Scottish writers toast new Edinburgh restaurant

Left to right, Lin Anderson, Sue Lawrence, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Chris Brookmyre, Jenni Fagan and Doug Johnstone toast the new venture. Picture: Sandy Young

A host of Scottish writers including Ian Rankin, Christopher Brookmyre and Doug Johnstone attended the opening of The Printing Press and Kitchen in Edinburgh.

Des McDonald’s new 180-seat venture is based in a Georgian townhouse at 21-25 George Street, home in the 1780s to the acclaimed novelist Susan Ferrier and to John Oliphant in the late 1840s.

Oliphant’s and Ferrier’s descendants founded Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, one of Scotland’s most prestigious publishing houses, best known for the series of Famous Scots books.

“I can’t think of a group of guests more fitting to join us on our first day of business than the literary greats of modern-day Edinburgh,” McDonald said.