Edinburgh Uni and Grassmarket Events Service

Edinburgh University and Grassmarket Events Service
Cooking up a great relationship

Impressively situated at the top of The Mound, Edinburgh University’s School of Divinity is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in Edinburgh. After lockdown, something was needed to encourage students to eat, drink and, importantly, socialise in the School.

How long have you been working with Grassmarket Catering and Events Service?

Julie: Discussions were ongoing between the Grassmarket team and the School of Divinity just as I was coming into my role. We wanted to partner with someone who was grassroots Edinburgh, a community project which gave back to the wider community. Grassmarket Community Project is just such a good fit with the School of Divinity’s values. I started in the covid years when students couldn’t use the Rainy Hall, they couldn’t congregate and socialise. As soon as the GCP team came in, you could feel a vibrancy about the place and it is great to go in at lunchtime and hear the different voices of staff and students coming together.

Jeremy:  From my point of view, it was always part of the fabric of the School when I arrived and it seemed to me such a brilliant outreach structure for us. A key part of our mission, with our academic work, research and teaching, is to ensure we speak to the world, and community relations are central to that. For me starting last year, working with the GCP was a gift in the sense it fitted with our values and spoke to our students as well. We need to be linked to the community and part of doing this is working with the Grassmarket Community Project team.

What are the main ways you use Grassmarket Catering and Events Service?

Julie:  The Grassmarket catering service is really integrated into the flow of our academic year and academic life, it’s entwined with the annual rhythms of what you do. They do a lot for us during Welcome Week when students come in week one, and then at the end of the year they are involved in Graduation, so it’s the full life cycle of the student experience. 

In Welcome Week it’s the students first encounter with the School of Divinity so it’s pivotal that it kicks off well and sets the foundations for the four years ahead. By 4th year graduation, they bring in family and loved ones, so it’s really important we pitch that right. This year was a huge success with more people at the reception than we have ever had, where canopies, cakes and drinks are served. There are not many times a year when staff and students come together socially, but we use the Grassmarket catering services for our staff and student Christmas lunch; they cater for around 100 of us. The food is great and the atmosphere is brilliant actually. It’s rare to be able to have such a connection with students in this way and on such a scale.   

Jeremy:  The key thing is, it’s vital for us to have a café in this building and that’s quite a difficult balance. All other university facilities are nearer George Square, so students that come to use our library don’t have access to catering amenities. We have to make sure that our outlet is maintained but it’s a difficult balance and a challenge because we don’t always have the density of students. The Grassmarket team work well with us on this and know the rhythm of our year. The Grassmarket team support for our big events as well.

What has impressed you most about the Grassmarket Catering and Events Service?

Jeremy: The Grassmarket team delivered our Burns Supper which was a magnificent event! It was an extraordinary experience and the food was a such a big part of that at each stage of the evening. During the evening, the Grassmarket team were so involved, even carrying round the haggis led by the piper.

Julie:  What surprised me, which I didn’t know, was that they can do everything from basic sandwiches to a fine dining experience.

What’s the food like?

Jeremy:  In particular for me the Burns meal was very good and they also do a good breakfast and lunch menu in our Rainy Hall. The really popular lunch which people look out for, including myself, is the vegetable lasagne, its brilliant! 

Julie:  Fajitas are very popular as well. The range of food that they offer is impressive.

Who have you worked with at the Grassmarket, and how is the relationship going?

Julie:  I work very closely with Catherine in my role and we have a really easy and honest relationship.   Catherine and I finesse the café menu, so our open, honest relationship helps us to continually improve. It’s good communication, she knows where I am, and I know where she is. I know she’d come and chat to me about anything that’s going well or not. We also work quite closely with Alex who is fab, always asking if there are other ways they can support us. We’ve got to know the team and see them as part of the fabric of the building and the School.

Jeremy:  We have a good link with the people who work in the Café, they are always very friendly. Lorna and the team are great. It’s always nice to talk to them, I make a point of having a chat at least once a week.  

Do they cope well with dietary requirements?

Julie:  University is very progressive about needing to cater for different requirements and different needs. That’s something the Grassmarket team are always happy to work with us to accommodate, deliver and improve.

Jeremy:  They definitely cater well for vegetarians, I know as I am one!

Do you have any events coming up?

Julie: We have the regular cycle of events through the year and I am currently engaging with Catherine to look at ways to incorporate the Grassmarket’s catering more from the university’s perspective; how we might introduce more events into the calendar.

Would you recommend GCP to other organisations?

Julie:  I would recommend working with Grassmarket Catering and Events Service for their menus and particularly around their flexibility and willingness to work with the client and find out what works. They are open to doing almost any type of event if they have the space and availability to do it. 

Jeremy:  The Grassmarket team have a willingness to support us with our specific needs, within the limitations and constraints we have. They are always committed and willing to support us which is a key to making a relationship work on both sides.  

Anything else you’d like to add?

Jeremy:  We do appreciate the contact we have with everyone at the GCP and how well they look after us and the students.  Mass catering is quite difficult to ensure quality, especially when speed of delivery is important, but the standards are high and they do a great job.