The Free Company in Edinburgh, City of

Delicious farm-grown food and meat. We were picked up at the bus stop and dropped back. Cozy, intimate bar and dining room. I would thoroughly recommend a visit

This is a brilliant cosy version of communal dining, plenty of space, delicious menu, farm to table ingredients and charming service - it’s the future!!

Go for the experience! My favorite course admittedly was the delicious bread and butter as I’m not a very adventurous eater, but the atmosphere and farm-to-table experience of locally sourced and beautiful plates is not to be missed. It is a long evening, but again, go for the adventure of Scottish chefs creating masterpieces on dinner plates. Wine pairings are an option, the chef comes out to explain the vision of their restaurant and farm, and the ambience is lovely. You pay what you feel the meal is worth and I paid for the experience, not so much the food, but I appreciated what they’re trying to accomplish.

The whole experience was so nice. Food was incredible, the place's atmosphere is amazing and all the staff were welcoming to us. I highly recommend visiting The Free Company!

Unmissable, a credit to the team

A fabulous experience at a sustainable farm and restaurant. The food was excellent. Of course, I didn't love everything. ( But I did consider sticking the bread with brown butter in my purse. SO good!) I would urge those visiting Edinburgh to learn about this new Scottish cuisine. The setting is magical. Arrive early enough to spend time in the courtyard by the fire. I read prior reviews and think improvements have been made. I had a chair with cushion and a back. I saw no dripping candles. My one criticism was that the gap between courses was a bit long. I saw others leaving before dessert so I assume it got a bit late for others as well. They do say 4 hours and it was that. It's also pay what you wish. We enjoyed the evening and felt good about supporting the mission of the farm. I feel we paid for the experience and it's an experience that felt extra special.

A fabulous experience at a sustainable farm and restaurant. The food was excellent. Of course, I didn't love everything. ( But I did consider sticking the bread with brown butter in my purse. SO good!) I would urge those visiting Edinburgh to learn about this new Scottish cuisine. It's a bit out of town but a taxi can get you there and back or the venue will pick you up from the bus stop. As a visitor to Scotland it's a great opportunity to experience how people are trying new recipes to use all that The farm produces. The setting is magical. Arrive early enough to spend time in the courtyard by the fire. My one criticism was that the gap between courses was a bit long. I saw others leaving before dessert so I assume it got a bit late for others as well. They do say 4 hours and it was that. It's also pay what you wish. We enjoyed the evening and felt good about supporting the mission of the farm. I feel we paid for the experience and it's an experience that felt extra special.

This best dining experience I’ve ever had abroad! What an amazing place. It’s filled with rustic vibe but with a modern feel and the food was drop dead delicious. Will be coming back as soon as I can!

Our daughter had been here before so we had an idea what to expect but we were more than impressed. Fair price for 3 courses, with our main being Hoggett. All sorts of items grown at the farm used and a lovely vibe. Prices are very reasonable and it is popular. In the middle of nowhere so only really accessible by car. Loved it.

The food is outstanding- so much detail and thought in every morsel of food served. Lovely, communal tables where you have an allocated space. The drinks and food menu is full of creative inspiration. The ‘clean’ eating approach in that no chemicals are used on the farm and the permaculture approach does make the experience quite pricey but for us once a year is worth it!

Incredible menu with a wonderful ethos. Great staff and lovely venue. Can’t wait to come back.

This is a fantastic place, the atmosphere is really nice and staff incredible! The food was amazing, totally recommend!

This was an amazing find in our trip to Edinburgh. I wish more restaurants and farms in the US used the sustainability model. We enjoyed it so much! Thank you for sharing your passion.

My husband and I decided to have our wedding at the Free Company. From the first time we visited the venue we had fallen in love with it. Apart from how beautiful the surroundings and the venue buildings are, the communication and service from the staff has been exceptional. They have made everything extremely easy for us resulting in a stress free wedding prep process and a relaxed wedding day. The food was outstanding and the best part is that it is freshly sourced from their land. The venue manager has also provided us with recommendations for wedding floral, photographers etc. We have made the right choice of following their advise regarding wedding suppliers and we couldn't be happier. We have now signed up to their farm shop where we are receiving boxes with fresh produce. I cannot recommend the Free Company enough. Thank you for everything.

