Hibs midfielder Dylan Levitt blamed “sloppy mistakes in some key areas” for Hibs disappointing defeat to Kelty Hearts on Saturday afternoon. 

Hibs  fell to a 1-0 defeat at New Central Park with Kelty defender Callum Flatman scoring the only goal of the game. 

Hibs created numerous chances against the Fife side but were unable to score. 

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Levitt shared his thoughts on the performance. 

“It is very disappointing and a really bad result. I thought we didn’t move the ball quick enough, we made some sloppy mistakes in some key areas and we got punished from a set-piece, which we knew would be one of their main threats. 

“I don’t remember Smudge (Jordan Smith) having a save to make. Overall, it’s not a good look, especially for the new signings coming in and we need to be performing a lot better than that. 

“We hit the post three times in the first half, and if those go in then it’s a completely different game. 

“But we got a sucker-punch in the second half and we were always chasing the game after that.  

“They slowed the game down and managed the game. We got into some good positions but we just weren’t clinical enough. 

“We will go over this game on Monday and review it, look at the key areas that we need to be better in and hopefully, we can turn that around – starting on Wednesday.” 

Applications are now being taken for free guided tours of the Forth Road Bridge deck and anchorage, hosted by Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland.

The tours will take place on Saturday 28 September as part of Doors Open Days, Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates places and stories. Up to 300 places will be available, allocated via a random ballot.

Members of the public can enter the ballot by visiting www.bearscot.com/doorsopenday. The ballot will close on 1 August and successful applicants will be notified over the following days.

Guided minibus tours will depart every 15 minutes on 28 September from the bridge office in South Queensferry. Tours will last one hour, stopping at points of interest along the deck before visiting one of the anchorage chambers on the north side of the bridge, where the main cables are anchored into the rock. Commentary will be provided by experienced members of staff from BEAR Scotland.

There will be no charge for the tours, however donations to charity will be welcomed. All money raised will go to BEAR Scotland’s national charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Forth Bridges exhibition at Transport Scotland’s Contact and Education Centre will also be open to the public from 9am until 5pm, featuring special exhibits and educational activities. Advance booking is not necessary for the exhibition, or to take a walk across the bridge.

Everyone who attends either a bridge tour or the exhibition will have the chance to enter a charity prize draw for a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to the top of the Queensferry Crossing’s main towers.

The minibus tours are in addition to 60 tower top trips that will take place to celebrate the bridge’s 60^th anniversary – details of how to apply for these will be published over the next few weeks.

Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland’s Operating Company Representative for South East Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to welcome visitors back to the Forth Road Bridge on Doors Open Day for the third year running, and to be raising money for a great cause in Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Our guided minibus tours give the public a rare chance to visit parts of the bridge normally hidden from view, and to hear from experienced members of staff.

“In response to feedback, we’re allocating places this year via a random ballot to give everyone an equal chance.

“Look out in local media over the next few weeks for other exciting events to celebrate the Forth Road Bridge’s 60^th anniversary, including a competition for tower top trips.”

Keeping tabs on your local politicians

If you want to keep up with what your local politicians are saying then sign up to They Work For You which will send you an email every time someone speaks in parliament. This covers both MPs and MSPs and you can just enter your postcode to find out who to follow.

Click here.

What to book in the Fringe?

If you are mesmerised by the choice of what to go and see in the Fringe then our Kerry has it covered.

She has produced #Unleash Your Fringe.

Kerry said: “Navigating the 3,317 shows at this year’s Fringe can be daunting, but I’ve got you covered. After countless hours of research, I’ve curated a list of 185 must-see shows in my annual Fringe recommendations. As a dedicated Fringe enthusiast with 16 years of experience, I used to share my list for free, but due to popular demand, I’m now charging a small fee to reflect the effort involved. 

“My selections are based on thorough research, trusted PR tips, and my reviews from previous years. You’ll find a diverse array of shows, many of which are free or affordable, including those in the PBH Free Fringe. I’ve also included numerous offers to help you get the most out of your Fringe experience.

