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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be stressing about Edinburgh trip?

43 replies

Detest · 09/12/2021 00:50

Supposed to be taking DD15 to Edinburgh Christmas market 5 days before Christmas. Trains and hotel all booked, have been for months.
Its now occurring to me, with covid and it being Christmas week, I have no idea where we're going to eat because everything will be booked and I have no idea what the actual covid rules are.
For context, we're travelling from England. I want to cancel, DP says I'm stressing over nothing and DD will be devastated

OP posts:
Bagadverts · 09/12/2021 08:13

Lunch (and maybe breakfast?) might be available at the market itself.

LIZS · 09/12/2021 08:20

Or at the hotel? Whereabouts are you staying?

Crayzeefrog · 09/12/2021 08:21

Yes you are stressing over nothing! Plenty of outdoor food options at the Christmas markets, lots of cafes and restaurants open and you can book restaurants yourself now. If you’re struggling maybe try places that don’t offer a Christmas option and are less likely to be booked up for Christmas events.

Shimmylikejoanholloway · 09/12/2021 08:24

We went to the market and ate at the actual market - mulled wine, bratwurst, donuts, potato on sticks, cheese toastie type things. So much choice!
It was insanely busy at the market so I’d prepare for that, we had to queue to get in for quite a while so wrap up warm!

For the evenings, we booked one place and then wandered around to find somewhere the other evening - we did get turned away from a couple of places but there was still lots of choice.

If you’re worried you can always see if you can book in advance, it seems to be a mixed bag of who takes bookings. Also there’s probably availability now as hospitality has had a lot of cancellations due to omicron

I love Edinburgh Christmas market!

santasmuma · 09/12/2021 08:25

You are stressing over nothing. Our rules haven't changed. I go to Edinburgh at least twice a month and have never had a problem getting anywhere to eat. The markets are over related though. Same few stalls repeated multiple times usually.

NightmareSlashDelightful · 09/12/2021 08:27

I live in central Edinburgh. It’s fine — rules are we wear masks in indoor settings, and we are encouraged to check in and out with Test & Protect (some places just take a phone number instead). At this point there are no requirements to show vaccine passports or anything (this may change but I can’t see it happening this side of Christmas now).

Actually, I would say Edinburgh feels more ‘normal’ than London (I moved from London to Edinburgh earlier this year) throughout all this.

It is busy, but then Edinburgh is always busy.

Booking — I would book a handful of things for evening meals, and leave the rest for walk-in/ad hoc. You’ll always find something if you’re central, especially if you swerve the tourist traps (anything on the Royal Mile/High Street or St Andrew Square, essentially).

NightmareSlashDelightful · 09/12/2021 08:29

To clarify — vaccine passports for restaurants and pubs. We do have to show them for big events — gigs or theatre shows, for example.

RedHot22 · 09/12/2021 08:29

You are stressing over nothing OP.
I was there last weekend. There are loads of food stalls on the markets and we just walked in to eat at lunchtime.

You should maybe prebook for dinner if you want somewhere in particular.

AlexaIWillNeverSayDucking · 09/12/2021 08:29

Why don't you just book some places, to put your mind at rest?

RedHot22 · 09/12/2021 08:31

What sort of food do you like OP

I’m sure we can recommend some places 😊

cloudyrain · 09/12/2021 08:40

Having been to the Edniburgh market this year, I am not sure I would make a special trip to visit. Anyway as it is mainly food/drink stalls you won't starve.
If you are worried about evening meals why don't you make some bookings now?

Askinforabaskin · 09/12/2021 08:49

I was in Edinburgh on Saturday (I live 30 mins away on the train) and I detested it. It was heaving. You couldn’t move in the shops. Had to queue to get out of primark.

As long as you aren’t going at the weekend it won’t be that bad, but I didn’t enjoy it on the Saturday.

DappyApple · 09/12/2021 08:51

We were in Edinburgh back in the summer for my sons belated graduation event and there were loads of cafes and takeaways that had seating areas for walk ins. A couple of times we grabbed a meal deal from the supermarket for lunch.

Just don’t make the same mistake as we did, we thought mask wearing had been dropped as it had been in England. Couldn’t understand why we were getting some funny looks inside shops. And out of all the shops we’d gone into had only been asked twice to put one on. It was Only when ds arrived the following day told us it was still compulsory in Scotland! Blush

WouldBeGood · 09/12/2021 08:54

Definitely Chez Jules for food. An Edinburgh institution.

Modern One has a lovely cafe and nice grounds as well as art though it’s not central.

RedHot22 · 09/12/2021 17:52

I can recommend Chaophraya - Thai.
Fantastic views of the city

Mrsjayy · 09/12/2021 17:55

You can't get moving in Edinburgh for eateries just bring your mask wear it inside and that's basically the rules. Don't cancel see what you want to eat and book a few places if you want but most will be walk ins.

Sceptre86 · 09/12/2021 18:49

It will be fine, just have a look and book your evening meals if you are looking at fancier places. There are loads of restaurants and cafes that welcome walk in. Lots of work xmas dos have been cancelled so I think you might be pleasantly surprised about availability.

RedHot22 · 09/12/2021 18:51

Especially ok now probably as new guidance is asking people in Scotland to cancel parties.

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