Edinburgh’s "Feel Good" champions revealed as Capital’s first Feel Good Index launches

Following research into the city’s business landscape, today marks the launch of the first ever Edinburgh Feel Good Index, a new initiative designed to celebrate the people and places that make Edinburgh. Moving away from traditional rankings or competitive shortlists, the index serves as a collective recognition of all of the businesses nominated, acting as a definitive guide for residents and visitors looking to support businesses that are getting it right.

The initiative from Feel Good Comms, Edinburgh’s newest communications agency, is built on the belief that the most successful businesses are those that make the world a genuinely happier place. The agency’s mission is to champion these establishments and ensure their contributions to the city are recognised and shared.

To compile the inaugural index, Feel Good Comms received nominations from over 100 Edinburgh residents, alongside an analysis of consumer reviews. The research also revealed a trend in consumer behavior, 100% of respondents gave a score of 4 or 5 out of 5 when asked how much a brand’s "feel good" factor influences where they choose to spend their money.

The findings suggest that the human element remains the most critical factor for business success, with 40% of respondents citing friendly and welcoming staff as the primary reason they love a specific business. This was followed by the overall atmosphere and high quality products, which each received 20% of the vote, while a commitment to ethical values and deep community roots each accounted for 10% of the findings.

The Feel Good Index spans several sectors, highlighting the diverse range of businesses that contribute to the city. In the wellness and selfcare category, movement was a recurring theme. The fairways of Duddingston, Prestonfield, and Ratho Park golf clubs were nominated for the joy they bring to their members, while Braid Hills Golf Centre was recognised for elevating the practice experience and its partnership with Leaf & Bean. Furthermore, Tribe Yoga, Tallie Fitness Studio, Mena Pilates, and Tidal Yoga were all celebrated for relaxing environments.

In the restaurant and cafe category, refined spaces like Timberyard, Noto, and Dulse received nominations for their refined approach to hospitality. For those seeking a more intimate experience, The Walnut remains a firm local favorite. In the pub and bar category outdoor spaces received nominations, Teuchters Landing was nominated for its waterside setting, while The Blackbird was praised for its surprisingly expansive garden.

In the retail category, the thoughtful curation at Leith’s Argonaut Books to the

inclusive environment found at Ancient Robot Games earned both nominations. The index also looks at "Days Out" and "Hidden Gems," with nominations ranging from the art and canine-friendly policy of Jupiter Artland to the tranquility of the Edinburgh Botanics. Cultural hubs such as The Biscuit Factory in Leith and the secret Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston were also nominated. 

Chris Batchelor, Founder of Feel Good Comms, said: “Feel Good Comms was born out of a desire to champion the businesses that genuinely make the world a happier place. Being Edinburgh based, part of our mission is to help local businesses tell their stories so they can be celebrated. The Feel Good Index is not about being number one, but rather about honoring every business nominated by the community, and we’re excited to build the list over time.

While the initial index has been unveiled, there is still time to nominate your favorite local businesses to join the Feel Good Index online. Nominations can be submitted by emailing feelgoodindex@feelgoodcomms.co.uk.

THE FULL EDINBURGH FEEL GOOD INDEX

Wellness & Selfcare

• Alien Bloc – alienrock.co.uk – 23 Dunedin Street, EH7 4JG

• Backstage Barbers – backstagebarbershop.com – 10 Lauriston Street, EH3 9DJ

• Boombarbers Leith – Instagram – 36 Bernard Street, EH6 6PR

• Braids Hill Golf Centre – braidhillsgolf.co.uk – 91 Liberton Drive, EH16 6NS

• Cramond Parkrun – parkrun.org.uk – Cramond Promenade, EH4 5ES

• Duddingston Golf Club – duddingstongolfclub.co.uk – 135 Duddingston Road West, EH15 3QE

• Fundamental Salon – Instagram – 4/6 Anderson Place, EH6 5NP

• Labelles Barbers – labellesbarbershop.co.uk – 35 Mertoun Place, EH11 1JX

• Meadowbank Sports Centre – edinburghleisure.co.uk – London Road, EH7 6AE

• Mena Pilates – mena-pilates.com – 1 St Colme Street, EH3 6AA

• Prestonfield Golf Club – prestonfieldgolf.co.uk – 6 Priestfield Road North, EH16 5HS

