DRY is Edinburgh’s first pop-up bar offering an alternative menu of alcohol-free beers, wines and cocktails. Situated in a temporary space on North-West Circus Place in Stockbridge, DRY offers a relaxed environment, perfect for meeting with friends, lunch with the family, or quick after-work drinks (alcohol-free of course). We chat to co-founder Jamie Walker about the exciting new venture.
Where did the inspiration for opening an alcohol free bar come from?
We set up DRY in response to a trend for non-alcoholic beverages among increasingly health conscious millennials. Research by brewing giant ABInbev UK found that 41% of young people are pursuing a healthier lifestyle by actively cutting down on alcohol.
I have been dry for 12 years but found I had nowhere to go in the evening that doesn’t revolve around alcohol. The philosophy behind DRY is that it is possible to go out and have a grown-up fun evening in an alcohol-free environment!
Edinburgh is known for it’s cocktail scene and DRY promises some fantastic mocktails. Can you tell us about some of the creative drinks on the menu?
We offer a great selection of alcohol-free beers, wines and even a brilliant tee-total Gin & Tonics! There is something for every taste from our mocktail menu, from the zesty ‘Sea Zephyr’, to our modern take on an old classic, the ‘Moscno Mule’.
DRY are collaborating with local food stalls on some exciting foodie options. What sort of things can people expect to find on the menu?
We are teaming up with supper clubs, pop-ups and outside caterers. These include Herbies hosting a cheese and olive oil tasting; Buck & Birch hosting a ‘foraging dinner’; Annabelle’s of Marchmont and Inside Out Chef providing quails egg canapes and cakes; and Grumpy Food are doing a vegan ottolenghi!
We are always looking for more partners, we are hoping to achieve an eclectic variety of guest food collaborators.
It’s not just drink and food! Tell us about the fantastic selection of entertainment that is on offer!
The bar is stocked with board-games, chess and backgammon. On top of this we are planning a number of events e.g. talks, beer tasting with judges, quiz nights and a table-tennis challenge!
You are a pop-up bar just now, but are there any plans to open something more permanent?
Watch this space! Let’s see whether Edinburgh has an appetite for this kind of bar. It has definitely provoked quite a stir on social media – there is some debate with both positive and negative reactions. So far however, the response has been overwhelmingly positive and our social media fan-base is growing by the hour! Some people assume a dry bar is a juice bar, but we are stocking 12 different alcohol-free beers as well as wine, cider and teetotal gin and tonic.
Can you describe your perfect 24 hours in Edinburgh?For how long is DRY Edinburgh open?
We would definitely start with a cooked breakfast, before enjoying a walk up Arthur’s Seat. If it was a Sunday, we would probably pop down to Stockbridge Market to have a quick browse, before stopping in at DRY for some refreshment. The National Art Galleries are always a favourite thing to do on a quiet weekend too!
What are the opening times of the bar?
DRY is open from now until 28th February. We are open from until 10.30pm on most nights, but 11pm on a Friday and a Saturday.
The bar is dog friendly, we are even talking about getting in a beer especially for dogs. Children are welcome until 7pm when the bar becomes a place for grown-ups only.
For more information, check out the DRY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dryedinburgh/
