Tomás Gormley joins The Gilded Saloon, Edinburgh
The Gilded Saloon has appointed celebrated Scottish chef Tomás Gormley as executive chef, shaping seasonally led menus for the bar and dining room on Lothian Street.
His appointment followed a successful summer residency of Coop, his fried-chicken pop-up concept, at the pub.
Launched in July 2025, The Gilded Saloon brought a new multi-use arts venue to Bristo Square. Beyond the bar and kitchen, it includes a 200-capacity club and performance space in the basement.
Head chef Josh Rich - whose past kitchens include Spry Wines and The Cellar Door Restaurant - continues to lead day-to-day service, working closely with Tomás on a menu that champions generous portions, sharing dishes and ethically sourced produce.
Comfort cooking, built for sharing
Snacks have been designed to pair with a pint at the bar. Coop’s much-loved fried chicken thigh returns with fermented hot sauce; there’s also West Coast radish with taramasalata and oysters dressed with a seasonally changing hot sauce - launching in autumn with blueberry and Scotch bonnet.
Starters and mains lean into pub classics done properly: half roast
chicken and chips; Orkney blue shell mussels steamed in cider and sourced sustainably; beef shin suet pies made with Scottish beef and a beef and bone marrow burger in an “everything” milk bun with pickles.
A blackboard of larger grill cuts will rotate daily to reflect the best produce coming in. Puddings keep things familiar and satisfying: Basque cheesecake with damson, or sticky toffee pudding lifted with ginger and miso.
‘Big portions, big flavours’
Tomás said: “Working with the team at The Gilded Saloon has been a great experience. Edinburgh is a city full of culture, but the workload of a chef often means you do not get to see much of it. Being part of the programme here has really helped me feel more connected to the city’s cultural scene, with such an exciting lineup of events.
"The food at The Gilded Saloon is all about big portions and big flavours. It is food that pairs perfectly with a pint before a show. We are keeping things simple and letting provenance and produce speak for themselves, and we cannot wait to share it with Edinburgh’s dining scene.”
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Tomás Gormley joins The Gilded Saloon, Edinburgh