“DISCLAIMER: I haven’t seen all the shows, so I can’t guarantee you’ll love every recommendation. Fringe is all about taking risks and discovering the unexpected. If you see a show from my list, I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop me a message on Facebook and let me know how it went.

“There are two versions of the spreadsheet – a 1-pager (a summary of the 185 curated shows) and a fuller version, which gives the summary and individual sheets by genres.  This version also contains a list of offers, which can potentially mean you get more money for your buck.”

And if all else fails then just book the show that is closest to you when you are in town. It may be really good…or not!

Click here to access the full list.

Dylan concerts in Edinburgh are “sold out”

Bob Dylan will play Usher Hall in November and tickets went on sale on Friday. It is not true to say that the concert is sold out – rather to say that the remaining tickets are outside the reach of many fans. The Ticketmaster site is showing the worst of dynamic pricing with two seats together in the stalls for a heady £5,903 each.

So if that is a bit steep then head for When Judas Met John at the Fringe where Irish duo Brothers Broke will compare, adapt and perform a unique interpretation of songs by Bob Dylan and The Beatles. “This casual and engaging 45-minute show compares the like-minded and socially conscious lyrics of Dylan and Lennon. The duo modify and present the songs in a blues/folk style with tight sibling harmonies, around a story of the influence, jealousy, parody and respect that each artist had for the other.”

Support local independent journalism

Please support us and buy a monthly newspaper or book your advertising with us. Click on the image below. Our August issue – with loads of recommendations about the Fringe – will be out next week. Make sure of your copy by subscribing.

Lothian Buses looking for a new Charity of Choice partner

Lothian is looking for a new charity to support and any applications must be made to them by Sunday 28 July.

The company asks their 2,500 staff to choose the charity and then highlights the charitable causes and focuses fundraising efforts on them during the year. Currently the charity which the bus company supports is VOCAL – Voice of Carers across Lothian.

Apply here.

Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has made his maiden speech in the House of Commons during the debate on the King’s Speech.

The tradition is that the first speech made by an MP is used to give other members of the House a flavour of the constituency represented, and Dr Arthur mentioned Lothian Buses, WHALE Arts, Oxgangs, Redford Barracks and the late Alastair Darling.

Dr Arthur told us how he felt addressing the Chamber for the first time. He said: “It’s a strange system, I was notified at 7pm on the preceding evening that my request to deliver my Maiden Speech had been accepted. 

“I was told I would be taken between 9.30am and 2.30pm, with the expectation that I would remain in the Chamber from the start of the debate until I was taken (requests for toilet breaks are permitted). 

“I was slightly nervous, not least because the day started with important updates on Gaza and the Covid Inquiry. 

“My nervousness intensified when our Whip let me know “you’re next”. Now, however,  I feel much more relaxed about contributing to proceedings – completing the speech means that one of the last steps to becoming a fully fledged MP is complete.

“More importantly, the speech was also a chance to tell the world about just how fantastic my constituency is, and about the key challenges i want to address.”

You may watch the whole speech by clicking the link here.

The new MP said: “I am obliged to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make my maiden speech. I would like to start by thanking Martin Vickers for a fantastic speech, but I fear that he has made my job only a little more difficult. I have to say that it is a delight to give my maiden speech in a debate led by our fantastic Deputy Prime Minister.

“It is an honour and a privilege to stand before this House as the representative for Edinburgh South West. I am deeply grateful to my constituents for placing their trust in me and also to my church for praying for me, although I know that they prayed more after I won the election than before it. I am committed to serving them all with dedication and integrity.

“Before I address the subject matter of the King’s Speech, I would like to pay tribute to my immediate predecessor, Joanna Cherry, KC, who represented the constituency for nine years. I had many dealings with her office in my role as a councillor, and I aways found her team to be utterly professional. I wish them all well. Joanna Cherry herself was a formidable parliamentarian.

