Those who’ve been to Edinburgh’s Stockbridge recently will know it’s been rammed with foodies, queuing at IJ Mellis, Artisan Roast or Bross Bagels, among other spots. Now there’s something to cater for the overspill of hungry gannets.
The popular alfresco eating event that is The Neighbourgood Market is returning, for its second year running.
In 2020, it was at The Grange Club, with a well organised system of socially-distanced white circles drawn on the grass, along with contactless payment and demarcated walkways. However, this year they’re doing the same but at the Edinburgh Academical Football Club’s (Accies) grounds.
It’ll also be running a month earlier, for eight weeks from Wednesday May 19 to Sunday July 11.
(So wear your puffa jacket and take a space blanket, just in case).
They’ll be open Wednesday to Sunday, with admission free, apart from on Friday evenings from 4pm and Saturday and Sundays from 11.30am, when it’s £3 per person. Children always go gratis.
If you can’t wait until then, until 16 May, you’ll find their mini take-away only Pop up by the Pond in Inverleith Park, running from Wednesday to Sunday, noon until 8pm. It features an early wave of four of their vendors - Pizza Geeks, Mint Eats (flatbread wraps), Good Brothers and Innis & Gunn - all of whom will also be appearing at the main event.
“We did this to allow our staff to come on board and get a few traders up and running under current government restrictions until things ease up in mid-May for the main market to kick off”, says director Edward Wilson.
This year’s main market - recently awarded funding by Event Scotland to keep them covid safe - will also see the return of The Peruvian, Stag Bites and Edinburgh Gin. However, there are plenty of fresh faces too.
“We have quite a few new traders, most notably Pimm’s Truck, Stage Bites, Shrimp Wreck and Delightfully Delicious”, says Wilson.
They also have a showing from Linton Coffee, who have just opened a cafe on the top of Waverley Mall, and will be serving coffee, brownies and espresso martinis, among other things.
