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball.
Every vote counts – nominations close on 31st August, so get voting for your favourite before it’s too late.
Speaking about the longlist, David Smillie, co-founder and organiser of the Bar Awards and Bartender’s Ball, said: “Edinburgh is home to some of the best bars and bartenders in the world, and this year’s Edinburgh Bar Awards longlist proves it.
“This city’s talent, creativity and community spirit is unmatched, and the Bartenders’ Ball is our chance to celebrate that together in style. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to The Biscuit Factory this September for what promises to be the ultimate industry party.”
Tickets for the Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball, priced at just £35, are on sale now.
The event includes complimentary drinks, food, entertainment, and a night of industry celebration.
2025 Categories & Longlist
(alphabetical order within each category)
Best Bar
4042 • Bittersweet • Bramble • Chancho • Dragonfly • Hey Palu • Lucky Liquor • Old Pal • Panda & Sons • The Bonnington • The Cocktail Geeks • The Powder Room • The Raging Bull • The Volley Leith • Uno Mas
Best Pub
Athletic Arms (Diggers) • Bennets of Morningside • The Black Cat • The Bonnington • The Finch • The Golden Rule • The Hanging Bat • Joker & The Thief • Kay’s Bar • Malt & Hops • The Mother Superior • Nauticus • The Oxford Bar • St Vincent Bar • Teuchters (Landing & West End)
Best Restaurant Bar
The Alchemist • Bittersweet • Bonnie & Wild • Copper Blossom • The Devil’s Advocate • Hawksmoor • Leith Depot • Little Capo • Lucky Yu • Old Pal • Paradise Palms • Smith & Gertrude • Tipo • The Bonnington • Voyage of Buck
Best Bar Team
Bramble • The Bonnington • The Cocktail Geeks • The Mother Superior • Hey Palu • Lucky Liquor • Nauticus • Nightcap • Old Pal • Panda & Sons • The Powder Room • The Raging Bull • The Three Sisters • Voodoo Rooms • West Port Oracle
Best Late Night Venue
4042 • Banshee Labyrinth • Liquid Rooms • The Jazz Bar • The Mother Superior • Nightcap • NQ64 • Paradise Palms • The Raging Bull • Sneaky Pete’s • Stramash • The Street • Tonic • Uno Mas • The Voodoo Rooms
Unsung Hero
Adam Fraser Gray (Herman) • Anthony Crowther • Ben Leslie • Cam Chittleborough • Cullen Hutchison • Dom Cummings • Fiona Hamilton • Gavin Whyte • Jane Ross • Kaelum-Ian Mullen • Kristaps Baranovs • Logan Pope • Mon Nelson • Sam Baxendale • Sian Buchan
Rising Star
Cal Lister • Cameron Finlay • Emily Weston • Flora Luckman • Freja Kemp • Jack Smith • Ketan Mackenzie • Levi Reed • Logan Pope • Noah French • Pierre Martin • Saul Lavelle • Walt Webster-Curran
Best Shake
Alessia Impedovo • Ben Jones • Cameron Chittleborough • Connor Bleakley • Fowwaz Ansari • Jake Harris • Jay Braby • Kielan Davidson • Logan Pope • Pierre Martin • Sam Baxendale • Sam Milne • Saul Lavelle • Stuart McBain • Toby Peters
Best Cocktail
Baltic Bru • Bramble • Coco Colada • Feta Mezcal Negroni • Indominous • Make Love Not Warcraft • Paper Dragon • The Perfect Pear • Port Hayward • Porridge Colada • Spicy Peach Margarita • Spring Fizz • Stinger • Sweet Manhattan • Yuzu Margarita
Social Star
Ben Greig • Camille Le Courtois • Carrie Smith • Chloe Archibald-Ansari • Chloe Yeung • Gracie Goggins • Groundskeeper (Murray Tait) • Kaelum Mullen • Lara Sinclair • Millie Harley • Rachel Dixon • Ross Lawrie • Ryan Snedden • Tasha Corfield • Cal Lister
Far Side of the Bar
Adam Murphy • Ashton Williamson • Connie Macdonald • Damian Koval • Dan Bartley • Dana Crombie • Ellie Raeside • Josh Knox • Kaitlin Wilkes • Mike McGinty • Niamh Savage • Ross Lawrie • Ruth Mason • Ryan Snedden • Stevie Aitken
The Edinburgh Bar Awards take place at The Edinburgh Bartender’s Ball at The Biscuit Factory on Monday, 22nd September 2025. Tickets include complimentary drinks, food, and entertainment, and cost £35.
Vote now or buy tickets from https://backshospitality.com/.
Follow on Instagram: Instagram.com/theedinburghbartendersball