• Ratho Park Golf Club – rathoparkgolfclub.co.uk – Ratho Park Road, EH28 8NX

• Royal Commonwealth Pool – edinburghleisure.co.uk – 21 Dalkeith Road, EH16 5BB

• Ruffians – ruffians.co.uk – 23 Queensferry Street, EH2 4QS

• Sisco Hair & Nails – siscohairnails.com – 225 Morningside Road, EH10 4QT

• Soul Water Sauna – soulwatersauna.com – Brunstane Road North, EH15 2DN

• Tallie Fitness Studio – meettallie.co.uk – 25 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA

• Tidal Yoga – tidal.yoga – 115 Leith Walk, EH6 8NP

• Tribe Yoga – tribe.yoga – 71-75 Northumberland Street, EH3 6JG

Restaurants & Cafes

• Albys – albysleith.co.uk – 8 Portland Place, EH6 6LA

• Baby Faced Baker – babyfacedbaker.com – 341 Leith Walk, EH6 8SD

• Cafe Domenico – cafedomenico.co.uk – 30 Sandport Street, EH6 6JQ

• Cafe Truva – Instagram – 77 The Shore, EH6 6RG

• Chez Jules – chezjulesbistro.com – 109 Hanover Street, EH2 1DJ

• Down the Hatch – downthehatchdiner.com – 13 Antigua Street, EH1 3NH

• Dulse – dulse.co.uk – 17 Queensferry Street, EH2 4QW

• Fazenda – fazenda.co.uk – 102 George Street, EH2 3DF

• Krema Bakehouse – Instagram – 21 Leith Walk, EH6 8LN

• La Petite Folie – laptitefolie.co.uk – 9 Randolph Place, EH3 7TE

• Leo’s Beanery – leosbeanery.co.uk – 23A Howe Street, EH3 6TF

• Little Capo – littlecapo.com – 18 Howe Street, EH3 6TG

• Milk – cafemilk.co.uk – 232 Morrison Street, EH3 8EA

• Noto – notoedinburgh.co.uk – 47A Thistle Street, EH2 1DY

• Origano – origano-leith.co.uk – 236 Leith Walk, EH6 5EL

• Peter’s Food Hub – Facebook – 60 Great Junction Street, EH6 5LD

• Sushi Samba – sushisamba.com – 1 St James Square, EH1 3AX

• The Basement – basement-bar-edinburgh.co.uk – 10a-12a Broughton St, EH1 3RH

• The Black Ivy – weareblackivy.com – 4 Alvanley Terrace, EH9 1DU

• The Palmerston – thepalmerstonedinburgh.co.uk – 1 Palmerston Place, EH12 5AF

• The Walnut – thewalnutedinburgh.co.uk – 9 Leith Walk, EH6 8LN

• Timberyard – timberyard.co – 10 Lady Lawson St, EH3 9DS

• Ting Thai – tingthai.co.uk – 8-9 Teviot Place, EH1 2QZ

• Twelve Triangles – twelvetriangles.co.uk – 90 Bruntsfield Pl, EH10 4HG

• Williams & Johnson – williamsandjohnson.com – 1 Customs Wharf, EH6 6AL

• Yamato – yamatoedinburgh.co.uk – 11 Lochrin Terrace, EH3 9QX

Pubs & Bars

• Bellfield Brewery – bellfieldbrewery.com – 46 Stanley Place, EH7 5TB

• Bennets Bar – bennetsbar.co.uk – 8 Moncur Terrace, EH10 5AU

• Bramble – bramblebar.co.uk – 16A Queen Street, EH2 1JE

• Brass Monkey – brassmonkeyedinburgh.co.uk – 14 Drummond Street, EH8 9TU

• Brewhemia – brewhemia.co.uk – 1A Market Street, EH1 1DE

• Brunswick Book Club - brunswickbookclub.co.uk - 113 Brunswick St, EH7 5HR

• Devil's Advocate – devilsadvocateedinburgh.co.uk – 9 Advocate's Close, EH1 1PS

• Hey Palu – heypalu.com – 49-51 Bread Street, EH3 9AH

• Indigo Yard – indigoyardedinburgh.co.uk – 7 Charlotte Lane, EH2 4QZ

• Le Di-Vin – ledivin.co.uk – 9 Randolph Place, EH3 7TE

• Malones – malonesedinburgh.com – 242 Morrison Street, EH3 8DT

• Malt and Hops – Facebook – 45 Shore, EH6 6QU

• McLarens on the Corner – mclarensonthecorner.co.uk – 8 Morningside Road, EH10 4DD

• Montpeliers – montpeliersedinburgh.co.uk – 159-161 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DG

