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Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Celebrating 25 years of Oink, Edinburgh with better than 2000s prices
Pulled hog roast rolls will be available for less than a third of the standard price Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... PULLED PORK lovers across Edinburgh are in for a treat as one of the capital's most beloved lunch spots celebrates a quarter century of roasting with its cheapest ever price. On Saturday May 31, the team behind Oink will be rolling back the years with regular-sized hog roast rolls for just £2.50, a price lower than when the business began at Edinburgh farmer's market in the early 2000s - and a roughly 70% discount on the standard price. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Starting as doors open at 11am across all three Edinburgh shops – Victoria Street, Royal Mile and Hanover Street – the promotion will run until the rolls are sold out. Co-founders Sandy Pate and Adam Marshall The much-loved Edinburgh institution, which earlier this month marked 25 years in business, is giving fans old and new a chance to join the celebrations in the tastiest way possible. Co-founder Adam Marshall, whose family farm in Berwickshire still supplies the business, said: 'This is our way of saying thank you, to the locals, students, office workers, and tourists who've queued at our counters, rain or shine, for the best part of two and a half decades. 'We thought long and hard about how to celebrate turning 25, and what better way than to serve our signature rolls at a price that gives everyone a bite of the nostalgia?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Oink's famously simple offering, pulled pork rolls served hot with optional haggis, stuffing, crackling and sauces, has seen it become a cult hit. The shops serve thousands of customers each week, with visitors from across the globe making the pilgrimage to try the city's most photographed pork offering. Oink is celebrating 25 years by slashing its prices by almost 70% Co-founder Sandy Pate, who still farms just a few miles from Adam, added: 'We've been blown away by the reaction to our 25th year, and we know that in today's cost-of-living crunch, a roll for £2.50 feels like a proper treat. 'We can't wait to see the queues and the smiles, it's going to be a busy day, so we're urging people to come early, come hungry, and bring their piggy banks.' From humble beginnings at the Edinburgh Farmers Market, Oink's signature rolls quickly developed a following. Their first permanent shop opened in 2008 and has since expanded to three locations in the capital – becoming a must-visit for foodies and fans alike. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Oink roll has even earned international recognition, featured on the hit Netflix food show Somebody Feed Phil, and championed by stars including Radio 1's Greg James and foodie and comedian Ed Gamble. Despite the attention, the business remains fiercely independent and family-run, with Adam and Sandy still hands-on and proudly sourcing all pork from their own farms in the Borders. The one-day £2.50 roll deal is expected to generate huge interest, and with the rolls sold until they're gone, fans are advised to plan ahead. For those wanting to make the most of the deal, Oink's shops will open at 11am sharp on Saturday 31st May and will keep serving until the pigs run out – which, given past form, could be fast. For more information about Oink, visit:
Edinburgh Reporter
25-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Oink celebrates 25 years by slashing prices
One of Edinburgh's favourite lunch spots celebrates a quarter century of roasting pork with its cheapest ever price. On Saturday 31 May, the team at Oink will be rolling back the years with regular-sized hog roast rolls for just £2.50, a price lower than when the business began at Edinburgh farmer's market in the early 2000s – and a roughly 70% discount on the standard price. Starting as doors open at 11am across all three Edinburgh shops – Victoria Street, Royal Mile and Hanover Street – the promotion will run until the rolls are sold out. The much-loved Edinburgh institution, which earlier this month marked 25 years in business, is giving fans old and new a chance to join the celebrations in the tastiest way possible. Co-founder Adam Marshall, whose family farm in Berwickshire still supplies the business, said: 'This is our way of saying thank you, to the locals, students, office workers, and tourists who've queued at our counters, rain or shine, for the best part of two and a half decades. 'We thought long and hard about how to celebrate turning 25, and what better way than to serve our signature rolls at a price that gives everyone a bite of the nostalgia?' Oink's famously simple offering, pulled pork rolls served hot with optional haggis, stuffing, crackling and sauces, has seen it become a cult hit. The shops serve thousands of customers each week, with visitors from across the globe making the pilgrimage to try the city's most photographed pork offering. Co-founder Sandy Pate, who still farms just a few miles from Adam, added: 'We've been blown away by the reaction to our 25th year, and we know that in today's cost-of-living crunch, a roll for £2.50 feels like a proper treat. 