“Members will recall that, during the Brexit crisis, she worked hard to ensure that Government decision making remained transparent and subject to parliamentary scrutiny. We all owe her a huge debt for that. I must also say that, although I disagree with her on many issues, I am happy to stand in complete solidarity with her in the face of the threats that she has faced. It pains me that, since coming here, so many others have spoken about threats and intimidation as well. This is an issue that we must take seriously. I must, however, tell the House that the campaign for Edinburgh South West between Joanna Cherry and myself was conducted entirely on the issues that matter to local people there, which is perhaps why I am so proud to be here to address the House today.

“I must also pay tribute to my predecessor’s predecessor. Alistair Darling was one of the greatest public servants of my lifetime. He sat here from 1987 to 2015. Like me, he was a councillor in Edinburgh, and convener of the city’s transport committee before he went on to serve as MP for Edinburgh South West. The similarities may end there. Indeed, we must all hope that I am never called on, as he was, to save the Bank of England. I know that Alistair is still much missed and I am proud to follow in his footsteps—indeed, without his help I doubt that I would have been elected as a councillor in 2017.

“Before I address myself to the debate, I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to my constituency, its institutions and its people. At this point, Members may need a map. Edinburgh South West is the best part of the greatest city in the world. It stretches from the west end of Princes Street to the East Cairn hill, some 18 km to the south-west. Along its length, the constituency moves from dense urban communities—places such as Gorgie, the home of Hearts football club, Dalry, Parkhead, Wester Hailes, Sighthill and Oxgangs—to suburban settlements such as Colinton, Craiglockhart, Swanston and Baberton Mains, and to the semi-rural Water of Leith villages of Currie, Juniper Green and Balerno.

“Of all those, Oxgangs is perhaps the place I know and love most. Many people there struggle in temporary and overcrowded accommodation; that is why it has been so important today to hear about the Deputy Prime Minister’s ambition to build affordable homes. In Edinburgh, we have worked with the whole city and set aside land for 37,000 new homes. The land is there and the planning is there, but the barrier to building those new homes is the lack of funding from the Scottish Government. I hope that they can now follow what we are doing here, and show more ambition on affordable housing in Scotland.

“When it comes to natural beauty, the Pentland hills and the Water of Leith dominate my constituency, and the habitats along the Union canal should not be forgotten. But of course it is the people who make my constituency so special, such as those who volunteer at the Water of Leith Conservation Trust or who converted a disused railway tunnel into Scotland’s largest historical mural—the Colinton tunnel; please google it later. I must also mention Tiphereth, a unique charity that delivers residential and day services for people with learning difficulties. It really is unique.

“The Edinburgh campus of Heriot-Watt University is perhaps the biggest employer in my constituency. It supported and developed me every day from when I started working there in 1996 until I was elected to this place. I shall miss my civil engineering colleagues and the many students it welcomes to Scotland from around the world. I hope to use some of my time here to support higher education, particularly the wellbeing of students. Mental health support in Scotland is failing its young people and acting as a barrier to many of them reaching their full potential. I will work with anyone and everyone to address that and the many other challenges facing students across the UK.

“Other large employers in my constituency include Lothian Buses, a bus company owned by the people of Edinburgh that defines the city just as much as the castle. I should stress that the Castle is not in my constituency. If some Members question municipal ownership of public transport, or the importance of collaborative working between trade unions and management, they should speak to some of the 2 million passengers that Lothian Buses carries every week without any subsidy. Big businesses are also important in my constituency, but it is the small ones that define it. They are at the heart of many of the neighbourhoods. Many have high hopes that the UK and Scottish Governments will now work together to support them more.

“I am also proud to say that there are two infantry barracks in my constituency: Dreghorn and Redford. Both are valued by local residents as real assets, and they never caused me a problem as a councillor. The proposal in the King’s Speech for an armed forces commissioner will be supported by many in my constituency, particularly if it helps improve the living quarters for our service personnel and supports spouses at the point of relationship breakdown, particularly when domestic abuse has been an issue.

“Elections are a reminder that we are all equal in this country, but it pained me that many constituents felt that they were less equal than others during the election campaign. That is why local groups in my constituency such as Soul Food Oxgangs, Best Bib n Tucker and WHALE Arts must be mentioned in my speech, as they all work hard to ensure that people feel included and valued.

