Gilded Balloon has unveiled a special series of collaborations with fellow Leith based businesses including an exclusive Lind & Lime cocktail and specially brewed beer from Newbarns Brewery to celebrate the Fringe venue’s 40th birthday
The Leith collaborations have come in addition to a huge 40th anniversary line-up at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with a series of special in-conversation shows with some of Gilded Balloon’s favourite comics including Bill Bailey, Paul Black, Alana Jackson and more still to take place.
Leith’s favourite brewers Newbarns Brewery cooked up a limited edition pilsner beer celebrating 40 years of Gilded Balloon, with custom designed cans available across the city throughout August. They are also serving up a specially commissioned Gilded Balloon themed IPA ‘Hiya Pals’ with pinktastic pints to be poured in Newbarns Brewery and Taproom as well as across Gilded’s venues at Patter House, National Museum of Scotland and the new Shedinburgh venue that Gilded Balloon are supporting the delivery of.
Gilded Balloon have also partnered with the award-winning Lind & Lime Distillery, based just around the corner from the Fringe company’s year round offices in Leith. To toast to Gilded Balloon’s 40th birthday, Lind and Lime’s cocktail connoisseurs have created an exclusive spritz cocktail Rhubarb & Raspberry Spiritz.
The Rhubarb & Raspberry gin, mixed with Fevertree tonic water, creates the perfect fresh summer spritz for resetting and refreshing between Fringe shows. Exclusively sold at Gilded Balloon and Shedinburgh bars this summer, the Rhubarb & Raspberry Spritz has gone down a storm with customers, with limited edition pink labelled bottles on sale now.
Every drop of the organic gin is produced and bottled in the Leith distillery, in an electric still which runs completely on renewable energy, which cocktail fans can see for themselves on tours offered by Lind & Lime year round.
Plus, visitors to Gilded Balloon venues can enjoy a fabulously pink strawberry cider from Thistly Cross on draught across all Fringe bars, alongside fellow Scottish brands Tennent’s Lager and Leith Spirits. Thistly Cross are Scotland’s leading cider producer, based on the East Lothian coast in one of the sunniest areas of Scotland handcrafting small batches of cider using real fruit.
Katy and Karen Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said: “It’s been a delight to partner with some fantastic fellow Leith businesses, in a toast to Gilded Balloon’s 40th birthday this year. As a company who is based in Leith year round, we know it’s a hub of creativity and local businesses constantly punching above their weight.
“That’s why we have partnered with two outstanding Leith brands, Lind & Lime and Newbarns Brewery, to serve up a little drop of Leith this August at the world’s biggest arts festival. Gilded Balloon customers, staff and artists have been enjoying some Lind & Lime spritzes in the sunshine, as well as celebrating our 40th year at the Fringe with our specially brewed Hiya Pals beer.”
Claire Tesh, Head of Brands at Muckle Brig Ltd said: “We’re thrilled to partner with our fellow local Leith neighbour the Gilded Ballon as they celebrate 40 incredible years at the fringe.
“Our Lind & Lime spritz was created especially for this milestone – a bright, refreshing cocktail that we hope everyone can enjoy and celebrate throughout the month of August”
The limited-edition birthday drinks are served across all Gilded Balloon bars this Fringe including: latest opening in partnership with Paradise Palms and Kelburn Garden Party, The Gilded Saloon bar and kitchen ; Patter House Bar ; Appleton Tower’s Pink Lady Bar and Shedinburgh.
Founded by Karen Koren in 1986, Gilded Balloon has welcomed back some of comedy’s biggest stars for this year’s Fringe programme including a sold out Smack the Pony reunion, an in conversation event with Bill Bailey and local stars like Jack Docherty. Plus, megastar Rosie O’Donnell made her Fringe debut for a limited run, as well as comedy’s brightest new stars like Alana Jackson, Michael Welch, Hannah Campbell, Amanda Hursy and more.
Gilded Balloon’s 40th anniversary Fringe programme sees a mix of comedy, theatre, kids shows, music and more operate across a pink-tastic Patter House (3 Chambers Street), the National Museum of Scotland (Lothian Street) and Appleton Tower (11 Crichton Street) at the centre of the capital’s Fringe buzz.
Gilded Balloon’s ‘Pals in Pink’ have welcomed audiences from around the world as staff transform all three venues (Appleton Tower, Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland) into fabulously pink hubs of creativity with acts from every genre descending during the month of August.
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Tickets on sale now via www.tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk
View show releases and images here
For further information please contact press@gildedballoon.co.uk
