Edinburgh “burger king” Alexander Galpin has pleaded guilty to domestic abuse, repeatedly engaging in aggressive behaviour and making offensive remarks to his ex-partner.
Galpin, 24, owner of two Luxford Burgers restaurants, and who claims to run a portfolio of restaurants with an annual turnover of £6 million, appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted to a charge under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
Galpin had been in a six-month relationship with the woman but when she fell pregnant in January 2023 it led to a bust-up. He pressured her to have an abortion but she would not consent to that, leading to confrontation and arguments.
The shame-faced Edinburgh University graduate, who was championed as an upcoming business star by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and self-promotes his alleged business successes, hid behind an umbrella as he left the court in Chambers Street.
Shamed Galpin leaves court under a brolly, accompanied by current partner Charlie Harris – pic by Stephen Rafferty
Ironically, in March, Galpin’s Luxford Burgers chain boasted about supporting International Women’s Day by donating 50p on each sale of a specific burger to the charity Strut Safe, which operates a volunteer support line which “keeps women and marginalized people safe”. Galpin said at the time: “It is so important all year round, but especially on International Women’s Day, that we all do our best to try to change the world for the better.”
Procurator fiscal Peter Finnon told the court that between 1 March 2023 and 31 October 2024 at 1a Hatton Lane, Warriston, and elsewhere, Galpin had engaged in a course of behaviour which was abusive to his ex-partner.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Star, Alexander Galpin, has crashed and burned
After one row over the pregnancy, Galpin left the Warriston home and his partner followed him to his car. While she was in the passenger seat he drove off with the door open, before it struck a post and the door closed. Galpin is said to have gone to the passenger door and tried to pull her from the vehicle, causing bruising to her arm.
The couple rekindled the relationship in September 2023 after which Galpin is said to have encouraged the woman to make representations to the court to drop bail conditions which were in place.
The charge – admitted by Galpin – states that he did repeatedly act in an aggressive manner, and encourage her to make representations in support of removal of bail conditions. The charge states that on one occasion, he seized her by the body, pulled her and caused her to fall on a bed, and that he repeatedly contacted her and made offensive remarks.
One of the offensive remarks stood out, said Fiscal Peter Finnon. It was said that his ex-partner had health issues and while on a call to her doctor to seek help, Galpin contacted her with the message: “Ask if you can get medication for malicious parent syndrome”.
Following the final break up of the relationship in July 2024, Galpin is said to have engaged in what can only be called an “extreme form” of behaviour which included repeatedly phoning and messaging his ex-partner at all hours of the day.
Defence agent Matt Nicholson said that Galpin had found himself in a “very fraught and emotional situation and that he had dealt with it badly.” Galpin has no previous convictions and Mr Nicholson said that as the owner of two restaurants, he had a good income, and if appropriate could pay a financial penalty.
However, Sheriff John Cook called for social inquiry reports and ordered Galpin, of Salvesen Crescent, Edinburgh, to return to court on 1 August for sentencing.
The Edinburgh Reporter revealed in February how Galpin and Luxford Burgers were feted by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce as an exemplary business and he was shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 High Growth Business of the Year, which followed him being named the Chamber’s 2024 “Rising Star”.
The High Growth Business award nomination stood despite The Edinburgh Reporter informing the Chamber of Commerce prior to the awards ceremony that Mr Galpin had put Luxford Burgers parent company, Secure Kitchens Ltd, into liquidation with debts of almost £120,000.
Luxford Burgers left a trail of debt and now owner Alexander Galpin has pled guilty to domestic abuse charges
A report by official liquidator, Begbies Traynor, showed Secure Kitchens Ltd had left 17 creditors – many small local businesses – out of pocket, with the largest amount of £78,000 due to HMRC for unpaid VAT and corporation tax.
Luxford Burgers was started from a shipping container in Leith in 2020 as a “click and collect” and delivery service before opening its first restaurant in St Leonard’s Street in March 2022. A second restaurant in Brandon Terrace opened last September and “dark kitchen” units operated in Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds.
He continues to run Luxford Burgers through Got Buns Ltd which was set up in June 2024. Galpin, who has fathered a second child by another woman, claims on his LinkedIn profile that he is Executive Director of hospitality management business Galpin Group, which “owns and operates a portfolio of restaurants across the UK, with a combined gross turnover of £6m+ per annum”.
Stephen Rafferty is a former crime correspondent at The Scotsman and was a staff reporter for the Daily Record and Edinburgh Evening News. He has freelanced for many of the Scottish and UK national newspaper titles. Got a story? Get in touch – [email protected]
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