An Edinburgh cocktail bar is getting a £100,000 refurbishment.
The Blackbird, located on Leven Street in Edinburgh’s Tollcross area, is undergoing an interior transformation ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The venue is expected to reopen in mid-July.
Established in 2012, The Blackbird has built a reputation as a popular independent food and drink venue, known for its vibrant atmosphere and urban beer garden.
The refurbishment includes a contemporary design featuring mid-century-inspired plaster pink, terracotta and blue-green colour schemes, alongside updated tiling, globe lighting and pop art elements.
Banquette seating for larger groups and a wider bar area for dining and cocktails also form part of the redesign.
The £100,000 investment is part of a wider programme of improvements planned throughout 2026, with a second phase scheduled for later this year.
Alongside the refurbishment, bartenders have created a new summer cocktail menu, including the "Joggling Board", made with rum, orange liqueur, sweet Italian vermouth, grapefruit and turmeric.
New drinks also include a frozen house martini, plus a range of alcohol-free cocktails, beers and ciders.
The refreshed all-day menu features dishes including whole burrata with honeydew melon salsa and prosciutto crisps, pork belly with curried cauliflower, green apple and honey, and fried chicken with house peach hot sauce and fermented pineapple relish.
Vegan options include the "Spa Salad", made with broccoli, strawberry, avocado, chickpeas and kale.
The Blackbird also supports 20 full and part-time hospitality jobs.
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Colin Church, managing director and co-owner of Big Red Teapot, said: "We’ve been making memories and serving happiness at The Blackbird since 2012 with an ever-changing cocktail offer, fantastic food and popular beer garden.
"We’re now gearing up to elevate the customer experience even further this summer with an exciting new interior makeover and menus in time for the Festival.
"We can’t wait to unveil our new look to local neighbourhood customers, as well as welcoming new visitors and festival goers this summer and beyond."
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