COOP is back at the Fringe after a sold-out debut in 2024. Born out of a love for bold flavours and good times, COOP dishes up fried chicken, smoked lobster rolls, and crispy hash browns to hungry festival-goers in the heart of George Square.

Created by Michelin-starred chef Tomás Gormley, COOP is the scrappy younger sibling to Edinburgh restaurants Cardinal and Skua. Where those venues lean into refined dining and quiet confidence, COOP is louder, looser, and built for eating with your hands — sauce on your face, pint in the other.

Last year saw queues out the door. This year, we’re back with the same attitude and a few new surprises.

Whether you're in it for the chicken, the lobster, or just something that slaps between shows, COOP is here for a good time, not a long time.

 

MENU
For allergens and dietary advice please speak to vendors directly. 

• Fried Chicken
• Smoked Lobster Rolls
• Pulled Pork Shoulder 
• Hash Browns 

Signature Dish - Fried Chicken, Fermented Peach Hot Sauce 

 

ABOUT 

COOP was a simple idea: take the quality and care of a great restaurant kitchen and throw it into the chaos of the Fringe. In summer 2024, we launched our first pop-up on Potterrow, serving fried chicken and smoked lobster rolls to anyone hungry enough to queue. It was meant to be a one off, a bit of fun between more serious projects, but the response was immediate and overwhelming.

Founded by Tomás Gormley, chef owner of Cardinal and Skua, COOP came to life as a way to let loose. No tasting menus, no rules, just proper food done well. It quickly became clear there was a real appetite for something that sat between fast food and fine dining. Big flavour, no pretence, and a little bit feral.

We ran out of chicken, ran out of lobster, and ran out of time. So we came back.

COOP is our love letter to festival energy, bold food, and not taking yourself too seriously.