'We can't wait to see the queues and the smiles, it's going to be a busy day, so we're urging people to come early, come hungry, and bring their piggy banks.' From humble beginnings at the Edinburgh Farmers Market, Oink's signature rolls quickly developed a following. Their first permanent shop opened in 2008 and has since expanded to three locations in the capital – becoming a must-visit for foodies and fans alike. The Oink roll has even earned international recognition, featured on the hit Netflix food show Somebody Feed Phil, and championed by stars including Radio 1's Greg James and foodie and comedian Ed Gamble. Despite the attention, the business remains fiercely independent and family-run, with Adam and Sandy still hands-on and proudly sourcing all pork from their own farms in the Borders. The one-day £2.50 roll deal is expected to generate huge interest, and with the rolls sold until they're gone, fans are advised to plan ahead. For those wanting to make the most of the deal, Oink's shops will open at 11am sharp on Saturday 31 May and will keep serving until they run out – which, given past form, could be fast. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish farmers celebrate 25 years of hog roasting success
A renowned Scottish hog roast business famed for the freshly roasted pig visible from its three Edinburgh shop windows is celebrating a quarter century of roasting. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The prominent Oink shops celebrate just one product – the 14-hour slow-roasted pork, which available in three sizes of rolls, or in a box, with optional haggis stuffing, crackling, apple sauce or chilli sauce. Founded by two Borders farming families off the back of the 1999 pig price crash, the brand, which has been copied around the world from China to Argentina, is targeting 2025 as being its record year, with an aim to surpass 250,000 rolls sold. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Adam Marshall, who co-founded Oink with Sandy Pate and who farms land near Reston in Berwickshire, said: 'When we started out, we weren't trying to build an empire — we were just two farmers trying to stay afloat during a tough time for the pig industry. L-R Sandy Pate and Adam Marshall 'We built our own ovens, turned up at farmers markets, and hoped people would give it a try. To still be here 25 years later, serving hundreds of thousands of rolls a year, is something we're really proud of. 'We've stuck to what we know, kept it simple, and done it our way. The fact people still queue up for it means a lot to us.' The collaboration started when Adam Marshall and Sandy Pate founded Reiver Country Farm Foods and began selling produce from their farms and neighbours locally. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Then, inspired by what was believed to be the only hog roaster at the time, a business in York, the entrepreneurial pair brought a homemade roasting oven and started venturing up to Castle Terrace to take part in the first established Edinburgh Farmers Market. Sandy and Adam in the early days Their piping hot pulled pork rolls proved an instant crowd-pleaser, attracting a growing band of hungry regulars, which paired with the demand from tourists, especially those from Asia and mainland Europe, then inspired the move to bricks and mortar in the Scottish capital. Sandy Pate, who farms around 12 miles away from Adam in Longformacus, said: "We were just two mates with a passion for great meat and a desire to show city folk what Borders farming could deliver. "We never imagined that a weekend stall would become something that would draw such loyal customers from near and around the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "At the end of the day, it's about making people happy with something that tastes brilliant – and diversifying our farming businesses to ensure a viable and prosperous future for our families.' Sandy Pate (left) and Adam Marshall at the Victoria Street store The pair opened the doors to their first dedicated shop, Oink, in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town in 2008. Nestled on the cobbled Victoria Street, the shop quickly became a firm favourite among tourists, students, and workers alike. A second opened on the Royal Mile in 2014, followed by a Hanover Street shop in 2018. Oink has grown into a treasured part of the city's food scene, dishing out thousands of hand-pulled rolls each week and building a fiercely loyal following. Its famous fans include Radio 1 DJ Greg James, comedian and foodie Ed Gamble, the Australian Rugby Team and Phil Rosenthal - who featured the Victoria Street shop on hit Netflix show 'Somebody Feed Phil'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Though the original Reiver farm shop in Reston has closed its doors, it laid the foundations for everything that came after. Their commitment to quality and flavour has also powered a thriving outside catering business. The Oink mobile service caters weddings, corporate events, and private parties across Scotland, with pork roast options all prepped in their specialist unit. Looking back, the founders, who both turn 65 this year and have no plans to slow down or retire, are proud that the business continues to be family-run and fiercely independent, with Adam and Sandy supported by their partners and families and a team of 30 employees. Adam added: 'Edinburgh's food scene has changed a lot over the years — there's more chains, more trends, and a lot of investment. We've just stuck to what we know: good pork, cooked slow, served simply.'
