A POPULAR brewery and a much-loved restaurant in Edinburgh have joined forces to revive an old pub in the Scottish capital.
The co-owners of the Edinburgh-based brewery Newbarns and the team behind The Palmerston have unveiled their plans to revive the existing The Cooper’s Rest pub on Easter Road, Leith, into a cosy destination for locals and visitors alike.
Closed since 2015, the two teams plan to restore Cooper’s Rest to its former glory by merging the “warmth and welcoming atmosphere” of a pub with quality drinks and food.
Plans for the venue include a menu which will focus on modern takes on classic comfort dishes, with the team working closely with farmers and producers to source local and seasonal produce.
Drinks will also be sourced locally, with beers coming from Newbarns, spirits from Leith-based brands including Woodrow’s of Edinburgh, Blind Summit, Electric Spirit Co and Fragrant Drops, and wines from The Palmerston’s cellar.
James Snowdon, co-owner of The Palmerston along with Lloyd Morse, said he can’t wait to bring forwards his idea of a pub with excellent food and an atmosphere to match.
He said: “The seed for the pub was planted way back in 2022. Through getting to know Gordon and the team at Newbarns, we realised we're all gagging for Edinburgh to have a proper pub which serves proper pub food.
“Edinburgh is a city full of great pubs, but every ‘gastropub’ in the city is really a restaurant – you can't go into them and sit at the bar all afternoon drinking pints.
“During the last few years we've discovered we have similar ideas of what we love in a pub and want to bring that to Edinburgh: Exceptional food, quality drinks and a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike”.
The Cooper’s Rest plans to open early-2026 with Newbarns co-owner Gordon McKenzie, along with Emma McIntosh, saying the partnership between the two [[Edinburgh]] businesses feels just right.
He said: “At Newbarns, everything we do starts with that feeling you get around a pub table with friends – the easy camaraderie, the good conversation.
“So often those friendships, and those tables, have included the brilliant people from The Palmerston so this collaboration at The Cooper’s just feels right.
“We can't wait to share our passion for exceptional food, great beer, and truly good company, bringing everyone together under one roof.”
