A big shout out to the The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), which has transformed into Pleasance at EICC during the Fringe, and is partnering with an array of high-profile local businesses to create a dining and drinking hub in the heart of the city during August, to complement its stellar line up of world-renowned artists.
In collaboration with catering partner, Leith’s, the event catering division of Compass Scotland, the EICC will have a street food style offering, serving festival favourites, tacos, toasties and waffles. Toasties will be available throughout the day, with tacos and waffles available from 4pm. Toastie options include venison, haggis and masses of local cheese, while taco flavours include fish and plant-based, banana blossom. Waffles will be available with sweet and savoury toppings, including Cranachan, Biscoffee, and Blue cheese and fig.
The EICC is working with local partners, including Johnnie Walker, Cold Town Beer and The Little Parlour from South Queensferry, as well as Aperol and London Essence from further afield. The partners are working collaboratively, and the chef at the EICC has worked with Cold Town Beer and Johnnie Walker to create bespoke dips for the toasties, while London Essence has formulated a range of perfect serves with Johnnie Walker.
Johnnie Walker brings a modern whisky vibe to the venue. Visitors can enjoy Johnnie Walker’s ‘perfect serves’, Johnnie & Ginger (Johnnie Walker Black, London Essence Ginger Ale), Pina Colada Highball (Johnnie Walker Black Label, London Essence Roasted Pineapple Soda, Coconut Water & Lime) Brown Derby Highball (Johnnie Walker Black, London Essence Grapefruit Soda, Honey Syrup). Meanwhile, Aperol is bringing the outside inside, with a Spritz Garden.
Cold Town Beer is providing freshly brewed local beer, aligning perfectly with the EICC’s sustainable approach to hospitality, as the beer is brewed just half a mile away at the Grassmarket venue – keeping travel extremely low and championing local supply. Cold Town Beer is also working with the EICC creating ‘reverse stencilling’ to promote the partnership, getting the details out to audiences through the use of biodegradable paint on surrounding paving slabs.
In addition, Cold Town Beer will be hosting “meet the brewer” sessions on Thursday 8, 15 and 22 August from 7.45pm to 8.45pm and Sunday 11 August from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, allowing visitors to sample the beers and ask some burning questions.
The line-up of shows at the venue for 2024 includes the return of sell-out shows from 2023, Trainspotting Live and Sh!t-faced Shakespeare, along with Italian illusionist, Arturo Brachetti with SOLO – a show which is mind-boggingly intriguing and fascinating at the same time and one I highly recommend, a new show from Miriam Margolyes and Buffy Revamped. The Fringe shows at the EICC run until 25 August.
Under the brand Leith’s, Compass has been catering partner at EICC since it opened in 1995. Working collaboratively, they say they are continuing to improve the food and are focusing on sustainable, local Scottish produce in line with the company’s journey to net zero.
