8 of the best food and drink festivals coming soon to Scotland

Fancy trying some new cocktails, finding out more about your favourite gin or whisky, or celebrating seasonal Scottish fare?

Published 17th Jul 2018
Updated 21 st Sep 2023

Make the most of what's left of the summer days by visiting one of these food and drink festivals.

From whisky and gin to vegan grub and a charity beer festival, there's loads to look forward to as the weather gets cooler.

Spirit of Alba Gin and Whisky Festival

(25 August, The Kirkintilloch Town Hall, Glasgow G66 1DH)

Tickets: £25 per session

festivals

Picture: Spirit of Alba Facebook

The inaugural Spirit of Alba Gin and Whisky Festival will play host to over 48 exhibitors of all things whisky, gin and Scottish this August.

Guests can look forward to a dram or two, as well as a chance to try rum, vodka, craft beer and gin or tuck into some sweet treats from the popular Highland Chocolatier.

Edinburgh Vegan Festival

(19 August, BT Murrayfield Stadium, Roseburn Street, EH12 5PJ)

Tickets: £2 in advance, £3 on the door

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb9MVzHDc5X/?taken-by=veganfestivaluk

Vegans or those curious about adopting a plant-based diet will be glad to hear that a dedicated vegan festival is returning to the capital.

Free samples, discounts, food tasting, cruelty-free vegan stalls including chocolate, cheese and cake, as well as talks and demos can all be enjoyed on the day.

G2Gin Festival

(14-15 September, Trinity Hall, 164 Holburn Street, Aberdeen, AB10 6DA)

Tickets: £30

festivals

Picture: G2Gin Festival Facebook

With 25 different gin companies set to attend, this festival one not to be missed by gin lovers.

Attendees with have the opportunity to sample a range of gins, find out more about their favourite tipple in the masterclasses and buy a bottle or two to take home.

There will also be a raffle prize draw offering a chance to win a bottle of gin.

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The festival is split into three sessions - 6-10pm on Friday 14, 1-5pm and 6-10pm on Saturday 15 - with a masterclass after each one.

Edinburgh Coffee Festival

(6 October, Corn Exchange, 11 New Market Road, EH14 1RJ)

Tickets: £9

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhqzExMgid6/?taken-by=edin_coffee_fest

Back for it's fourth year, the Edinburgh Coffee Festival is set to celebrate Scotland' vibrant coffee scene.

Caffeine lovers can look forward to demonstrations, interactive workshops, an array of coffee-related products and loads of excellent java as well as a brew or two.

Edinburgh-based Vegware will furnish all exhibitors with fully compostable cups and dispose of waste sustainably while reusable products specialists Frank Green will be offering their stylish SmartCups at a discounted price with each ticket purchase – so attendees can continue to look after the planet with every coffee and ensure the Festival is a zero waste event.

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Beer Makes Glasgow

(24-26 August, Drygate Brewery,  85 Drygate, Glasgow G4 0UT)

Tickets: £6.50

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Picture: Beer Makes Glasgow Facebook

Tickets are now available to buy for this charitable beer festival, taking place in Glasgow in August.

Back for a second year, beer fans can enjoy a finding out more about their favourite or new breweries under the iconic Seven Peaks of Drygate Brewing Co.

With weekend sessions that include breweries such as Up Front, Dead End Brew Machine and Fyne Ales, it's a great way to get some friends together and enjoy a pint of two.

All tickets proceeds will go to the Drumchapel Food Bank.

Leith Chill Fest

2 August - 2 September

£5 per wristband

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlOEeMqBsj3/?taken-by=chillfestleith

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Launching on August 2nd, Leith Chill Fest is a vibrant celebratory festival of EH6’s thriving bar scene.

From then until September 2nd, Leith will become a cocktail village, with eighteen of the district’s top bars offering an array of incredible cocktails that capture the true flavour of Leith, for just £5 each with the purchase of a Chill Fest wristband.

Bars including Toast, Woodland Creatures, The Roseleaf, The Lioness of Leith, Finn & Bear and The Lord Nelson have all worked together to create an exciting programme for festival-goers to look forward to.

From Sofi’s ‘Tropical Leith’ to Malmaison’s ‘Leith’s A Peach’, there’s a colourful cocktail concoction guaranteed to tickle your fancy, whatever your tastes may be.

Summerfest @ the Chartroom

(11 August, Chartroom Kip Marina, Inverkip PA16 0BF)

Tickets: £25

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Picture: Summerfest @ the Chartroom Facebook

Enjoy a selection of over 25 craft drinks from across Scotland at this harbourside location.

Summer @ The Chartroom is a brand new festival, set to launch this August and welcome a range of producers to Inverkip Marina.

Located in the Chartroom restaurant, festival-goers can look forward to sampling gins, rums, vodkas and liqueurs as well as meeting the people behind the brands.

Tickets include a goody bag on arrival, souvenir glass and three tokens for 'perfect serve' drinks from any of the exhibitors.

The festival is from 1-8pm, with the bar open later so attendees can carry on sampling the drinks from the day.

Best of the West Festival

( 7, 8 and 9 September, Inveraray Castle, Inveraray PA32 8XE)

Tickets: from £14.50

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Picture: Best of the West (BOWFest) Facebook

This September sees the return of the popular Best of the West Festival, held in the grounds of Inveraray Castle.

The festival, now in its eight year, is a celebration of Scottish food, drink and music, and includes a dedicated west coast malt and gin offering, found in the Loch Fyne Whisky marquee.

Distilleries attending this year include: Arran, Auchentoshan, Ben Nevis, Caol Ila, Glen Scotia and Glengoyne.

The George Hotel in Iveraray will, once again, host the beer and cocktail bars.

There will also be stalls selling jewellery, furniture, clothes, textiles, art and gifts for those looking for a unique buy.

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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