Lonkero, Finland’s iconic long drink, has made history at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by serving a record-breaking number of pints at Summerhall’s courtyard – while raising vital funds for one of the city’s most cherished independent arts organisations.
The Nordic favourite, recently named The Guardian’s Drink of Summer 2025, poured over 8,000 pints during their two seasons with Summerhall, more than any other activation the brand has done before. In 2025 Lonkero transformed Summerhall’s courtyard into a Finnish-inspired social hub complete with art installations, performance partnerships, and a charitable give-back of 25p for every pint served, donating a total amount of £2000 towards Summerhall Arts.
Record-Breaking Summers
Festival-goers embraced Lonkero’s crisp, zesty serves in extraordinary numbers, transforming Summerhall’s courtyard into one of the most vibrant social hubs of the Fringe. The space quickly became a go-to gathering point, where audiences and artists alike could unwind between shows, discover Nordic-inspired installations, and enjoy the lively atmosphere that carried late into the evening.
Throughout Fringe 2025, 25p from each pint donated directly to Summerhall Arts ongoing fundraiser, and an additional £1,000 kick-off contribution from the brand, the partnership ensured that every serve supported the venue’s future as a cornerstone of independent arts in Edinburgh.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to receive this much needed donation to support the arts in Edinburgh. The money will be used to ensure continued pathways are in place for artists to be able to bring exceptional work to Summerhall Arts and the Fringe in the future. I hope that this collaboration between Lonkero and Summerhall Arts will last for many years so together we can make a real difference to the sector, whilst enjoying their delicious long refreshing drink – responsibly of course!” Sam Gough – CEO Summerhall Arts
Supporting Arts, One Pint at a Time
The initiative generated significant support for Summerhall with a total of £2000 going towards the venue – directly helping sustain its year-round programme of independent theatre, music, art and performance.
Joe Harris, Co-founder & Director of Lonkero, said: “We set out to bring a taste of Finland to the Fringe – and Edinburgh welcomed us with open arms. Serving a record-breaking number of pints shows the appetite for something different, but more importantly it means we’ve been able to give back to Summerhall Arts. This is about more than a drink; it’s about community, creativity, and keeping independent arts thriving.”
Art, Culture and Nordic Flair
The takeover featured courtyard-wide designs created in collaboration with Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries, an Edinburgh-based art and technology studio. Lonkero also partnered with Red Nose Company, Finland’s leading clown-theatre duo, who returned to the Fringe with their five-star show Don Quixote – celebrating the shared spirit of Nordic creativity and cultural exchange.
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A Refreshing Alternative
Born in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics, Finnish long drink – known locally as Lonkero – was created to keep international visitors refreshed. At 4.7% ABV, it offers a light, fruity, and refreshing alternative to beer or cider. Served on draught in ice-topped pints with a slice of grapefruit, it has become a cult favourite in Finland and is now winning fans across the UK.
Lonkero is a delightfully fresh, fruity Finnish long drink available online in six-packs or twelve-packs, as well as on draught in popular bars across Edinburgh, London, Norwich and Brighton.
