Andrew's tour of Scotland Food for Fringe fans

Date Published:

14/07/2008

No trip to Edinburgh at this time of year would be complete without getting the low down on where Fringe fans seek sustenance after a bout of big belly laughs. I hit the streets to find out some wallet friendly food venues

The performers' take on it

Harbingers are just one (well actually three) of the estimated 18,792 performers taking to the stages at the fringe. The comedy trio is made up of Winston Smith, Tommy Holgate and Vincent Vivash. Their act ‘explodes the myth that chums actually like each other’. But where do they go after the show?

“The Three Sisters on Cowgate does good, cheap, pub style food,” says Winston, “and the City Café on Bristo square is good too.” I ask Winston Smith (the name’s taken from the hero of Orwell’s 1984) what his Room 101 nightmare is. “Anchovies - their pooh must taste nicer than they do,” comes the reply.

e4 Udderpants

The promoters' take on it

Charlie Woods is the promoter for the e4 Udderbelly, a giant purple upside down cow shaped tent that bizarrely manages to fit 40+ people inside it. He’s a veteran of both the fringe and indeed Edinburgh itself having been a student here. The Udderbelly is one of five venues and they’re doing over 120 shows a day.

"Pleasance Courtyard does really good hot dogs; the guys been coming to the fringe for 20 years. Bar Napoli just off George Street is great - huge menu, great wine. The same family have run it for years and it’s been popular since I was a student." Finally, when the madness of the festival gets too much, Charlie recommends getting out to Leith. "Skippers and Fishers on the shore are good for seafood and sea air.” His tip for a must see is Jim Jefferies, a rude Oz comedian, “but with a lot of charm,” says Charlie.

The locals, Rupert and Sophie

The locals’ take on it

Rupert and Sophie are locals and love the Fringe. “The first few days when shows are in preview are great,” says Rupert. As for eating, they’ve loads of recommendations. “Dario’s on Lothian Road does great pizza,” says Rupert. More importantly it’s open till the wee hours. Next, Sophie recommends Palmyra pizza, which, as well as doing pizza, also does amazing kebabs. “They fill the pitta then toast it a bit so you can hold it with one hand and it doesn’t all fall out,” says Rupert. Finally, they recommend Kebab Mahal, not for its eponymous kebabs (see a pattern here?) but for its curry. “If we’re going out, we’ll start off there, and get a good curry for a tenner,” says Sophie. “It’s great, cheap and cheerful and always full of Indians so if they eat there, you know they’re doing something right,” says Rupert.

"Ooh, ooh, and then there’s Monster Mash," says Sophie. "Different types of mash and sausage, apple crumble and Birds custard; it’s real British comfort food, and when they give you the bill you get a lollypop," she says with a smile.

So there you go, plenty it seems, to keep you fed and watered during the festival, and at a price to suit every budget, without all the 'waiter, waiter, there’s a fly in my soup' routine.

Know a fabulous Festival food place? Add it to the Big British Food Map.

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