A Michelin-acclaimed Edinburgh chef has been chosen to lead a series of live cooking demonstrations as part of the first Leith Food Festival on Leith Links, 30-31 May 2026.
Chef Barry Bryson opened the doors to his first independent and permanent fish restaurant on Edinburgh’s waterfront at the shore in Leith last year. Since then, he has quickly established Barry Fish as one of the city’s most popular venues for local diners and visitors by showcasing the best fish and seafood from Scotland.
In under a year, Barry Fish earned its place in the prestigious Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland, as well as The Good Food Guide’s UK-wide list of ‘100 Best Local Restaurants’.
Barry has now been selected to curate and lead a series of cooking demonstrations with other leading Scottish chefs during the two-day day event.
The live chef demo stage will be a showstopping attraction at the festival and is expected to attract hundreds of food lovers from the local Leith community, other parts of Edinburgh, as well as visitors to the city.
The Leith Food Festival aims to celebrate food, local talent, performing arts, and community. The family-friendly event will also showcase international influences and local talent, brought to life through global street food, independent drink, live music, arts and charitable partnerships.
At its heart, Leith Food Festival is driven by a commitment to showcasing and supporting talent from the local community, giving producers, performers and creatives a platform to be seen and enjoyed.
Leith Links is one of Edinburgh’s most popular green community spaces. The festival site sits within acres of shared space that have long been used for recreation, sports activities, and community-led weekends.
Chef Barry Bryson added:
“I’m really excited to have been asked to take a leading role at the first ever Leith Food Festival and help promote our local Edinburgh neighbourhood as the capital’s leading food and drink destination.
“I’ll be teaming up with some of my own chef friends and other well-known names from the city’s culinary scene to cook up a storm with some fresh, seasonal and tasty dishes people can easily make at home.
“Above all, we want to make it fun, interactive and accessible for everyone.”
Barry added:
“With Barry Fish, it was always about finding a site in Leith, but never did I imagine we would be opening in such an amazing location as the Shore, just five minutes from Leith Links and the Leith Food Festival.
“Our dining experience is designed for everyone. We are not a special occasion restaurant, but we do want to be a special restaurant. It’s about creating something that fits well with a community of diners – that’s who I am.”
Leith Food Festival Director, Michael Johnston, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Barry Bryson on board for the Leith Food Festival. It was important to us to work with someone who not only has outstanding culinary credentials, but who also understands and celebrates the heart of Leith’s food scene.
“Barry brings incredible energy, deep local knowledge and a genuine passion for showcasing local produce, chefs and independent businesses. He’ll help us shine a spotlight on the talent that makes Leith such an exciting place to eat and drink, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience the demo theatre under his guidance.”
To mark the arrival of summer in May, Leith Food Festival aims to attract food lovers to Leith Links and Edinburgh’s vibrant waterfront in Leith from across the capital and beyond.
The ‘Barry’ in ‘Barry Fish’ is taken from the Scottish word for ‘good’ with the website tagline – Barry, a Scottish word for good, also a man’s name.
For more information on Leith Food Festival, go to www.leithfoodfestival.com
Leith Links is located close to The Shore and Foot of the Walk tram stops, which offer a direct and easy transport link between Leith, Edinburgh city centre and Edinburgh Airport.
For more information on Chef Barry Bryson and Barry Fish, go to www.barryfish.co.uk or call 0131 6250 000
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Follow Chef Barry Bryson on Instagram www.instagram.com/chefbarrybryson
Follow Barry Fish on Instagram at www.instagram.com/barryfishrestaurant
