Edinburgh craft brewer kicks off new deal with city bar makeover
- Guild Secretary
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
One of Edinburgh’s leading craft breweries has been named as the official local craft beer partner for a ‘hidden gem’ bar in the heart of the Old Town.
Cold Town Beer is teaming up with Kick Ass Bar for the first time to help launch an exciting new outdoor beer garden, with seating for up to 45 Edinburgh beer lovers and visitors to the city.
The Kick Ass beer garden on Candlemaker Row has recently been transformed for festival season and features Cold Town Beer’s signature candy stripes and bold brand colours.
The equivalent of around 3,000 pints of Cold Town Beer have already been poured at the new-look Kick Ass Bar since the new partnership began during this year’s festival, including the brewery’s multi-award-winning Crisp Craft Lager and Baltic IPA.
Cold Town Beer is now also the official local craft beer partner for Kick Ass Hostels in the Grassmarket and Greyfriars, which welcome UK-wide and international visitors to Edinburgh, including people from the USA, France, Germany and Ireland.
Kick Ass Bar takes centre stage in one of Edinburgh’s busiest visitor destinations. The Grassmarket attracts more than two million visitors each year, with the area becoming a particular focal point during the summer festival season.
This new partnership with Kick Ass Bar and Hostels is the latest milestone on the rapid growth trajectory of Cold Town Beer, which has become a significant name on the craft beer scene in its Edinburgh hometown and beyond.
The Edinburgh beer brand will remain the exclusive tipple of choice at Kick Ass Bar and Hostels throughout autumn and winter 2026 until the end of August 2027.
Cold Town Beer takes its name from Edinburgh’s Calton Hill, which was originally called Caltoun, meaning cold town.
The Grassmarket was a hub for brewing as early as the 1500s and was home to the original Heriot Brewery. Cold Town Beer is now brewed in the Grassmarket, less than 500 metres from Kick Ass Bar.
Ruth Reid from Cold Town Beer, said:
“We’re delighted to be working with the team at Kick Ass Bars. We’re both colourful, playful Edinburgh brands with a shared passion for creating memorable experiences, so the partnership felt like a natural fit from the outset.
"Kick Ass Bars welcome an incredible mix of locals and international visitors, giving us a brilliant opportunity to introduce more people to beer brewed just a few minutes away.
"We’ve loved bringing the Kick Ass beer garden transformation to life together. It creates a real sense of fun for the Festival Fringe, but this is much more than a summer activation—we’re excited to continue developing the partnership over the year ahead.”
James Butler, bar manager from Kick Ass, said:
“We’re buzzing to announce that Cold Town Beer is now our local craft beer partner at Kick Ass Bar!
“For us, keeping it local just makes sense, especially when seriously good beer is being brewed right here in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, just a stone’s throw from our bar.
“It’s local beer, brewed by local people, poured in a local bar and enjoyed by people from Edinburgh and all over the world. We’re seriously excited to have Cold Town on board. Here’s to great beer, good times and keeping things local in the Grassmarket.”
Ruth Reid from Cold Town Beer, added:
“The full Cold Town Beer range is also available at our official home in the Grassmarket. Cold Town House has its very own taproom and iconic roof terrace with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.”
For more information on Kick Ass Bar and Cold Town Beer, go to www.kickassbar.co.uk and coldtownbeer.com
Notes to editor
PHOTOS
Photos of Fraser Purdie and Rose Grant from Kick Ass Bars, plus Irma Jansen (Sales & Business Development Manager) and Ruth Reid (Brand & Marketing Manager) from Cold Town Beer at the new-look Kick Ass Bar in Edinburgh are available on Dropbox via the link below. Please credit Kick Ass Bars / Cold Town Beer:
About Cold Town Beer
Cold Town Beer is an Edinburgh craft brewery founded in 2018. The brand takes its name from Calton Hill, which was originally known as Caltoun, meaning “Cold Town”.
Cold Town Beer operates a microbrewery at Cold Town House in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, alongside its main brewery on Dunedin Street. Its range includes Crisp Craft Lager, Baltic IPA, Too Easy Pale Ale, XPA and Robert the Juice.
Cold Town Beer is owned and operated by Edinburgh-based Signature Group, a leading Scottish hospitality company comprising more than 20 bars, restaurants, hotels and a brewery. Its venues include Cold Town House, McLarens on the Corner, Copper Blossom, The Rutland, The Huxley, Kyloe and Badger & Co.
For more information, visit coldtownbeer.com or signaturepubs.co.uk/venues
About Kick Ass Bars
Kick Ass Bars are located within the Kick Ass Greyfriars location within Edinburgh’s Old Town. The bars welcome Edinburgh locals and international visitors, offering drinks, entertainment and views of Edinburgh Castle from its prominent city centre location.
Kick Ass Grassmarket is located at 2 West Port, and Kick Ass Greyfriars is located at 37–39 Cowgate. For more information, visit kickassbar.co.uk
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For more information:
Jonathan James Perkins MCIPR Limited
Communications Specialist & Director
Travel & Tourism | Food & Drink | Hospitality
Email: jonjamesperkins@gmail.com
Mobile: 07894 711 515
Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.
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