Tucked away on Cockdurno Farm at the foot of the Pentland Hills, The Free Company Balerno is a unique Scottish restaurant that brings together sustainability, creativity and community in a beautifully restored barn. Just outside Edinburgh, this lively, down-to-earth space offers a true farm-to-table experience rooted in nature and flavour.
Everything begins on the farm. The Free Company grows and raises its own produce using organic, no-dig, regenerative methods that prioritise soil health, biodiversity and sustainability - a philosophy that earned them national recognition as a prime case sustainable restaurant. The converted barn setting, with its exposed stone, timber beams and soft industrial lighting, creates a warm and welcoming space for relaxed dining, long lunches and lively feasts.
Menus evolve daily according to what’s fresh from the fields. Expect small plates like smoked sourdough with honey butter, house charcuterie with pickles or garden scrumpet with kimchi mayo, and larger dishes such as hay-baked celeriac with fava beans or slow-cooked Dexter brisket with mash and roast-billed velvet crab sauce. Desserts feature delights such as rhubarb bakewell with hay custard or pumpkin seed ice cream with porridge praline, showcasing the kitchen’s creativity further.
Throughout the year, The Free Company also hosts seasonal events, including themed feasting menus that celebrate the best of each harvest. There’s a farm shop on site where visitors can buy produce grown and made on the farm. With natural wines, local beers and a menu guided by the land, The Free Company Balerno embodies the spirit of modern Scottish dining - honest, seasonal and deeply connected to nature.