Beautiful location, top quality food and lovely service with a quirky twist

Really beautiful place, and pretty interiors. We had lunch via their Sunday sessions which was 3 courses plus some brilliant bread and honey butter for £35. Really enjoyed overall

Had a fabulous Sunday lunch here. Excellent service and a beautiful location. The cocktails were fantastic too.

Absolutely nothing to complain about. The food was excellent and the care for what they is evident. All staff was knowledgeable and passionate about the dishes and drink pairings. The owner took the time to speak to each table and answer any questions about the place and its history and future projects. Great atmosphere, great care, great service. Well done and will definitely be back 👌🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Free Company hosted us for a lovely Sunday sessions meal a couple months ago. It was incredible with the first step to last step service. The food was incredible and staff very knowledgeable. A great experience! However, after returning just months later we were very disappointed at how low standards have dropped. No greeting when you walk in, silent staff and average food. We started off with the bread and pork crackling. The bread was amazing, the pork not so much. Farm to table is charming but not when your crackling is covered in hair! Appetiser was fine. The main course of lamb was yummy - however the waiter did not explain to us that it was lamb, and so was a surprise to some in our party. Maybe if the menu was explained then we would’ve picked vegetarian options. The dessert was good. Incredibly disappointed with the drop in quality! We thought we would be enjoying more meals with the Free Company but I don’t think we will. The only star comes from our previous experience.

Great dinner venue with outstanding locally grown produce.

We were in on a Friday night for a friend’s birthday and we couldn’t have had a better experience. The staff were really helpful and attentive, the setting was lovely and the food and drinks were excellent. I would really recommend the Free Company for a special occasion (or any other night). This was my 4th visit and I’ll definitely be back.

Food and drinks were good, with a lovely setting on an organic farm! But the service was a bit awkward and didn't feel natural, so some room for improvement for making it a more welcoming place

I've been a couple of times now and both times have been excellent! Lovely and incredibly knowledgeable staff, beautiful setting, delicious food and lovely atmosphere. A fab experience and would highly recommend!

I went to The Free Company with a large group of friends and we had the most incredible experience. The food was divine and the service was great. Staff were incredibly accommodating after we had made a slight mistake with numbers and they made sure we all had a great time. I would highly recommend!

I've been to The Free Company a couple of times now and both experiences have been great. The food is excellent, staff are lovely and helpful and overall, it's a lovely experience. I would highly recommend!

WOW. Around 30 of us rocked up to TFC for a birthday dinner which did not disappoint. From the starters to the staff it was an amazing experience. Can’t wait to come back.

My friends and I had such a brilliant experience at The Free Company this weekend. The staff were great and the food was divine. It's such a great experience and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Without a doubt one of the best dining experiences around. Food, atmosphere and service is excellent. I've been 5 times now and every single time has been exceptional. Such a great concept and can't wait to come back again!

We were in on a Friday night for a friend’s birthday and we couldn’t have had a better experience. The staff were really helpful and attentive, the setting was lovely and the food and drinks were excellent. I would really recommend the Free Company for a special occasion (or any other night). This was my 4th visit and I’ll definitely be back.

I visited for the first time at the weekend for a friends birthday. I loved the concept from start to finish. Friendly and attentive staff serving fresh food and wonderful wine. I can’t wait to go back!

I had a really wonderful experience at the Free Company at the weekend. The atmosphere, food and drinks were all of extremely high standard and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience that doesn’t compromise on quality, look no further.

Went as part of a large group for dinner and the service was amazing from the minute we arrived. Gorgeous setting with delicious seasonal food, will definitely be back!

Delightful culinary experience in a cozy atmosphere. From appetisers to desserts, each dish is crafted with care and bursting with flavour. The attentive staff ensures a pleasant dining experience from start to finish. Whether it's a special occasion or a casual dinner, The Free Company promises a memorable meal for all.