“That is our job too, of course—indeed, all of us here have a duty to keep on listening to voters now that the election is over. The first-past-the-post system means that I was elected on just 40.9% of the vote—I still cannot believe it, to be honest—and I know that some of those voters still want to be reassured that they did the right thing. I am here only because I promised to work with other parties where possible, and to listen to everybody in my constituency, no matter their sex, gender, background, faith, age or birthplace. I will keep listening to people, even if they voted for my opponents or did not vote at all.

“We know, of course, that the people who need our help most did not vote for us. Among them are the 3,000 children in my constituency who are living in poverty. That number has grown across the whole UK since Labour last sat on the Government Benches, and that should shame us all. I know the costed measures in the King’s Speech are our best chance of changing those lives.

“Measures such as GB Energy, building more homes, a new deal for working people and our plans for sustainable economic growth will not just get our country back on track and help us to meet our climate targets, but give parents hope again of a better future for their children. The child poverty taskforce is an opportunity to maximise the benefits of those policies by integrating their delivery. That is the change our country needs and voted for, and we must now work together across this Chamber to deliver it.”

UPDATE – David Turner, 68, reported missing from the Adamslaw Place area of Edinburgh, has been traced safe and well.

Police are appealing for the help of the public to trace a 68-year-old man reported missing in Edinburgh.

David Turner was last seen around 11.30am on Sunday, 21 July, in the Adamslaw Place area of the city. He was walking his two Cocker Spaniels, one brown and white and the other black and white.

David often visits the Inch or Portobello areas of Edinburgh, or Musselburgh in East Lothian.

He has very short white hair and glasses. When last seen he was wearing a black jacket, black joggers and black trainers.

Inspector Steph Garnett at Craigmillar said: “Concerns are growing for David’s welfare and we want to make sure he is safe and well.

“We are asking anyone who has seen him or knows where he is to get in touch.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2550 of Sunday, 21 July, 202

An attack was carried out at Sighthill Primary School on Saturday leaving a door and window damaged in an apparent act of vandalism.

The council say the school building has now been secured and that they are looking to address repairs to the damage.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing after the report of vandalism to a school building in Calder Park, Edinburgh shortly after 4am on Saturday, 20 July 2024.

“Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 0650 of 20 July 2024.”

Lothians duo Jock Kettles and Mike Connet qualified for the final of the Fastmail Pairs, formerly the Scierra Pairs, one of Britain’s leading fly fishing events, after a challenging day at Glencorse Reservoir in The Pentland Hills.

Kettles from Lasswade, Midlothian, and Connet from Edinburgh hooked their eight fish which totalled 31lb 01oz in just over five hours. With time bonuses the total rose to 34lb 8oz.

They were beaten by Dunfermline pair, Ross and Nicola Carnegie, who landed eight fish for 29lb 01oz which rose to 37lb 1oz with time bonuses, the team arriving back at the harbour four minutes under three hours after the match started at 9am.

Third were another Fife pair, William ‘Fally’ Cowan, aged 81, from Glenrothes, and 70-year-old Brian Abel from Cardenden, who call themselves the ‘Pensioner Pair’. Their bag weighed 31lb and 11oz and rose to 34lb 3oz with time bonuses.

Kettles and Connet were quick to praise the winners who practised on the water on Saturday. Nicola blanked on the day and Ross tempted four and they agreed on their tactics over a coffee as they relaxed at home.

Ross, a joiner, and Nicola, a carer, caught six fish in under two hours during the competition and had to wait for the next two as they anxiously looked at the clock in the hope of adding major time bonus points.

They have qualified for the final twice and two years ago they were 21^st with 66 boats in the water. At Glencorse, the last heat and their last chance to qualify this year, one used a floating line with two dry flies and the other a Di5 with lures.

Ross admitted: “We decided to make for the top of the water (towards Loganlea) and we should have been back in harbour by 10.30, but we dropped a number of fish. At 11am it became cooler but the sun came out again and we found the two fish we needed to come back to harbour. It was, however, a challenging day.”

It was also a long wait to see if their impressive total would be beaten.

