A Guide for Post-Clubs Scran in St Andrews

By Ewan Emslie

It’s well-known that clubbing burns a lot of calories, so what could be more important than the post-party feast? 

A person’s post-club ritual is very telling of themselves. A more responsible crowd are found in bed early and with a full litre of water whilst others scavenge the streets for food. A respectable quest since it does not matter how many tequila, soda and limes you’ve drank or questionable dance moves you’ve pulled in the Union the lining of one’s stomach at the end of the night is imperative. 

The appeal of the town’s quaint, cosy vibe draws most of the student population to studying at the university but for city kids (like myself) the late-night food scene here can feel…quaint. Whilst St Andrews does not have the big contenders like many other major cities (the likes of McDonalds or Taco Bell) what it does offer is a small number of dedicated, well established food spots whose sense of hospitality and community can be found nowhere else. Their identities are interwoven with the St Andrews student experience - helping to shape experiences from hungover group chats to deep, personal 4 a.m. life conversations with randoms in the queue. So, it begs the question, where is there to choose from? 

Shawarma House 

Located on south street across from the Rule, the Shawarma House is a staple in the St Andrews Student Experience. An accessible food shop for Union-dwellers and Rule-frequenters that is hosted by the loveliest workers whose efficient service ensures the student population is well-fed before their venture home. 

Credit: https://shawarmahouse.uk/menu/ 

Not to be confused by its name, the menu offers a wonderful sprawl of classic takeout foods: their legendary shawarma wraps - juicy meat packed into warm bread, offset by crunchy salad and sauce that inevitably ends up down your shirt, curly fries so popular they should have their own student society and halloumi sticks that are sure to keep you coming back for more. Another crowd-pleaser is the larger - and relatively cheap - margherita pizza available for sharing with flat mates or as an easy leftover breakfast awaiting you in the morning. 

Empire 

Situated in an alley across from the Union, the hidden gem is an easy access (although a little pricey) foodshop selling a somewhat similar cuisine to Shawarma House. Empire is a hotspot for those darting out of the Union and require a sobering snack for the end of their night. For the cheese-lovers, the mozzarella dippers’ cheese-pull rivals that of those produced by the American chain ‘Chillis’ and are a lovely quick and easy snack post-club.  

Credit: https://newempiregrillhouse.com/ 

The chips, though, are the real headliner. Golden, hot, perfectly salted: they’ve achieved near-mythic status among the student body. Pair them with nuggets, and suddenly life feels okay again. But it is not just the food at Empire which unites the student population - it is the experience of queuing outside and the hub of gossip and lore which generates outside their welcome doors. 

Ember Foodtruck 

Despite its irregular schedule, the Ember Foodtruck’s consistently delivers scrumptious after-club nibbles which are sure to please the onslaught of students coming from the events for which they cater. You won’t find it every night, but when it rolls up - usually for big Union events or society balls - it instantly becomes the main character of your evening. 

Credit: Ember Foodtruck's Instagram. 

The Ember specialises in live-fire cooking to provide an amazing assortment of late-night food. We’re talking smoky, flame-grilled burgers and the unique pizza dough sandwiches which can be found nowhere else. Our personal recommendations include the Ember Double Beef Burger: a classic cheeseburger made on a live fire which gives it the signature, smokey flavour and is a perfect meal to end a wild, fun night with. Additionally, you might as well try the pizza dough sandwiches: charred pizza dough wrapped around molten, cheesy fillings which are sure to satisfy all your cravings. 

Sure, late-night food is about feeding your drunk stomach. But in St Andrews, it’s also about community. The queues become social spaces where everyone - from first-years still wide-eyed about Union nights to finalists claiming they’re “too old for this now” - cross paths. It’s where you hear the best overheard conversations, witness spontaneous hugs between strangers, and sometimes even meet your next best mate. 

Post-club scran is the glue that holds the night together. It’s the victory lap, the peace treaty after petty dancefloor squabbles, the final indulgence before facing that 9 a.m. tutorial. And while St Andrews can’t offer a McDonald’s drive-thru, it delivers something better: late-night food with soul. 

From Shawarma’s wraps to Empire’s legendary chips to Ember’s smoky masterpieces, this little town punches well above its weight when it comes to feeding its party people. St Andrews may be small, but its scran scene ensures that no night out ends hungry. 

Because in the end, the true measure of a night out isn’t how long you lasted in 601; it’s what you ate after.