With twenty performance spaces, Pleasance Courtyard is a hive of activity during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. However, great theatre is not the only thing which the Courtyard has on offer… it is also home to many food trucks, vendors, and bars. Arranged as a conventional beer garden, with plenty of places to sit and relax, it is the perfect area to wind down or refuel before your next show. Last week, The Student checked out what Pleasance Courtyard had on offer— here’s what our writers thought!
Amelie says:
There is a buzz about Edinburgh during the Fringe, (difficult to capture elsewhere), and Pleasance Courtyard is certainly no exception!
When arriving at the courtyard, we quickly found that it was more expansive and spacious than it has ever seemed during the University term time (seriously, where do they get all of this space from?). We began our afternoon with a drink at one of several bars: I had a Staropramen, which was delicious, though I would note that the drinks prices are on the expensive side, at £6.50-£7 for a pint. With a lot of outdoor seating, it is perfect for when you need somewhere to relax between shows, but heading towards Arthurs Bar at the back makes for a slightly quieter experience.
When it was time to choose what we wanted to eat, it’s safe to say we were spoilt for choice. Between pizzas, flatbreads, noodles, sweet treats, burgers and more, I chose the halloumi flatbread from Mint (which can also be found a Neighbourhood Market in Stockbridge), and it was incredible. The halloumi was chewy and golden, the bread was soft, and the salad on top gave the flatbread a delicious crunch. Though a little messy (but maybe that’s just me!), I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend as a great meal on busy Fringe days. The price was also relatively reasonable, especially for the generous portion size that I got. If I had room, I would have been straight over to Mimi’s Bakehouse for one of their brownies, which looked immense.
Daisy says:
Almost overwhelmed with the decadent choices on-show, I chose to go with the famous toasties from “Total Meltdown Grilled Cheese”. The buffalo chicken and cheese toastie, despite being sizzling hot on a warm summer’s day and seemingly simple, was a perfect choice, the ideal mix of crunch on the outside and soft spiciness inside. Perhaps it was overpriced (a small sandwich for £12 that could be made at home) although definitely not to the same standard — seems difficult to get behind. However, it certainly lived up to its recommendation, and would be perfect for those in need of something quick on the move, in the fast-paced environment of the Fringe.
Alanna says:
I had the pleasure of trying the Karaage Chicken Noodles from the Harajuku Kitchen stall, in the ever-buzzing Pleasance Courtyard. Served in a fun, traditional takeout style box, these noodles were the perfect meal to satisfy that udon craving I had been harbouring for weeks. The noodles were mixed with a subtle, adequate blend of spices, but it was the freshness of the noodles themselves that blew my socks off. These were the perfect consistency and complemented the perfectly crisp Karaage-style chicken that accompanied them. The portion was substantial and had generous helpings of vegetables, helping me hit that 5-a-day mark! You can find Harajuku Kitchen in Bruntsfield, their street food stalls at the Grassmarket and Stockbridge weekend markets, or their Leith Street Edinburgh Street Food venue.
Conclusion
Overall, we were impressed with the huge range of vendors to choose from, and the lively atmosphere really felt like the Fringe Festival epicentre. Though occasionally a little pricey (especially for students), Pleasance Courtyard has a superb offering, and is a great place to base yourself whilst you choose your next show!
Image by Edinburgh University Students’ Association, provided to The Student as press.