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Chef Paul Gunning standing beside Fingal in Leith, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Chef Paul Gunning to Host 10-Seat Dinner Aboard Fingal

Edinburgh chef Paul Gunning will take over the Captain’s Table aboard floating hotel Fingal for an exclusive 10-seat dining experience on Friday, 21 August.

The Purslane chef and restaurateur will join Fingal Head Chef Pedro Barreira to create a special set menu served in The Bridge, the ship’s former command room overlooking Leith’s waterfront.

Tickets cost £135 per person, with pairing wines and a glass of Champagne with canapés included.

Paul Gunning Joins Fingal’s Captain’s Table

Gunning is best known as chef and owner of Purslane on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge, which he opened in 2011.

His career has included roles in five-star hotels and restaurants alongside chefs such as Marco Pierre White, Jeff Bland, and Phil Thompson. He is also a co-owner of Dùthchas in Leith.

For the Fingal event, Gunning and Barreira will create a seasonal menu built around Scottish produce, with the ten guests seated together around one communal table.

The setting is an unusual one. The Bridge was once the command centre of Fingal during its working life as a Northern Lighthouse Board tender and still houses the ship’s original wheel.

Today it is used for small private dinners and Chef’s Table experiences, with space for a maximum of ten diners.

Captain’s Table at Fingal: Key Details

  • Date: Friday, 21 August 2026
  • Location: Fingal, Alexandra Dock, Leith
  • Guest chef: Paul Gunning
  • Fingal chef: Pedro Barreira
  • Capacity: 10 diners
  • Price: £135 per person
  • Included: Set menu, pairing wines, and Champagne with canapés
  • Booking: Advance reservation required

Fingal says the event cannot cater for dietary requirements, so that is worth checking before booking. Full payment is taken when the reservation is made.

Dining Aboard Fingal

Permanently berthed at Alexandra Dock, Fingal is a former Northern Lighthouse Board ship that was converted into a 23-cabin luxury floating hotel by the team behind The Royal Yacht Britannia.

Its Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar holds two AA Rosettes, while The Bridge is used for more intimate dining experiences away from the main restaurant.

With only ten seats available for Gunning’s Captain’s Table, this particular dinner will be considerably smaller than most of Edinburgh’s festival-season dining events.

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