Family fun success for Edinburgh restaurant, The Yard in Leith – Food and Drink PR

FOOD AND DRINK PR showcase a new family-friendly destination offering the unique mix of a quality restaurant with an excellent outdoor play facility has arrived in Edinburgh with the opening of The Yard, Leith.

It has been created by the same mother-turned-businesswoman behind the highly successfully Molly’s Play Centre in Edinburgh and promises to change the landscape of family restaurants in the capital.

Lorraine Politi opened Molly’s, situated on the top floor of Ocean Terminal in Leith, four years ago after becoming fed up with quality of indoor play facilities for her two children.

Molly’s attracts up to 2000 kids and parents on busy weeks and from dealing with them Lorraine recognised families were desperate for a venue which would combine a high-quality restaurant with an outdoor play area, where they could enjoy time together.

The Yard, Leith, situated in the site of the former Courtyard in Bonnington Road and representing a £550,000 investment, is now the realisation of that dream. the coverage highlights from this campaign are:

• a feature in the 5pm Blog
• regional coverage in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Edinburgh Herald and Post
• valuable national coverage in The Evening News and the Sunday Times 

Friendly atmosphere

Lorraine, 46, who is running the venture along with her extended family, said: “The Yard, Leith, is completely different from any other family restaurant out there. We will be serving freshly prepared food in a friendly atmosphere that welcomes children and ensures they are well looked after.”

Central to the experience at The Yard, Leith, is its large, enclosed outdoor play area which has the appearance of an extended garden. It has with protective flooring, playhouses, giant Connect 4 and Jenga games and other play equipment. The play area is free to use for customers.

Lorraine said: “We are really looking to let kids be kids and enjoy themselves. By having the outdoor area that’s right outside the eating area, it means youngsters have the freedom to play, then sit down for a meal, then go outside again – while the rest of the family can relax.

“I also think it is great that we are providing a place where families can enjoy time together.

People have such busy lives that sitting down for a family meal is too often a rarity these days.

“Sometimes a trip out for a family meal is spoiled because the children don’t like the formality of a traditional restaurant, or perhaps a traditional restaurant doesn’t like children.

“With the experience we’ve gained from running Molly’s for the past four years we know kids and how to deal with them – and that should be really reassuring to any parent or grandparent.”

High quality menu in Edinburgh

As well as strong focus on play and fun, The Yard, Leith, is also determined to offer a high-quality menu and aims to challenge traditional thinking about family restaurants by creating a menu of classic and new dishes to appeal to all ages.

At the core of the restaurant’s offering – the restaurant is open from 12noon-9pm – is a commitment to serve kids only fresh, wholesome food.  So instead of frozen chicken nuggets, The Yard, Leith, will cut and breadcrumb fresh chicken breasts into ‘Chicken Lickin’ strips.

The adults will also enjoy a variety of delicious meals such as Black and Tan (black pudding and haggis in a filo basket topped with caramelised onions and balsamic dressing); Stornay Chicken (chicken breast pan fried with garlic in a creamy Glayva sauce, served on Stornaway black pudding) and Salmon Yardino (oven baked salmon lightly drizzled with a buttery lemon cream sauce).

Despite the family-friendly focus, The Yard, Leith, aims to become a great neighbourhood bar/cafe, serving coffees, paninis and cakes from 10am and appealing to locals and others alike as drinking spot after the traditional early evening family periods.  It will also serve weekend brunches and Sunday roasts.

Lorraine added: “We’re hoping those families who enjoy the Molly’s experience will like what we have put together at The Yard, Leith.

“But more than that, we think there’s a corner for everyone at The Yard, Leith – a place for kids, families and those who want a comfortable village-like bar and restaurant.”

The Yard, Leith, will be open daily from 10am to 11pm and has been promoted by Holyrood PR PR in Edinburgh. For more information, bookings, reservations on The Yard, Leith, go to www.theyardleith.com or call 0131 554 1314.

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