A mouthwatering lineup of top Edinburgh chefs will be cooking up a storm at the first Leith Food Festival on Leith Links, 30-31 May 2026.
Created and hosted by Barry Bryson from Michelin-acclaimed Barry Fish, the team of nine chefs will be taking to the stage over the two-day event to show off their culinary creativity in a series of live 45-minute cookery demonstrations.
Barry will be joined by Dan Ashmore from The Roxburgh; Sarah George from The Palmerston; Tomás Gourlay from Cardinal; Theo Pantazis from Krema; Sharif Gergis from Mirin; former Fhior chef, Scott Smith; Pedro Barreira from The Lighthouse Restaurant onboard Edinburgh’s luxury floating hotel, Fingal; and MasterChef Quarter Finalist 2025, Molly Pennington.
The cooking master classes will cover everything from classic Scottish beef, shellfish and fish to award-winning Scottish Asian fusion, Greek bakery, classic pastry and good gut health recipes.
The indoor cookery theatre can seat up to 150 people and will be a showstopping attraction at the festival. It is expected to attract hundreds of food lovers from the local Leith community, other parts of Edinburgh, as well as visitors to the city.
Chef Barry Bryson, said:
“I’m really excited to be creating and hosting the chef demo theatre at the first ever Leith Food Festival and doing my bit to promote our local Edinburgh neighbourhood as the capital’s leading food and drink destination.
“I’m really excited to 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.”
Former chef patron of Edinburgh’s multi-award-winning restaurant, Fhior, Scott Smith, said:
“I’m delighted to be involved in the first Leith Food Festival. Leith has such a strong, vibrant food and drink community, so this feels like a long time coming. I’m looking forward to bringing my style of cooking to the stage and sharing a bit of what I do.”
Theo Pantazis from Krema Bakehouse and Krema The Kitchen Project, said:
“I’m incredibly excited to be part of the very first Leith Food Festival, especially alongside such a talented lineup of chefs. Leith has such a vibrant food scene and this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the amazing offerings and creativity the area has become known for.”
Sharif Gergis from Mirin, said:
‘I’m really looking forward to being part of the Leith Food Festival. It’s a great opportunity to hang out with like-minded chefs and connect with people who genuinely care about food and where it comes from. Events like this have a strong sense of community, and that’s something I value hugely.
“I’m especially excited to showcase the kind of cooking we do at Mirin — taking exceptional produce and pushing it in bold, flavour-driven directions. It should be a lot of fun.”
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.
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.
You Might Also Like:
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.