Kettles and Connet are regular anglers at Glencorse and were considered a major threat as they know the water so well, but even they struggled and the experienced pair did not arrive back at the harbour until 14.12. They still accrued time bonuses.

Overall, their best finish in the final was eighth and they travel south to Grafham near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, England’s third largest reservoir, on Sunday, September 15, fully aware that some of the heavyweights in British fly fishing await them.

One fished a mini rabbit and the other a booby and three cormorants and they persevered throughout the match in The Pentland Hills. They made drifts towards the margins but admitted that fishing was tough even with their experience at Glencorse. They also missed fish and Connet was snapped by a big fish early on.

Cowan hooked his first fish five minutes after the start and another at 9.30 but they dried up and the pair did not dock until 14.49. They still collected a time bonus which left them clear of the rest.

They fished a red head damsel, FAB and a small snake on a Di3 line and Cowan, a former Scotland international, who won a gold medal in his debut at a water in Kent, said their biggest fish was around 6.5lb.

Other Lothians anglers were also in the field including Eck Moffat from Bonnyrigg and Andy Hamlyn from Roslin and they had six fish for 24lb 08oz.

The full results were: 1, Nicola Carnegie and Ross Carnegie, eight fish, 29lb 1oz plus 8lb in time bonuses for 37lb 1oz; 2, Jock Kettles and Mike Connet, eight fish, 31lb, plus 3lb 8oz in time bonuses for 34lb 8oz; 3, Brian Abel and William Cowan, eight fish, 31lb 11oz, 2lb 8oz in time bonuses for 34lb 3oz; 4, David Wright and Keith Renton, seven fish, 26lb 4oz; 5, Eck Moffat and Andy Hamlyn, six fish, 24lb 8oz; 6, Dave Moody and Jeff McIntosh, six fish, 21lb 8oz; 7, Simon Thurwell and Derek Marklow, four fish for 19lb; 8, Colin Fairgrieve and Douglas Scott, five fish for 18lb 8oz; 9, Colin Moffat and Willie Jacobsen, four fish for 14lb 14oz; 10, George Amour and Jamie McLery, one fish for 3lb 8oz; 11, Andrew Glasgow and Mark Partizio one fish for 3lb 4oz.

PICTURE: Friendly rivalry at the weigh-in (left to right): Mike Connet, Jock Kettles, Ross Carnegie, Nicola Caregie and Kenny Knox, the fishery manager at Glencorse. Picture by Nigel Duncan

PENSIONER PAIR: “Brian Abel (left) and William ‘Fally’ Cowan who were third. Picture Nigel Duncan

WAITING GAME: Anglers line-up awaiting the results at Glencorse. Picture Nigel Duncan

HAND OVER: Jack Kettles (right) congratulates the winners, Nicola and Ross Carnegie, on winning the heat. Picture Nigel Duncan

The Council Leader has instructed the Chief Executive to convene a meeting on Monday to review the incident involving visiting football fans and cricketers in Roseburn Park near Murrayfield Stadium this weekend.

Cllr Cammy Day said that the Chief Executive, Paul Lawrence, will invite representatives from Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and other organisations involved in Saturday’s football match at Murrayfield to attend. He is adamant that a meeting will discuss what happened, what went wrong and whether the council will “support any of these types of events going forward”.

Cllr Day said: “The way that a minority of fans have behaved is an absolute disgrace. The language which has allegedly been used is both homophobic and racist. This is unacceptable in Edinburgh, and we will not tolerate it. And if that means bringing an end to these games then that is what we will be doing. We will work with the police and the SRU, and after investigation, then we may expect public apologies from the football teams and the SRU.

“But if that is how these fans behave then we don’t want them.”

On Saturday a cricket match being played in Roseburn Park between Murrayfield DAFS and Stewart’s Melville was abandoned as football fans going to the Rangers FC v Manchester United match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield allegedly verbally abused the cricketers.

There are also allegations of physical assault against the cricketers, and we are advised that Police Scotland is now investigating all of these claims as a matter of urgency today.

