Big plans on the menu for the return of The Pitt

New Granton home promises to grow food and drink favourite by being rooted in its community

Hal Prescott -man on a mission: pic by Cat Thomson

Opening a food destination in an unloved industrial estate on Edinburgh’s northern shore isn’t the most obvious opportunity to see  – but then Hal Prescott is one of those people with both sight and vision, writes Cat Thomson.

As Gulliver’s Travels author Jonathan Swift told us: “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” There is certainly nothing lilliputian about Prescott’s aspirations for the new home in Granton for the The Pitt street food market of which he is the managing director. He and his colleagues have big plans.

Prescott tells me what captured his imagination: "The view, being located right on the promenade and bike path. And the scale of it, it is over twice the size of what we had, so we can grow into it. And then add there’s nowhere to go in this part of town for food and drink really, so there's a real great opportunity here. We've got a 10-year lease whereas at the old Pitt Street, we could never really invest in things because we knew we were going to leave.”

Vision without execution is delusion, as the old saying goes, and Prescott has been hard at work making things real. He and his board secured in the region of £500,000 in funding from First Port and Foundation Scotland. They plan to turn a third of an empty building on West Shore Road into a reincarnation of the popular Pitt Street market which closed in 2022. The first phase of the enterprise is on schedule to open by the end of July.

It also aims to become an enterprise hub for individuals wanting to start a business, and slots are earmarked for people from challenging backgrounds or marginalised groups. The outdoor space is being transformed into a vibrant food area with container units, ranging from 16 to 40ft in length, housing a mix of different retailers.

Inside, the building’s cavernous interior will be divided into two. On one side you’ll find an event space with a capacity for 750 people standing or 500 seated. “We have a blank setup, and it is a versatile space for a wide range of events. We need to be wary of noise and nuisance, but there's already been a lot of interest.”

In the other section, Prescott explains, "we can run small run events, and possibly a pop-up market on Sunday. It will look similar, to how we used to have it at Pitt Street, with lots of seating, a relaxation zone, and a kid's area. We plan to have lots of cool lighting and want to investigate having murals along the wall.” He sees it as very much a place for people to come to relax or use the space to hold a range of events. In the original Pitt Street, they were keen to support grassroots music so held events as diverse as hip-hop concerts, to performances by traditional harpists.

Gone but not forgotten - the old Pitt: Pic Cat Thomson

In addition to securing major funding, they plan to launch a six-week crowdfunder appeal to raise extra additional funds to enhance what will be inside the container retail units. He says, “The better the crowdfunder goes, the better kitted out they are but we are hoping for water, power, sinks and extraction.”

Prescott was one half of the duo that founded Pitt Street food market in 2015, after beginning as a food trader selling Crab & Fries. “I moved up from London and I was looking for a street food market in Edinburgh, like those I had experienced in London.” He and his friend Scott Kirkham couldn’t find a market with affordable tasty street food and a relaxed festival vibe, so decided to start one themselves.

“Scott, knew some guys in Leith that had a space, we knew it was going to be developed by the landlord eventually, so we couldn't invest much money in it.” It quickly evolved with seven resident stallholders and an army of loyal fans.

It closed in October 2022 when the landowners wanted to develop. Since then, a lot has been going on behind the scenes. Prescott says, “We've reorganised how we run the market to become a not-for-profit community interest company. We are putting enterprise and social cohesion at the heart of what we want to do. Now it's a much bigger undertaking, it's twice the size of what we had.” Scott has amicably left the project, with family life taking him in a different direction.

Prescott is confident that Granton has a big appetite for Pitt Street Market to reopen. The plan is to open Wednesday to Sunday from late morning till evening, with longer hours at the weekend. There will be a mix of familiar faces from the old market, like Buffalo Truck, and Barney’s Beer. Plus, an exciting mix of new and up and coming traders.

Street food at The Pitt: Pic Cat Thomson

“They are amazing at what they do, and people travel to buy from them. The other half of the traders will be startups, or people who have just started their business in the last 12 months, or hobbyists who want to turn their passion into a full-time career. Perhaps, they have been doing markets and festivals at the weekend but now want to quit their jobs and do this full-time. Our space will be very similar to what they're used to, and it's a stepping stone to getting their own restaurant or going onto the full festival circuit.”

Pitt Street already has a proven track record of producing successful businesses and a large part of the project is about creating a positive business community. “Pizza Geeks were one of our first traders and they've now got three restaurants now. They aren't joining us this time, but they are a good example of someone who's made it.”

Traders are asked to sign up for 18 months and will get support to help achieve their business goals. “We want to try and get them ready to leave and take those next steps. We are on hand to help with advice on a brick-and-mortar shop or a restaurant, connect them to property businesses, and solicitors, or help with finding funding. The beauty of this is that you can try starting your own business without risking everything.”

The wider project has been supported by Edinburgh Council as part of the area’s wider regeneration project. Prescott adds, “It was important to ensure the market is part of the community and acts like a local hub. We looked at a load of different sites around the city, none of which we felt were appropriate. Then, out of the blue, a charity called Edinburgh Palette contacted us.”