The Sunday service was bad. It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get three plates of starters to a party of five and a further 10 minutes to get the last two plates to the party. The starter was 2 sticks of asparagus and 2 stems of brocolli. It was a set menu for everyone in the party, and wasn't worth anywhere near the cost (£40 a head) Inattentive staff, careless presentation, poorly cooked food saved only by the grace that there wasn't much of it.

We visited along with o5hers who had been before and spoke highly of it. I have to say we were disappointed. There’s a six course meal which features heavily on produce from the farm, however if you’re not a big vegetable fan I’d avoid. Most courses were veg only. The bread however was delicious - highlight of the night. It’s a pay what you think it’s worth - with a guide price of £50-£60 a head. We paid £50/head but on reflection would only pay half that if we went again. - which we won’t.

The idea is great but execution wasn’t. Food was bland especially the soup ( we even overheard the couple next to us commenting that it needed salt). If you are paying £35pp for a Sunday lunch , one would expect a well seasoned meal at least. And to top it, the service was slow.

Brilliant. The place feels incredibly special, the staff are super friendly and the food is amazing. It's great that it's all sourced on the farm too. If you can get a booking go.

Delicious meal with a very interesting story about their circular farming techniques. The hosts went above and beyond, and we had a fantastic experience. Thank you!!

A unique and lovely place to have food and enjoy a wholesome evening. Great flavours and excellent wine pairing.

One of the best dining experiences I've had. Every dish was excellent.

The Free Company is a farm to table restaurant located on a farm on the outskirts of Balerno. The location is a bit out there (literally). The restaurant offers a shuttle from the nearest bus stop about a mile away although on a wet winter’s night it is probably best to drive. The restaurant is very rustic in keeping with the atmosphere they are trying to create. There is a bar and gathering area where drinks and canapes are served. A suggestion would be to put some small tables beside the bench seating as it can be a bit awkward balancing a drink and eating the (very delicious) canapés; also napkins would be nice. The dining area is upstairs in a warm loft. Seating is again bench style and the restaurant would benefit from having seatbacks on all of these or replacing them with chairs. You need to be sitting comfortably to enjoy the food. The food featured in season ingredients exclusively from the farm. A picture of the menu and some of the dishes are below. The flavours of the food were tasty albeit the soup course lacked seasoning. The pork was particularly tasty. Dessert was a bit disappointing as the pears were a bit hard in the middle although the sabayon was good. The restaurant operates on a pay what you think it is worth basis for the food (drinks are priced from a list and a wine pairing is available). Suggested normal pricing is £50-60. Although we paid £60 per head in retrospect probably £40-45 would have been closer to the mark. Everybody was very friendly and a warm welcome was received. There are the bones of a good restaurant here which with a few tweaks and refined touches would elevate its rating imho Not sure if it is a return destination for us although would accept that on a summer’s night it could be an entirely different experience

This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Delicious food, incredible service, lovely drinks, and an exceptional company and cause to support. The compound is beautiful and atmosphere is merry and welcoming. We highly recommend opting for the Wine Pairing - we felt it really enhanced the food experience. I will be returning without question next time I am in Scotland and will be recommending this to anyone who will listen to me.

Fantastic wedding venue. Food and service first class in cosy, welcoming surroundings. Beautiful rustic dining room, bar and outdoor fire pit with seating has something for everyone. Charlie, Angus and team are passionate about delivering high quality food produced in a sustainable fashion, cooking straight from the market garden. Excellent choice of wines and cocktails, served by knowledgeable waiting staff, combine for the perfect dining experience.

We were there for a wedding, candles on the walls with seating under them ,after a while they started to drip but with us being in other parts of the function barn it wasn’t noticed Before our wedding meal we went to collect our coats and jackets ,my husbands jacket was white with wax all down one side couldn’t believe it I didn’t want to cause a fuss so I waited till the end of the night . They didn’t want to know, it’s totally ruined and my husbands jacket wasn’t the only one with candle wax on. Drink prices rather expensive considering mixers are straight out of a 2litre plastic bottle!! I expected some sort of compromise for the wax damage, but none of the staff were interested or took any responsibility My husbands jacket has been in and out of the freezer since Saturday to attempt to freeze the wax before trying to remove, not looking good at all. Would not recommend this establishment for any function. A number of Health & Safety issues, and definitely not wheelchair friendly/accessible!,

A unique layout in a lovely location. The evening reception space is great for a party. Looking forward to being back in April.

