Guthrie's Kitchen
Located in the main building, Guthrie’s Kitchen is home to our 'street food' concept counters.
Opening hours - Semester 1, from Monday 7th September 2026:
Monday to Friday 11.30am - 2pm
Guthrie's Kitchen is at the heart of our food service offer, serving a diverse range of freshly prepared meals from 11.30am to 2pm, Monday to Friday. With a three-week rolling menu, you're never short of choice.
Each day, our mains counter offers a selection of customer favourites, alongside freshly made pizzas, pasta pots, baked potatoes, and a vibrant range of soups and salads. You'll also find a tempting selection of snacks, freshly baked cakes, and sweet treats, providing the perfect addition to your lunch.
As a Bronze Food for Life Served Here award holder, we are committed to making the most local and responsibly sourced ingredients wherever possible. By supporting local suppliers, we can provide fresh, high-quality food while reducing food miles and supporting our local economy.
Whether you're looking for a hearty meal, a lighter option, or a well-earned treat, Guthrie's Kitchen offers something for everyone in a welcoming and convenient environment.
Where does the name Guthrie’s come from?
Queen Margaret University was established as the Edinburgh School of Cookery in 1875 (hence the old name of 1875 for a catering outlet!). 
Christian Guthrie Wright was one of the founders of the school, alongside Louisa Stevenson.
The School was established as a voluntary effort to address two key problems facing society at the time:
- To provide educational opportunities for women
- The need to bring about an improvement in diets, particularly the diets of working class families
Our partnership with BaxterStorey, our catering provider, cements these origins.
BaxterStorey are all about food!  They started the first ever Chef Academy in 2007 and now have a Barista Academy and a Service Academy.  Just this year they were recognised as the first ever business & industry sector caterer to achieve ‘World Class’ status by Hospitality Assured.
QMU celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2025, so it seemed fitting that our newly refurbished (in 2024) main catering space was renamed Guthrie’s.
