Side dishes: July and August 2026
As festival season approaches, Suzy Pope tracks new openings, relocations and reinventions across the food and drink scene
In Glasgow, following the success of Corner Shop, Conor McGeady and head chef Alex Brady are set to open Next Door on Pollokshaws Road, promising a neighbourhood cocktail bar with a focus on food and vinyl. Meanwhile, it’s all change for lovers of the grain: Bon Accord has reopened under new stewardship while former landlords Thomas and Inga McDonagh have launched The Valinch, a whisky bar, shop and alehouse on Hope Street. Former Finnieston favourite Pickled Ginger is on the move to new premises on Gordon Street and the fancy Japanese sandwich craze is about to hit town with Sando teased to open soon.
July and August bring festival season. Glasgow Foodies Festival (Friday 14–Sunday 16 August) will take over Rouken Glen Park with celebrity chefs, food demonstrations, street food galore and 90s music headliners, with Edinburgh Foodies Festival promising much of the same (Friday 7–Sunday 9 August). Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival (Friday 24 July–Sunday 2 August) offers street eats and workshops in George Square with a soundtrack of trad and folk songs.
Edinburgh also has a couple of new openings to plan in. Argyle Place will be replaced by Alpine-inspired brunch spot Freschen, slated to open in September. Gary Maclean of MasterChef: The Professionals fame has opened Scottish produce-led Kin at the Roseate Hotel in the West End. And Eusebi Bakery, a new offshoot of the Glasgow-based Italian deli, becomes the latest addition to Bonnie & Wild at St James Quarter
Picture: Eusebi Bakery.