Can not thank the staff at The Free Company enough for helping to make my Son and new Daughter-in-Law’s wedding a day we will never forget. The venue was perfect, food fantastic. They assisted greatly in the smooth running of the day. Providing access to set up the day before.

Lovely venue for a wedding, The staff were attentive and the food was grand . Will be back for dinner.

Had a lovely night , great atmosphere and lovely food. Just a few accessiblity things that could be improved. The gravel and sand from the car park is extremely difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, and the toilet flush is too high in the bathroom. Other than those small things we had a great night and would highly recommend.

This is the most magical place! The best meal, beautiful service and very yummy cocktails. It's the absolute best. HIGHLY recommend.

A wonderful place for wedding receptions or parties. It's at the end of a long dirt road but once you get there it's worth all the bumps in the road.

Came here years ago for their dinning experience. Doesn’t get more farm to table than these guys. As dinning experience, brothers Charlie and Angus make the perfect combo of chefs and service, it does really feel a family business, because it is! We had our wedding here in late 2022 too, price, flexibility and general ease of the organisation was tremendous! The mum, Helen is a florist and turned the place into the perfect wedding venue. Visit the place, the staff, the atmosphere and the whole set up is so wholesome, you’ll see what I mean!

My daughter got married here and we couldn't have asked for a happier and more welcoming of times! Beautifully designed so it felt holistic but very special. The team here seem to really love their jobs and made their wedding perfect! Thank you!

Amazing experience. So different and such a cool concept. The staff, wine, food and venue were all 10/10.

The wine pairing was an excellent and affordable addition

I would like to have given the food a higher score, because the idea is great and I fully support it, but we are pescatarian and despite a months notice, our food was really not great. The sourdough bread was the best. Some veg was too woody to eat, and I’m still tasting the green sauce, which left my tongue tingling, and a day later I’m still feeling it. I’m not convinced that it’s safe to just term an item ‘ green sauce’. It was extraordinarily bitter.

Brilliant evening with the team at the free company. Fab venue, great service, team were bloody brilliant. Food was top drawer! Thank you to all the team for putting on such a brilliant experience evening of food and sustainability. Vine and atmosphere were spot on. We went for night one of a gentlemen’s stag do - couldn’t recommend highly enough 👏👏👌👌💜

Truly memorable place with excellent food and superb service

Incredible food, great service, hidden gem.

Attended a wedding at the site. Food was great and a wonderful day had by all.

A beautiful experience, an incredible atmosphere busy yet intimate, to enjoy some lovely food and enterprise worth supporting

Always a great experience. Food is delicious and inspired. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Despite having been many times over the years, we always leave having had a refreshing and grounding experience. Free Co feels like going home for your tea in the best way.

First customers of 2023! Amazing food, interesting flavours and such a friendly, welcoming vibe. There were candles galore, creating a real chill vibe in the bar area, which is very rustic. The staff were friendly and up for a laugh, which is always refreshing and makes the experience a bit more interesting. Charlie made sure we were looked after. That bread and honey butter is fkn glorious, maybe the best thing I’ve ever eaten. All good is produced on the farm, and they are self-sustainable and eco-friendly, to the point where they can sequester carbon in the ground. I don’t know what this actually means, but the whole experience was minted.

Really amazing place, with set menus all locally grown and produced on-site at their own farm. Angus our host was very hospitable, and we had a lovely time with some of the other guests. All in all, you should go, and we will go again!

Came here for a friend's wedding, amazing dink options incredible food

Amazing restaurant and experience. Would highly recommend

I photographed Taylor & Luke’s wedding here last summer. I highly recommend it, the team were all fantastic and made the day run smoothly. The main barn area looked fantastic with a modern and rustic vibe for a wedding. The food was incredible too!!