Edinburgh Reporter
10-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
From pig crisis to pulled pork pioneers: Oink celebrates 25 years
The Scottish hog roast business, Oink, known for the freshly roasted pig on display in its three Edinburgh shop windows is celebrating a quarter century of roasting. The Oink shops sell just one product – the 14 hour slow-roasted pork, available in three sizes of rolls, or in a box, with optional haggis stuffing, crackling, apple sauce or chilli sauce. The business was founded by two Borders' farming families after the 1999 pig price crash, and the brand, which has been copied around the world from China to Argentina, is targeting 2025 as its record year, with an aim of exceeding 250,000 rolls sold. Adam Marshall, who co-founded Oink with Sandy Pate and farms land near Reston in Berwickshire, said: 'When we started out, we weren't trying to build an empire — we were just two farmers trying to stay afloat during a tough time for the pig industry. 'We built our own ovens, turned up at farmers markets, and hoped people would give it a try. To still be here 25 years later, serving hundreds of thousands of rolls a year, is something we're really proud of. 'We've stuck to what we know, kept it simple, and done it our way. The fact people still queue up for it means a lot to us.' The collaboration started when Adam Marshall and Sandy Pate founded Reiver Country Farm Foods and began selling produce from their farms and neighbours locally. Then, inspired by what was believed to be the only hog roaster at the time, a business in York, the entrepreneurial pair brought a homemade roasting oven and started venturing up to Castle Terrace to take part in the first established Edinburgh Farmers Market. Their piping hot pulled pork rolls proved an instant crowd-pleaser, attracting a growing band of hungry regulars, which paired with the demand from tourists, especially those from Asia and mainland Europe, then inspired the move to bricks and mortar in the Scottish capital. Sandy Pate, who farms around 12 miles away from Adam in Longformacus, said: 'We were just two mates with a passion for great meat and a desire to show city folk what Borders farming could deliver. 'We never imagined that a weekend stall would become something that would draw such loyal customers from near and around the world. 'At the end of the day, it's about making people happy with something that tastes brilliant – and diversifying our farming businesses to ensure a viable and prosperous future for our families.' The pair opened the doors to their first dedicated shop, Oink, in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town in 2008. Nestled on the cobbled Victoria Street, the shop quickly became a firm favourite among tourists, students, and workers alike. A second opened on the Royal Mile in 2014, followed by a Hanover Street shop in 2018. Oink has grown into a treasured part of the city's food scene, dishing out thousands of hand-pulled rolls each week and building a fiercely loyal following. Its famous fans include Radio 1 DJ Greg James, comedian and foodie Ed Gamble, the Australian Rugby Team and Phil Rosenthal – who featured the Victoria Street shop on hit Netflix show 'Somebody Feed Phil'. Though the original Reiver farm shop in Reston has closed its doors, it laid the foundations for everything that came after. Their commitment to quality and flavour has also powered a thriving outside catering business. The Oink mobile service caters weddings, corporate events, and private parties across Scotland, with pork roast options all prepped in their specialist unit. Looking back, the founders, who both turn 65 this year and have no plans to slow down or retire, are proud that the business continues to be family-run and fiercely independent, with Adam and Sandy supported by their partners and families and a team of 30 employees. Adam added: 'Edinburgh's food scene has changed a lot over the years — there's more chains, more trends, and a lot of investment. We've just stuck to what we know: good pork, cooked slow, served simply.' The photos below show Sandy on the left and Adam on the right Like this: Like Related
