The best food and drink themed events to check out during the Edinburgh Festival 2019

From kid's shows to comedy, here are the best food and drink themed events to check out during this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Published 31st Jul 2019
Updated 31 st Jul 2019

A Dram is Worth a Thousand Words

Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Where: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Venue 182), 28 Queen Street, EH2 1JX

When: August 1st-31st

Genre: whisky tasting

What: If you are a fan of whisky then there really are few better places in the capital to visit than the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and during the festival, their Queen Street premises will be hosting a three dram tutored whisky tasting like no other, in the company of one of their knowledgeable brand ambassadors.

Barney's Brewery Tour and Walkabout

Where: Summerhall

When: Aug 3-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26

Genre: Site-Specific tour and talk

What: Get a behind-the-scenes look at their intimate little brewery before enjoying a walking tour delivered by the award-winning ScotBeer Tours. Discover the history of Scotland through beer and stay to socialise with your new friends.

Bart Freebairn: Maximum Delicious

Edinburgh’s Kilted Donuts are popping-up at Bonnie & Wild Food Hall for Easter

Where: Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88)

When: Aug 1-11, 13-25

Genre: Stand-Up

What: Comedian Bart Freebairn presents his very funny stand-up comedy show about food.

Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show

https://twitter.com/Rachey_Pachey/status/1156493804200964097

Why do we eat fish on Good Friday? Christian meat abstinence explained - and recipes for fish and chips at home

Where: Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

When: Jul 31 Aug 1-12, 14-18, 20-26

Genre: Theatre

What: The 14th year for this festival staple sees guests enjoy three delicious daily rotating "menus" of 10-15 minute comedies, eccentricity and mini-drama - all served up with free fresh coffee/tea, croissant and strawberry.

Breakfast Plays: The Future Is [...]

Edinburgh hotel named best in Scotland for afternoon tea at national awards

Where: Traverse Theatre (Venue 15)

When: Aug 13-18, 20-25

Genre: Theatre

What: Four new plays from four of the most exciting emergent women writers in Scottish theatre. Kick- start your day with these script-in-hand readings and enjoy a breakfast roll with your ticket.

Burgerz

Where: Traverse Theatre (Venue 15)

When: Aug 1-4, 6-11, 13-18, 20-25

Genre: Theatre

What: After someone threw a burger at them and shouted a transphobic slur, performance artist Travis Alabanza became obsessed with burgers. How they are made, how they feel and smell. How they travel through the air. How the mayonnaise feels on your skin. This is the climax of their obsession: exploring how trans bodies survive and how, by them reclaiming an act of violence, we can address our own complicity.

Cauliflower

Where: PBH's Free Fringe @ Bar Bados Complex (Venue 32)

When: Aug 3-13, 15-20, 22-24

Genre: Theatre, Comedy,Spoken Word

What: Ellie is twenty-three and feeding herself is a minefield. This comedic solo show blends storytelling, spoken word and music, exploring food, growing up and our relationships with our mums.

Charles Maclean Whisky Masterclass

Where: The A Club at the Merchants Hall (Venue 112)

When: Aug 17

Genre: Tasting (18+)

What: A Whisky Masterclass with the legendary Charles MacLean who has been researching and writing about whisky for over 35 years. Your chance to learn from a whisky legend, and to taste a selection of Scottish whiskies.

Chocolate 

Where: Assembly Rooms (Venue 20)

When: Aug 1-6, 8-11, 13-18, 20-24

Genre: Dance Physical Theatre and Circus

What: A "rich dark chocolatey story" from FeastFest and the creators of Back of the Bus, with dance, theatre and live music.

"Immerse yourself in cacao, conflicting desires, and wild sensory dance."

Craig and Darren Give Away Free Nachos

Where: Taco Mazama

Genre: Comedy

What: Craig and Darren are some nice boys who hit the jackpot when their venue agreed to let them give away free nachos at every performance they do. Do you like them now?

Edinburgh Gin Afternoon Tea

Where: The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant (Venue 337)

When: Aug 2-25

Genre: Food and gin tasting

What: Relax with a refreshing Edinburgh Gin and tonic with The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant's iconic afternoon tea, specially enhanced with hints of Edinburgh Gin's sensational liqueurs against the beautiful backdrop of Princes Street Gardens.

Encyclopedia of Kitchen Comedy Essays by Larry Tadlock

Where: PBH's Free Fringe @ Natural Food Kafe (Venue 415)

When: Aug 3-24

Genre: Spoken word comedy

What: Essays about growing up a Texan cattle-raising milk-drinking gay baptist, to become a barefoot plant-based health coach. From zen monk, to theatre in Boulder, to grass-eating stand-up in Hollywood.