Literally the best restaurant I have ever been to. Food, vibe, atmosphere, they have 100% the best thing going this side of the Milky Way. Go, and you’ll write a review just like this.

It’s all perfect in this place. I will be back !

Delicious food, great wine, fab space. Will be back for the next series. Learnt all about sustainable, no-dig farming. A very special place and very much enjoyed to start the festive celebrations!

A very festive experience! The pork main course was divine! Highly recommend!

Brilliant food, amazing atmosphere and a great approach to farming. Will definitely be going back!

The Free Company is unlike any other restaurant you will ever go to. It is a family business, run by two brothers, set on a rural farm near Balerno. It is housed in several farm buildings which have been sympathetically restored by them with great charm. There is a bar for pre-dinner drinks and their delicious nibbles, or if the weather is nice you can sit outside in the lovely cobbled courtyard. The buildings are heated by log-burning stoves which create a lovely feel and there's even a piano in the bar should you feel like a sing-song! You are made to feel welcome the moment you arrive. Everything on the menu is sustainably grown and reared by the family on the farm or locally sourced and of course everything is organic. The dining room/barn has beautiful installations of flowers hanging from old metal cart wheels. Again the flowers are all grown locally and I gather are mostly picked from the hedgerows on the farm. Even the lovely long tables and benches are made locally. The food is absolutely delicious and has been totally different every time I have been. I like their system of 'paying what you feel it is worth' so that younger people who wouldn't maybe be able to afford such a special meal can pay what they can afford. Highly recommended! I gather they do weddings too - what an amazing venue!

I was invited to a wedding reception here today...venue...food...staff just wonderful.

Amazing dining experience, food was excellent and service was fantastic. Can’t wait to go again! Thank you!

Fun experience in farm shed!! Meeting strangers at your bench table all part of the fun experience. It is a long drawn out dinner though; but maybe no surprise considering the number being served all at the same time; but maybe just too long. Food certainly different & inventive & tasty; 1 course tonight just a bit chewy!! The non-alcoholic cocktail a disappointment; just expensive fizzy water with little taste. But a good night out

Had an amazing dinner at the free company last week, absolutely brilliant place. They came pick us up with a jeep from Balerno high school and took us there, we had canapes and drinks, upon arrivals Angus, one of the founder, greeted us and I thought it was such a friendly homey touch, then after sitting by the fire pit we made our way to the dinner table, a cosy room with a long big table. We sat down close to two other lovely couples and at every course we got explained what we were about to eat. The company operates a pay what you think your meal is worth system and I find it really innovative. It is certainly an experience I would recommend, however it is not a child friendly event as the meal stretches for a while. Get on their mailing list in order to receive info and to book a place as it gets sold out really quickly usually.

We attended a friend's wedding here on Saturday 23 July and we were very impressed with the venue. The outdoor space where the ceremony took place was lovely and very well laid out. Thankfully the rain held out although I understand that there was an option to move the ceremony indoors if it did start raining. The area of the venue we used was split into 4 sections in addition to the outdoor courtyard: a entrance room where guests could leave gifts etc and the order of service could be displaye; a bar area where people could mill around; purchase drinks and stand and chat; a hall that was used as a seating area when food was served; and a disco area with a dancefloor later in the evening and the “loft” area which our friends had set up as a silent disco (extremely good fun by the way and would highly recommend this). The drinks prices were reasonable considering they have a captive audience (less than £6 for a pint of the blonde lager they have on tap which is really nice). Our friends opted to have a street food taco stand and a pizza stand outside the venue instead of a formal sit down meal however the venue put on canapes for after the ceremony and salads to go with the tacos or pizza. All the food provided by the venue was prepared fresh and picked from their own gardens (we actually saw them bring red and yellow beetroot in from the garden that was then used in the salad), because of the freshness the flavours were amazing. I hear the venue is offering a 7 course taster menu in their restaurant which I would love to try some time. Getting to the venue was easy enough, we were stopping in Currie and it was a short simple taxi ride away. Leaving the venue was much more difficult, despite pre-booking a taxi the time to be picked up came and went, the taxi never arrived, chased them and we were told it was about 30 minutes longer… still no taxi turned up. Thankfully a very kind and helpful person offered us a lift as she was heading into Edinburgh anyway. The moral of the story, have a back up plan taxi wise as it's not an easy place to get away from at night. Possibly one of the best things about the venue are the volunteers / employees. They worked so hard to make sure everyone's day was the best it could be. I especially want to give a shout out to Havana (who we thought looked like Halle Berry which she took as the compliment it was meant to be). She was always smiling, always happy to help and possibly one of the most customer service centric people I’ve ever come across. This woman is worth every penny to an employer like The Free Company. Once the event had come to an end and most people had left (we were sitting outside waiting for the missing taxi) she sat down with us to chat, we couldn’t believe that she was relatively new there, if someone had asked me beforehand I’d have said she'd worked there for ages. We were so impressed when she told us that most days she works as a volunteer picking the fruit and veg from the fields before then working a few evenings in the restaurant and staffing the events that are booked. To The Free Company, if you can help it, never let this woman go.

