New Edinburgh ‘pub’ offers pints for a quid in moo-ve to tackle cost of living crisis

‘Thirsty Thursdays’ is coming to the city on November 12, when Cairngorm Coffee on Barclay Place teams up with Mossgiel Organic Dairy to turn the popular new café into a one-night-only pub, serving pints of the white stuff for just £1.

Instead of beer, punters will be served creamy organic milk from Mossgiel's Ayrshire dairy, with shots of soft serve ice cream also on offer.

But behind the tongue-in-cheek stunt is a serious message about the rising cost of a night out and the growing pressures facing Scotland's pubs, cafés and independent producers.

It comes as Scottish publicans warn that the price of a pint could soar to £10, with rising costs threatening the future of the traditional boozer.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has warned that £10 pints could become a reality, while figures from the Scottish Beer and Pub Association reveal that 62 pubs closed across Scotland in the first nine months of 2026 alone – equivalent to one every four and a half days – with the loss of an estimated 585 jobs .

This is all while younger generations increasingly turn away from alcohol.

Now, Cairngorm and Mossgiel hope their unconventional pub night will raise a smile while making a serious point: that the places where people come together for a drink, a laugh and a sense of community are worth protecting.

Bryce Cunningham, founder of Mossgiel Organic Dairy, said: “We're opening a pub where a pint costs a pound. The only catch is that it's milk.

“It's a bit of fun, but there's a serious point behind it. Whether you're running a farm, a café or a pub, it's getting harder and harder to make the numbers work.

“We're incredibly proud of the organic Scottish milk we produce in Ayrshire, and we want to show people just how good it is. It's brewed in Scotland, nutritious, delicious and there's no ultra-processed nonsense. I'll drink to that.”

Following a budget where the price of a pint increased even further, Robi Lambie, from Cairngorm Coffee, added: “We're living in a world where going out for a couple of pints could soon cost you £20. That's a lot of money, particularly for younger people.

“I truly believe we need to find ways to make it easier and not harder for people to go out. We risk losing not just pubs, but also the friendships and sense of community that come with them.

“The idea is a bit ridiculous but we're here to make a serious point. As a cafe owner I see these rising costs first hand and I stand with the publicans and everyone else feeling the pinch at the moment.

“We might be serving milk instead of beer, but what we're really doing is bringing people together. Hopefully, they can all go and support their favourite pub too afterwards.”

Thirsty Thursdays takes place on Thursday 12 November at Cairngorm Coffee, 49 Barclay Place, Edinburgh, from 6pm.

Cairngorm Coffee can be found at 1 Melville Place, Edinburgh and 49 Barclay Place in Edinburgh as well as in Ralia Cafe, By Newtonmore. For more information visit the Cairngorm Coffee and Mossgiel Organic Farm websites.