From our wee brightly-painted police box near the Meadows, The Breakfast Bothy offers more than just breakfast for our guests. We’re creating a community, one coffee and roll at a time.

How the Breakfast Bothy all began:

Back in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic showed the world how important it is to look out for one another and build connections and community. At Carlowrie Castle (an events venue just outside Edinburgh) the team saw the need to support people experiencing homelessness, loneliness, and other difficult times in Edinburgh, and decided to open a charity to help.

The Breakfast Bothy was opened with a simple aim in mind: to provide coffee, a meal and conversation to anyone in need. Since then, we’ve extended our opening hours to serve lunch, initiated a token scheme with local businesses, and most importantly, created a strong and supportive community.

Now, The Breakfast Bothy is expanding! We’re opening The Bothy Boutique, a charity store and community hub in Edinburgh to provide employment opportunities to those experiencing homelessness or difficult times. The Bothy Boutique will be a space for connection, learning and support, all whilst stocking second-hand gems for sale.

How does the sleep out work?

We’re braving the cold and spending the night outside on the 19th of April to raise money for The Bothy Boutique.

We’ll meet at Carlowrie Castle, near the Edinburgh airport, at 8pm. The event will include talks from guests with lived experience of homelessness and activities to connect and learn from one another.

We ask that you please bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. Coffee and breakfast will be served the following morning and snacks and hot drinks will be available throughout the night.

How else can I support The Breakfast Bothy and The Bothy Boutique?

Come and sleep out with us! Get in touch with Keith at Keith.Taylor@carlowriecastle.co.uk to join us.

If you have the means, we’d appreciate your donations. Funds raised at the sleep out will go towards opening The Bothy Boutique and setting people up with the skills and confidence for employment.

Share and follow us on social media. The Breakfast Bothy is on Instagram (@thebreakfastbothy) and Linkedin.

Get in touch with any ways you’d like to support us. Contact Keith at the email above.

We’ve had so much positive feedback and support for the Breakfast Bothy and we’re so excited for the opening of our store and for this next chapter of our charity.

Thank you!

The Breakfast Bothy and Carlowrie Castle