I was lucky enough to experience The Free Company. The event was well organized, the food was delicious and the venues were beautiful.

Best meal I’ve ever had! The site is great and surrounded by nature & the impeccable produce they grow there! Loved the fact everyone was sat together and eating the same dishes at the same time - the whole room was experiencing the same thing all at once! This created an atmosphere that was like a celebration - which created a wonderful warmth and buzz. Food ofc. was perfect! Cannot miss !!!

I have visited The Freecompany several times, always Great food, service and atmosphere.

Attended this venue as a supplier (our ceilidh band, Lost Shores, were booked for a private engagement). Found the staff to be very friendly and helpful, willing to assist with anything we needed. The venue itself was very rustic and charming and from what I am told a great night was had by our mutual clients.

A unique rustic venue. Ideal for a smallish wedding. Great atmosphere. Excellent food and attentive staff. Enjoyed a great day.

Brilliant evening in a unique and fascinating location with excellent service and food provided by attentive and professionbal staff. Could not have been better.

Fantastic, can't wait to go back!

Completely incredible experience from start to finish, the most outstanding food and wonderful insight into how it’s farmed right where you’re situated. You’re so well looked after and will leave feeling truly mesmerised and so full of joy!

I would recommend the Free Company to everyone. It's brilliant. The team work so hard. The venue is beautiful with such a nice atmosphere and the food is absolutely incredible. If you haven't been, go!

A unique dining experience that attracts fab company-the sustainable practices and produce from the farm made for a delightful winter menu in an amazing setting. Really well organised and a slick operation from start to finish. Notoriously difficult to get a reservation - so you know its good.

Absolutely exceptional evening. The passion and care that goes into an evening at The Free Company is obvious from the minute you arrive. We left feeling full, inspired and excited to visit again!! 5 stars and more!

Good venue for smallish wedding. Mix of outside and inside. Toilet facilities need to improve and order more bar stocks. Only had half bottle of tequila behind bar, no tomato juice for bloody Mary and no shot glasses. No proper plates or cutlery for evening snack.

Lovely place for a wedding. Food was great and all produced on the farm.

I attended a wedding reception here and The Free Company looked after us all so well and fed us scrumptious food! Absolutely gorgeous meal and fabulous service. I hope someday they add accommodation as it would be lovely to stay at such a quiet corner, outside the business of Edinburgh.

A labour of love in this rustic venue with 5 star food served for a wedding. 👏👏 Thank you to all the staff who made the evening so beautiful! Side note- not the place for high heels so wear your flats.

Wonderful project. Friendly people. Worth a visit!!

Absolutely amazing! Looking forward to going back. Highly recommended!

Amazing place, awesome atmosphere and lovely people. What more could you want? If you haven't been, you need to go!

Very special evening at the farm. Highly recommend

Great place, Food and most importantly people. I would highly recommend the experience!

Amazing place love visiting here and seeing the changes that are made each time!

Expensive but food is incredible

Amazing experience, beautiful food, lovely, knowledgable staff