New food project from Glasgow’s Five March to open at Brown’s of Leith
Asu, the latest culinary project from the team behind Glasgow’s much loved Five March, is set to open at Brown’s of Leith this month. Launching on Friday 24th of July, Asu will bring the vibrant flavours of Asia to The Shore in Edinburgh.
Owned by restaurateur Joanna Nethery, Asu is her latest venture, which will boast a menu of fresh and exciting Asian inspired dishes. The menus and kitchen team will be led by Five March’s executive chef, David Cleary, who previously headed up the Michelin Bib Gourmand Vietnamese restaurant, Hanoi Bike Shop, in Glasgow.
The menu at Asu will include: Pho Ga - a chicken bone broth with poached chicken, rice noodles and aromatic herbs; Pho Nam - a shitake mushroom broth with oyster mushrooms, enoki, rice noodles, and aromatic herbs; Kimchi salad with wombok, black radish, rice cakes and sesame; and Five March favourites: Mango and crayfish salad with mangetout, crushed peanuts and nahm jim; their fried chicken sandwich with katsu, shredded hispi and pickled ginger; and their iconic roast spuds.
Founder, Joanna Nethery, says: “We can’t quite express how excited we are to work with Brown’s of Leith on our latest venture, Asu. We have huge respect for the project, the people and businesses they have already brought together housed within the former George Brown & Sons building, and their ever ambitious plans to grow and develop.
“To be a part of such an incredible journey is very humbling and we’re going to grab the opportunity with both hands. We can’t wait to bring a taste of Asia and a touch of Five
March to The Shore.”
Gunnar Groves-Raines, Creative Director of Brown’s of Leith, added: “Since its inception, our ambition for Brown’s of Leith has been to create a place where exceptional
independent businesses strengthen one another, and where food, culture and creativity are deeply intertwined.
“Five March have earned an outstanding reputation in Glasgow where they’ve built a loyal community around generous hospitality and beautifully considered food. We’re incredibly proud that Joanna and the team have chosen Brown’s of Leith as the home of Asu in Edinburgh.
“Alongside Haze, Shrimpwreck and Civerinos, Asu further establishes Brown’s as a destination defined by quality, authenticity and independent spirit. The fact that they’re launching at the same time as Grid Iron transforms our new space, The Foundry, with Mayflies, and Le Kilt brings new energy to the first floor, makes this feel like a particularly exciting moment - not only for Brown’s, but for Leith’s growing reputation as one of Scotland’s most dynamic cultural and culinary destinations.”
Representing a major step in the regeneration of the area, Brown’s of Leith launched in late 2025 and exists within the historic George Brown & Sons Engineering Works on The Shore.
The development comes after the engineering firm vacated the building in 2024, when the management of the building was taken on by the design hub Custom Lane, under the Creative Direction of Gunnar Groves-Raines.
Brown’s of Leith is open Thursday - Sunday from 9am-10pm. During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, from the 10th - 31st August, opening hours will be extended as follows:
Monday: 3pm - 10pm
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: 3pm - 10pm
Thursday to Sunday: 9am - 10pm
Keep up to date with the latest developments at Brown’s of Leith at customlane.co and instagram.com/browns.leith.
Brown’s of Leith, 4-6 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh
Asu, the latest culinary project from the team behind Glasgow’s much loved Five March, is set to open at Brown’s of Leith this month. Launching on Friday 24th of July, Asu will bring the vibrant flavours of Asia to The Shore in Edinburgh.
Owned by restaurateur Joanna Nethery, Asu is her latest venture, which will boast a menu of fresh and exciting Asian inspired dishes. The menus and kitchen team will be led by Five March’s executive chef, David Cleary, who previously headed up the Michelin Bib Gourmand Vietnamese restaurant, Hanoi Bike Shop, in Glasgow.
The menu at Asu will include: Pho Ga - a chicken bone broth with poached chicken, rice noodles and aromatic herbs; Pho Nam - a shitake mushroom broth with oyster mushrooms, enoki, rice noodles, and aromatic herbs; Kimchi salad with wombok, black radish, rice cakes and sesame; and Five March favourites: Mango and crayfish salad with mangetout, crushed peanuts and nahm jim; their fried chicken sandwich with katsu, shredded hispi and pickled ginger; and their iconic roast spuds.
Founder, Joanna Nethery, says: “We can’t quite express how excited we are to work with Brown’s of Leith on our latest venture, Asu. We have huge respect for the project, the people and businesses they have already brought together housed within the former George Brown & Sons building, and their ever ambitious plans to grow and develop.
“To be a part of such an incredible journey is very humbling and we’re going to grab the opportunity with both hands. We can’t wait to bring a taste of Asia and a touch of Five
March to The Shore.”
Gunnar Groves-Raines, Creative Director of Brown’s of Leith, added: “Since its inception, our ambition for Brown’s of Leith has been to create a place where exceptional
independent businesses strengthen one another, and where food, culture and creativity are deeply intertwined.
“Five March have earned an outstanding reputation in Glasgow where they’ve built a loyal community around generous hospitality and beautifully considered food. We’re incredibly proud that Joanna and the team have chosen Brown’s of Leith as the home of Asu in Edinburgh.
“Alongside Haze, Shrimpwreck and Civerinos, Asu further establishes Brown’s as a destination defined by quality, authenticity and independent spirit. The fact that they’re launching at the same time as Grid Iron transforms our new space, The Foundry, with Mayflies, and Le Kilt brings new energy to the first floor, makes this feel like a particularly exciting moment - not only for Brown’s, but for Leith’s growing reputation as one of Scotland’s most dynamic cultural and culinary destinations.”
Representing a major step in the regeneration of the area, Brown’s of Leith launched in late 2025 and exists within the historic George Brown & Sons Engineering Works on The Shore.
The development comes after the engineering firm vacated the building in 2024, when the management of the building was taken on by the design hub Custom Lane, under the Creative Direction of Gunnar Groves-Raines.
Brown’s of Leith is open Thursday - Sunday from 9am-10pm. During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, from the 10th - 31st August, opening hours will be extended as follows:
Monday: 3pm - 10pm
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: 3pm - 10pm
Thursday to Sunday: 9am - 10pm
Keep up to date with the latest developments at Brown’s of Leith at customlane.co and instagram.com/browns.leith.
Brown’s of Leith, 4-6 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh