Just in time for the summer season, award-winning boutique hotel the Dunstane Houses has launched a new outdoor bar and dining venue, giving both guests and visitors a picturesque spot to savour lazy days in the sunshine and alfresco evenings under the stars.

Set on the emerald-green lawns of Dunstane House in Edinburgh’s West End, the Champagne and Gin Garden allows up to 70 people at a time to enjoy a meticulously curated range of Scottish beers, and fine wines, and craft spirits – as well as Dunstane’s beloved Joseph Perrier Champagne (Queen Victoria’s favourite bubbly).

Covers and heaters are on hand to provide warmth and shelter should the weather take a turn to the chilly, with versatile seating arrangements for groups of different sizes – from intimate date nights to gang-back-together celebrations. Whether you’re idling over a G&T in a deckchair or sipping a single malt in a hammock, the Garden is Edinburgh’s idyllic summertime retreat.

Like all businesses in the hospitality sector, the Dunstane Houses has faced a challenging year, but the periods of enforced closure have given the Dunstane team opportunity to concentrate on enriching the five-star hotel’s guest offering and to plan for the future. The new Champagne and Gin Garden is a key part of the hotel’s renewed offering – and an exciting addition to the Edinburgh outdoor bar scene in its own right.

“We are delighted to re-open our doors, welcome our guests back to the hotel and launch our new Champagne and Gin Garden. It’s something we’ve been working very hard towards for a long time and we believe it will become one of Edinburgh’s most beloved outdoor venues. There are lots of exciting plans coming up for the Garden and the hotel over the next few months – we’ll be sharing these with everyone very soon.”

– Shirley Mowat, owner, The Dunstane Houses

The Garden’s drinks menu reflects the same attention to detail and passion for craft and small-batch spirits as the Ba’ Bar – the hotel’s much-loved indoor bar. Craft spirits including artisanal Orkney gins, Japanese vodka and Scottish whisky are teamed with premium mixers from Double Dutch. Carefully selected wines are available by the glass and bottle – as is a creative cocktail selection, including a rosemary-infused gin fizz and whisky-spiked strawberry lemonade.

As regular guests have come to expect from the Dunstane’s kitchens, the Garden’s dining menu is a showcase of seasonal Scottish produce, looking to the culinary heritage of highland and island to offer a contemporary spin on classic flavours. A range of ‘Wee bites’ including haggis fritters and sriracha-slaked tenderstem broccoli tempura are served alongside ‘Bigger bites’ including beer-battered fish and chips, beetroot risotto, and sharing platters taking guests on tasting tours of Scotland and Orkney. The Dunstane Houses’ signature afternoon teas (optionally enhanced with champagne or gin, naturally) are served every day from 12–5pm.

The Garden at the Dunstane Houses is now open from noon until late, seven days a week, for both bookings and walk-ins, and available for exclusive hire for events and celebrations.