The Orkney Folk Festival has announced a new bar and catering partnership with two local businesses, for its much-loved Lounge venue at Stromness Community Centre.
This is the fifth year that Stromness Community Centre will undergo its folk festival transformation under the creative vision of committee member, Colin Keldie.
For four days each festival, the building’s sports hall is turned into a space for intimate performances for 150 audience members, while the nursery room becomes a pop-up bar open to the public.
The Lounge has been a staple in the festival’s programme since 2019, hosting several events a day in the cosy, ticketed venue with cabaret-style seating upstairs, while providing a vibrant space for sessions and socialising in the pop-up bar downstairs.
Its ticketed venue is a hugely popular festival experience, with almost 1500 tickets being snapped up for Lounge events – nearly one fifth of the total sold across the weekend.
Following a process seeking expressions of interest for the 2025 event, the festival is delighted to be partnering with spirits distillery, The Orkney Distillery, and street food caterer, Beiting and Brew, to run bar and catering services in the building.
Regular festivalgoers will be familiar with both businesses. The Orkney Distillery produce the official Orkney Folk Festival gin, Kirkjuvagr Orkney Foy, with part of the proceeds from all sales being donated back to the volunteer-run charity.
Meanwhile, the Beiting and Brew team help to feed festivalgoers from their street food trailer at Stromness Pierhead during the event. Their trailer will continue to take its usual pitch there this year, in addition to their involvement with the Lounge.
With just three months to go until this year’s event, both businesses are working hard on their plans for the Lounge.
Audience members in the ticketed venue can look forward to the return of table service, with drinks served by The Orkney Distillery and delicious food options from Beiting and Brew.
A range of local beers and spirits will continue to be served in the festival’s pop-up bar downstairs, with a selection of bar snacks made by Beiting and Brew also on sale.
Behind the scenes, Beiting and Brew will also take on the important role of helping to feed key festival characters, including artists and technical crews.
Catherine Ritchie, Orkney Folk Festival’s Marketing Lead, said: “The Lounge has quickly become one of our flagship venues at the festival. A huge part of its popularity is the experience of enjoying fantastic hospitality while taking in amazing music from our local and visiting artists.
“We couldn’t make the festival happen without the support we receive from brilliant businesses right across Orkney and beyond, so we’re delighted to be building on the success of our previous partnerships in the venue as we begin working with The Orkney Distillery and Beiting and Brew.
“There are some very exciting plans being developed for their collaboration, and we can’t wait to share more details as we get closer to the festival weekend.”
Owen Griffith, Sales and Events Coordinator at The Orkney Distillery, said: “To say we’re thrilled to be involved in this year’s event would be an understatement. The folk festival has been an integral part of celebrating Orkney’s culture and people for 42 years, so it’s an honour to play a role in enhancing the festival experience.
“We’re especially excited to collaborate with Beiting and Brew to provide fantastic food alongside our drinks, ensuring festivalgoers can enjoy the very best of Orkney’s hospitality.
“We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors alike, creating a space where great music, community spirit, and exceptional food and drink come together in true Orcadian fashion.”
Kit Bichan, Co-Founder of Beiting and Brew, said: “We’re very excited to partner with The Orkney Distillery. Having worked closely with them when organising local events in the past, it’s like a match made in heaven. We’re also thrilled that the festival has given us the opportunity to come together and provide something new and exciting for festivalgoers and musicians alike.
“We’ve had our street food trailer in Stromness for the festival for the last four years, and the town has always welcomed Beiting and Brew with open arms.
“To us, being part of the folk festival doesn’t even feel like a job, so it’s an absolute privilege to be invited to provide even more of what we love doing for the 2025 event.”
Festival fans still have time to join its supporter scheme, Orkney Friends. In return for their financial support, they’ll receive benefits including early access to tickets for the Lounge and other venues across Orkney.
Orkney Friends memberships are on sale via the Orkney Folk Festival website until 11.59pm on Friday (28 February).
More information about the events planned for the Lounge this year, as well as other venues, will be shared in the full Orkney Folk Festival programme on 12 March.
Tickets then go on sale to Orkney Friends from 29 March, before they’re on general release from 2 April