• Mother Superior – Facebook – 96-102 Leith Walk, EH6 5HB

• Nightcap – nightcapbar.co.uk – 3 York Place, EH1 3EB

• Teuchters Landing – teuchtersbar.co.uk – 1c Dock Place, EH6 6LU

• The Ball Room – ball-room.co.uk – 25 Jocks Lodge, EH8 7AA

• The Blackbird – theblackbirdedinburgh.co.uk – 37-39 Leven Street, EH3 9LH

• The Golf Tavern – golftavern.co.uk – 30-31 Wright's Houses, EH10 4HR

• The Hanging Bat – thehangingbat.com – 133 Lothian Road, EH3 9AB

• The Roseleaf – roseleaf.co.uk – 23-24 Sandport Place, EH6 6EW

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society – smws.com – 28 Queen Street, EH2 1JX

• Thistle Street Bar – thistlestreetbar.com – 39 Thistle Street, EH2 1DY

• Vessel – vesselbars.co.uk – 1-2 Dockhead, EH6 6RE

Retailers

• Ancient Robot Games – ancientrobotgames.co.uk – 23 Leith Walk, EH6 8LN

• Argonaut Books – argonautbooks.co.uk – 15-17 Leith Walk, EH6 8LN

• Castle Street Flowers – Instagram – Castle Street, EH2 3AH

• Dofos – dofos.co.uk – 337 Leith Walk, EH6 8SD

• Everyone's Designs – everyonesdesigns.co.uk – 213 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DH

• Flux – get2flux.co.uk – 55 Bernard Street, EH6 6SL

• Frontiers – frontiers-man.com – 18 Stafford Street, EH3 7BD

• Kestin – kestin.co – 7 Baker's Place, EH3 6SY

• Pippin – pippingifts.com – 30 Haymarket Terrace, EH12 5JZ

• Pollination – pollination.co.uk – 37 Ashley Terrace, EH11 1RY

• Scottish Design Exchange – scottishdesignexchange.com – 117-119 George Street, EH2 4JN

• Tbco (The Tartan Blanket Co.) – tbco.com – 170b Great Junction Street, EH6 5LJ

• Topping & Company Booksellers – toppingbooks.co.uk – 2 Blenheim Place, EH7 5JH

Days Out & Experiences

• Arthur’s Seat – visitscotland.com – Queen's Drive, EH8 8HG

• Camera Obscura & World of Illusions – camera-obscura.co.uk – Castlehill, EH1 2ND

• Edinburgh Botanics – rbge.org.uk – Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ

• Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo – edintattoo.co.uk – 1-3 Cockburn Street, EH1 1QB

• Flight Club – flightclubdarts.com – 300 St James Square, EH1 3AE

• Jupiter Artland – jupiterartland.org – Bonnington House Steadings, EH27 8BY

• Leith Market – stockbridgemarket.com/leith – Dock Place, EH6 6LU

• Museum of Modern Art – nationalgalleries.org – 75 Belford Road, EH4 3DR

• National Museum of Scotland – nms.ac.uk – Chambers Street, EH1 1JF

• National Portrait Gallery – nationalgalleries.org – 1 Queen Street, EH2 1JD

• Portobello Beach – visitscotland.com – Promenade, EH15 2BP

• Scottish Whisky Experience – scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk – 354 Castlehill, EH1 2NE

• Stockbridge Market – stockbridgemarket.com – Saunders Street, EH3 6TQ

• The Meadows – edinburgh.gov.uk – Melville Drive, EH9 1ND

• The Shore – leithedinburgh.com – The Shore, Leith, EH6 6QN

Hidden Gems

• Campervan Brewery – campervanbrewery.com – 112 Bonnington Road, EH6 5NQ

• Colinton Tunnel - colintontunnel.org.uk - Water of Leith Walkway, EH13 0JU

• Craigmillar Castle - historicenvironment.scot - EH16 4SY

• Dr Neil's Garden - drneilsgarden.co.uk - 5 Old Church Lane, EH15 3PX

• Duddingston Community Orchard - theorchardproject.org.uk - 64/3 The Causeway, EH15 3PZ

• Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop - edinburghsculpture.org - 21 Hawthornvale, EH6 4JT

• Lauriston Castle - cultureedinburgh.com - 2a Cramond Road South, EH4 5QD

• Never Really Here - Instagram - 89 Rose Street North Lane, EH2 3DX

• Scottish Poetry Library - scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk - 5 Crichton's Close, EH8 8DT

• The Biscuit Factory - biscuitfactory.co.uk - 4-6 Anderson Place, EH6 5NP