Scotland’s first restaurant to help the homeless opens in Edinburgh this weekend

Setting out to prove that Home really is where the heart is, a new restaurant which aims to help support the homeless opens in Edinburgh this weekend.

Published 22nd Sep 2016
Updated 8 th Aug 2023

Social entrepreneur Josh Littlejohn, best known for setting up the Social Bite chain of sandwich shops, and seasoned restauranteur Dean Gassabi of the well-known group of Maison Bleue restaurants came together to set up Home, which will be located in the west end of the city on Queensferry Street.

The Social Bite/Maison Bleue collaboration will open to the public for the first time on Saturday (September 24th), serving up a menu of French and Scottish cuisine. It will be run on a not-for-profit basis with all profits going to charity.

Alongside a core professional staff, Home will provide training and employment programmes for members of the Social Bite Academy, the charity’s four year, paid course for homeless people.

Diners will also be encouraged to ‘Pay Forward’ meals meaning each Monday afternoon from 3pm-5pm, the restaurant will then open for a special service to feed the homeless with those meals.

Dean Gassabi said: “I had already secured these premises for a new Maison Bleue restaurant when Josh came to me with the proposal for Home and it was such a fantastic idea we agreed to go ahead immediately.

“This venture with Social Bite is a fantastic way for us to put something back, including helping the homeless community.”

While 50 per cent of the profits will go directly to Social Bite, the other 50 per cent will support other charities and good causes chosen by the staff.

Home is supported by an impressive list of leading lights in the Scottish restaurant scene, with board members including Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart, David Wither (Tigerlily, Montpeliers, Ricks, Indigo Yard) and Simon Littlejohn (Jam Jar, Mustard Seed, The Kitchen).

Josh Littlejohn of Social Bite said: “Home is a unique place and we’re incredibly excited to be opening up the doors this weekend. It’s a place where you can get a first rate meal at the same time as helping some of the most vulnerable people in society. It’s a natural evolution of what we’ve been doing at Social Bite and I hope people support it in the same way.”

With 70 covers for lunch and dinner, the restaurant will offer an eclectic Auld Alliance mix of French and Scottish cuisine, similar in style and value to the that offered by Maison Bleue at its existing restaurants in the city’s Victoria Street and Moringside Road.

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