Aug 21

Aug 21 Scotland's Top 5 Socially Distanced Street Food Markets

It can be difficult to navigate street-food markets through the current climate. Across Scotland there are many making the most of Summer, utilising their space exceptionally whilst keeping us safe.

We have compiled a list of the Top 5 Socially Distanced Street-food Markets in Scotland for you to discover your next favourite meal!

Festival Village: Merchant City

Open: Daily 11am-10pm till 31st August

Location: Merchant City, Glasgow

Festival Village is the brainchild of the Prop-Up Pros. Having initially set up a similar village space in Edinburgh, they have translated their success to establish one of the best socially distanced street food markets in Scotland.

Upon entry you are kindly greeted by security and asked to go through their track and trace procedure. Easy enough as you can scan a QR code to get to where you need on your phone.

The outdoor venue instantly makes you feel welcome as park benches under floral designed shelters let the Summer sun shine through. Just round the corner you manage to spy the cosy sofa seating under the tent space designed as an autism friendly area. Festival Village manages to deliver home comforts and exceptional service whilst taking every measure for safety to the outdoor inner-city space.

The venue’s setup subtly encourages visitors to abide by social distancing measures exceptionally well. Nobody needed to leave their seat to dispose of anything as bins were plentiful and close enough to test your free throw skills on nearby oversized hoops. Hand sanitisers are available upon entry and by the facilities.

The attentive table service is nothing short of amazing and although their faces are covered you could tell they want to make you feel welcome, #smeyes

When it comes to the food on offer, there’s three deliciously irresistible street food staples available. Thick meat & veggie patty burgers crafted by the Butcher Boy with a choice of regular, seasoned or Parmesan fries makes for a hearty meal.

Deep, layered and especially gooey grilled cheese sandwiches from Say Cheese cure cravings and hangovers alike.

Freshly spun and made to order Neapolitan Pizza by the Pizza Geeks are both genius by design and flavour alike. The trio of traders serve up some of the best food Glasgow has to offer as well as provide summer festival vibes to the village

Festival Village: Merchant City is a Street Food Market not to be missed! Family, dog and autism friendly. A summer vibe, rain or shine equipped with sheltered tables. Brilliant service and phenomenal street food.

The Big Feed: Glasgow

Open: Saturdays Noon-10pm & Sundays Noon-8pm

Location: Ibrox, Glasgow

The Big Feed delivers a plethora of on-rotation Street Food options to visiting diners.

Firedog Hotdogs, Salt 'N' Chilli Chicken, VGN vegan comfort food, Smoking Barrels Loaded Fries, Rost Eats slow cooked meats, Mostar Munch Kebabs, Dough-Mans Land Pizza, Duck Streetfood’’s pancakes. Muerte Por Churros and Hector & Harriet’s bakery make up the roster. With rotating guest traders featured as well, there’s plenty to choose from!

To keep everybody safe they have worked tirelessly to introduce social distancing measures. Of course, eating and drinking would be very difficult when wearing a mask, however when queuing and visiting the toilets they ask for you to wear one. A one way system has been established within the venue’s interior, clearly marked with each trader offering contactless payments.

Additional seating has been made available for visitors, with an added beer garden set up out front to accommodate more diners. Hand sanitisers and track and trace have also been introduced in addition to cleaning all touch surfaces with antiviral cleaning products. Finally, the Big Feed app allows you to order drinks directly to your table, so no need to leave your seat to have a good time!

The price of admission is only £2, however, kids and NHS staff go free! There are no restrictions on the time you can stay, no 2 hour bookings here! In fact, it’s all at a first come first serve basis, so be sure to visit early to avoid the lunch rush. Top Tip: ask your server for individual dog treat bags!

A lot of work has been put into the safety and measures taken throughout the Big Feed. Accommodating a vast number of street food options, seating as well as in and outdoor spaces available. That work pays off to create a safe space for diners to sample some fantastic food!

Neighbourgood Market: Edinburgh

Open: Wednesday- Sunday 12noon-8pm

Location: Inverleith Park, Edinburgh

The city’s first ever completely contactless open-air food and drink market offers circled areas for friends and families to sit, presenting a clear guide for social distancing measures.

The vendors present offer a wide selection of food and drink to satisfy the hungriest of visitors. From The Caravan of Courage serving up 100% plant-based vegan junk food, beautiful Haiwaiian cuisine by Mana Poke, tapas from Moskito Bites, sweet treats by Mimi’s BakeHouse & Don’t Tell Mama!

Not sure about venturing out? They offer delivery through Deliveroo for every single one of their traders if you can’t make it through or simply want to skip the que! A fantastic touch to promote local trade beyond the footfall on site.

With so many options you can satisfy any craving imaginable. Neighbourgood have successfully delivered a platform for local businesses to return to trade that fits in with the community culture that has always been synonymous with the city of Edinburgh.

Bow House Market: Fife

Open: Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm from 12th September

Location: Fife

The Bowhouse Market takes an interesting approach to social distancing measures. Either by pre-ordering via their online store to collect in the morning or to join them in the afternoon to explore in person. Connecting the best local growers, producers, makers and street food vendors to a hungry East Neuk public. In keeping with connecting people to local produce they also offer delivery options to the greater Fife area, so if you can’t make it through you can still sample some amazing food and drink!

You are again spoilt for choice when it comes to the options available at Bowhouse. With Bakeries represented by GH Barnett & Son and Wild Hearth Bakery; confectionery covered by The Cocoa Tree as well as hearty meals from Kinneuchar Inn, Screaming Peacock and Charcuterie. This being an ever changing list month to month, some changes may be present on your next visit.

Other traders feature local produce outside of strictly street food too! With mainstays such as their inhouse Butcher, Scotland The Bread baker, their brewery by Futtle and garden florists Keeping The Plot. All of which bring vibrancy and a warm local welcome when visiting the market.

The Pitt: Edinburgh

Open: Friday- Sunday

Location: Leith

The name, referring to the Pitt Street location, does no justice in conveying the vibrancy that the market offers. Dog and family friendly, the market boasts a large heated warehouse space with bench tables and a small stage, connected to the food yard outside where the sun is able to shine all day long.

You can book into the warehouse indoor seating, with up to 8 people per table and comfortably enjoy all that it has to offer, or swing by for a takeaway in the yard and grab your street food to go.

The way the two sides to the Pitt operate lends itself to social distancing measures. Inside they use a booking system in order to coordinate tables over time and ensure each touch surface is disinfected after visits. The yard is set up for takeaway food, with the open air space allowing people to roam the stalls and grab food to go at their leisure.

As for the street food, there’s 4 residents that populate The Pitt:

The Buffalo Truck serves up mouthwatering buttermilk fried chicken burgers. If we can’t convince you, their 3-time award winning Buffalo Burger with blue cheese might just!

Ròst has been a resident at The Pitt since day one and continues to thrive! Offering a rotating menu you might very well be surprised each visit by their creative twists, though be sure to catch their staple crispy pheasant burger when you get the chance!

Moo Pie Gelato is simply to die for! Anyone with a sweet tooth will certainly find themselves in heaven here as they produce the creamiest handcrafted gelato and other treats to satisfy.

Barnacles & Bones offer seafood and select cuts of meat that put any surf and turf to shame.

As good as all the residents are, don’t forget to check out the other visiting stalls in the yard. You might just discover your new favourite food and drink here.