Faulty Towers the Dining Experience

Where: Imagination Workshop (Venue 119)

When: Aug 1-2, 4-26

Genre: Theatre, interactive experience

What: Join Basil, Sybil and Manuel as they serve yet more laughs and a three-course meal. This is the original, internationally acclaimed show that’s 70 per cent improvised, highly interactive, completely immersive and ‘outrageously funny’

Fawlty Towers Live Themed Dinner Show

Where: The Highland Suite (Venue 453)

When: Aug 2-13, 15-26

Genre: Comedy, Cabaret

What: The notorious dining room at the Fawlty Towers Hotel opens its doors to the public for a night of comedy cabaret based on the original TV series' scripts.

Feast 

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Summerhall (Venue 26)

When: Aug 6-11, 13-18

Genre: Dance Physical Theatre and Circus

What: One-woman show about food, evolution and consumerism. With cascades of milk, splashes of raw meat and a dash of multimedia, Feast is an hour of Dionysian anarchy the like of which you won’t have tasted before. Part of FeastFest.

Feast of Fools

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Scottish Storytelling Centre

When: August 1st – 18th

Genre: Children's Show

What: Join storyteller Daniel Serridge at his interactive dinner table of foolishness as he regales you with tales of disgusting banquets, salubrious suppers and measly meals. Prepare to get wined, dined and unrefined.

George Egg: Movable Feast

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Assembly George Square Gardens (Venue 3)

When: Aug 1-11, 13-25

Genre: Stand-up, food tasting

What: More inspiration, more instruction, more ingredients. Brand-new comedy from the stand-up who cooks. In this show he's on the road so it's time for planes, trains and automob-meals. "Brilliantly funny" - Jay Rayner, Guardian.

Louis Prima and Keely Smith – Dinner and Show

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Valvona & Crolla (Venue 67)

When: Aug 4, 11, 18, 25

Genre: Swing, Storytelling

What: An Philip Contini and Olivia Contini and the Be Happy Band cover Louis Prima and Keely Smith in this delightful cabaret show with three course dinner.

Only Fools the Cushty Dining Experience

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Imagination Workshop

When: Aug 1-6, 8-13, 15-20, 23-26

Genre: Interactive, Comedy

What: Making its Fringe debut. Join Del Boy and co in this ‘dining experience to be reckoned with’. With one-off improvisation, an original script and side-splitting humour, this is ‘hugely entertaining’

Teapot Dram Afternoon Tea

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Cannonball Restaurant & Bar

When: Aug 2, 4-9, 11-16, 18-23

Genre: Tasting

What: For the first time you can enjoy Glengoyne Distillery's famous Teapot Dram with a delicious afternoon tea served in one of the oldest buildings of Edinburgh's Old Town.

The Gin Show 

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Hill Street Theatre (Venue 41)

When: Aug 2-25

Genre: Cabaret and Variety

What: Following on from their success last year, the gin-tasting show is back with comedy and songs interspersing our three free gin tastings. It's a great way to end your Fringe evening.

The Scottish Gantry Rum and Whisky Sessions

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: AKVA

When: Aug 16 (whisky) and Aug 18 (rum)

Genre: Tasting

What: Six fantastic drams (25ml), lyrical and entertaining history, live acoustic music, expert knowledge, relaxing atmosphere, choice of two sessions and perfect pairing nibbles

The Thinking Drinkers: Heroes of Hooch

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302)

When: Jul 31 Aug 1-11, 13-25

Genre: Interactive, comedy

What: A hilarious, intoxicating look at history’s greatest drinkers, from Napoleon to Norm from Cheers. Learn loads, laugh loads and get five free drinks.

Two Guys, Three Drams: The Ultimate Live Blues and Whisky

Edinburgh Festival food and drink events

Where: theSpace @ Venue45

When: Aug 8-17

Genre: Blues, Tasting

What: There are few things in life that go better together than blues and whisky. So join duo The Rhythm and Booze Project as they play a set of their stomping blues music, serve you three superb single malt scotch whiskies, and teach you a thing or two about appreciating the finest drink ever made.

Vibe Revue Supper Club at The Grange

Where: The Grange Club (Venue 481)

When: Aug 2-15

Genre: Cabaret and Variety

What: Dress up for a special night in trendy Stockbridge – a jazzy vibe of live music, tasteful comedy and dancing to DJs. Supper included.

 

Location:none
Driven by a passion for all things drinks-related, Sean writes for The Scotsman extensively on the subject. He can also sometimes be found behind the bar at the world famous Potstill bar in Glasgow where he continues to enhance his whisky knowledge built up over 10 years advising customers from all over the world on the wonders of our national drink. Recently, his first book was published. Dubbed Gin Galore, it explores Scotland's best gins and the stories behind those that make them.
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