This new outdoor space offers seating for up to 45 patrons, catering to both local Edinburgh residents and international visitors. Since the inception of the collaboration during this year’s summer festival, approximately 3,000 pints of Cold Town Beer, including its multi-award-winning Crisp Craft Lager and Baltic IPA, have already been served at the revamped venue.

Ruth Reid from Cold Town Beer commented on the synergy between the two Edinburgh businesses, stating: “We’re delighted to be working with the team at Kick Ass Bars. We’re both colourful, playful Edinburgh brands with a shared passion for creating memorable experiences, so the partnership felt like a natural fit from the outset.” She added: “Kick Ass Bars welcome an incredible mix of locals and international visitors, giving us a brilliant opportunity to introduce more people to beer brewed just a few minutes away.” 

The agreement extends beyond the bar to include Kick Ass Hostels in Grassmarket and Greyfriars, establishing Cold Town Beer as their official local craft beer partner. These hostels attract a diverse demographic of guests from across the UK and internationally, including visitors from the USA, France, Germany, and Ireland. This positions Cold Town Beer at the forefront of Edinburgh’s bustling tourist trade. The Grassmarket area alone draws millions of visitors annually, serving as a key focal point during the summer festival season. Edinburgh as a whole welcomed over 4 million visitors annually in recent years, making it the UK’s second most popular visitor destination after London. In 2024, the city recorded 5.05 million overnight visits, generating a total spend of £2.565 billion. 

The timing of this partnership coincides with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which this year runs from 7 to 31 August. The festival is a major catalyst for tourism, drawing an “explosion of creative energy” and millions of attendees to the city.

James Butler, bar manager from Kick Ass, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “We’re buzzing to announce that Cold Town Beer is now our local craft beer partner at Kick Ass Bar! For us, keeping it local just makes sense, especially when seriously good beer is being brewed right here in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, just a stone’s throw from our bar.” 

“It’s local beer, brewed by local people, poured in a local bar and enjoyed by people from Edinburgh and all over the world. We’re seriously excited to have Cold Town on board. Here’s to great beer, good times and keeping things local in the Grassmarket.” 

Cold Town Beer, established in 2018, is part of the Signature Group, a prominent Scottish hospitality company. The brewery operates a microbrewery at Cold Town House in the Grassmarket, its flagship venue, and a main production facility on Dunedin Street. Cold Town House is also celebrated for its taproom and iconic rooftop terrace offering panoramic views of Edinburgh Castle. 

The brewery’s Crisp Craft Lager earned a silver medal at the 2025 Scottish Beer Awards and London Beer Competition 2026, while its Baltic IPA was named ‘Indian Pale Ale of the Year’ with a double gold at the London Beer Competition 2026. The brand’s name itself is a nod to Edinburgh’s history, deriving from Calton Hill, originally known as “Caltoun” or “Cold town,” where Britain’s first lager was reportedly brewed in 1835.

The Grassmarket area boasts a rich brewing heritage dating back to the 16th century, having been home to the original Heriot Brewery. Cold Town Beer’s presence in this historic district continues this long-standing tradition. The partnership with Kick Ass Bar and Hostels will see Cold Town Beer remain the exclusive craft beer offering until the end of August 2027, marking a significant milestone in the brewery’s rapid growth trajectory within Scotland’s competitive craft beer market. 

While the UK craft beer market is projected to grow to USD 11.5 billion by 2034, it also faces challenges from increased taxation, market access limitations, and rising operational costs. In this environment, strategic local partnerships, such as this one, are increasingly vital for craft breweries to gain visibility and establish stronger brand presence. Scotland’s craft brewing industry, in particular, has experienced substantial growth in recent years, with the number of breweries rising by 229% between 2010 and 2018. 

Ruth Reid concluded: “We’ve loved bringing the Kick Ass beer garden transformation to life together. It creates a real sense of fun for the Festival Fringe, but this is much more than a summer activation—we’re excited to continue developing the partnership over the year ahead.”