Murrayfield DAFS Cricket Club have also advised that damage was caused to the pitch after they had to abandon a match there on Saturday.

The damage was caused to the astro turf surface as is seen in the photo below.

Hibs youngster Malik Zaid has joined Annan Athletic on loan for the duration of 2024/25 season. 

This will be the 19-year-old’s second loan spell away from Hibs after a successful six-months at Edinburgh City last season.  
  
During his time at Meadowbank, Zaid made 19 appearances and contributed to four goals in League One. 
  
Zaid will now join up with Wullie Gibson’s Annan side as they prepare for their William Hill League 1 campaign. 
  
Hibernian FC Sporting Director Malky Mackay commented: “This is a great opportunity for Malik to continue playing senior games at a really competitive level. 
  
“He performed well at Edinburgh City last season and hopefully further exposure in League 1 will aid his development. We look forward to seeing how he progresses.” 

Soup bags and £570 worth of groceries have been given to the local food bank by the owners of a Fife holiday park.

As part of its fortieth anniversary celebrations, Pettycur Bay Holiday Park, stars of Life on the Bay on BBC, has donated 40 soup bags, together with £570 worth of groceries, to the Burntisland & Kinghorn Food Bank.

James McKay, Head Chef at Horizons, the 100 seater all day restaurant within the holiday park, chopped a selection of seasonal vegetables – which were themselves donated from Horizons supplier, Malcolm Wood of Fresh Express – added stock, and then bagged the mixture into 40 bags, with each bag enough to make a delicious portion of fresh homemade soup for a hungry local person or family.

The bags, together with the groceries, were recently handed over to the Food Bank.

James said: “We are very grateful to Malcolm for donating the vegetables for the soup bags.

“Along with donating badly needed groceries and supplies, we thought we would donate these soup bags, as it’s nice to give a food bank something fresh as well. We’ve made it as easy as possible to make the soup – just add water to the mixture and simmer.”

It was on 19 July 1984 that the Wallace family – Dad Thomas, Mum Magdalene, and sons Tommy and Alan formed a partnership and bought what was then a humble 47 acre camping and caravan park.

Over the years they have built up the business, notable for its sweeping views across the Firth of Forth, and it has become a multi-million-pound, award winning concern. It is still very much the location for caravan holiday homes – albeit far more sophisticated luxury models than were around in 1984 – from some of the UK’s top manufacturers, including Atlas and Carnaby. Over 600 in total are situated on the hills and inclines of the park, either owned by a happy community of owners, or are part of the park’s holiday rental fleet.

Tommy Wallace said: “Along with this food bank donation as a community contribution to mark our forty years of ownership, we held a special Charity Race Night at Pettycur Bay on Friday 19 July – our anniversary day – raising the great total of £2,175 for our three nominated charities – the RNLI, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and the Wolf-Hirschhorn Trust.

“We are delighted to say that we attracted strong levels of sponsorship from local businesses and individuals who got involved in this night,” added Tommy. “I’d like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their support – we really appreciate it.

“The night was a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together here at Pettycur Bay as it has done many times over the past four decades.”

On behalf of Burntisland & Kinghorn Foodbank, Pat Gibson said: “Our sincere thanks to Pettycur Bay for this incredible donation of both soup bags and groceries which will be very well used in the local community by those still in need of our help.”

The Murrayfield DAFS 4th XI playing against Stewart’s Melville at Roseburn on Saturday was forced to abandon the match because of incidents of alleged abuse and physical assault by football supporters headed to Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

The Rangers v Manchester United football friendly was played at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon with kick off initially due to take place at 4.00pm. Play began at the delayed time of 4.15 to allow fans to “enter the ground safely” according to Rangers FC.

As the fans passed the cricket pitch in the public park, which DAFS rent from Edinburgh Leisure on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council, the club alleges there were incidents of sexist, homophobic and racist abuse made against the cricketers. On X the club also said that police standing only 50 yards away did nothing to assist – and refused to help. As a result the club abandoned the match and players left the field.

A spokesman for the cricket club told The Edinburgh Reporter that the matter has been reported to Police Scotland.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told us: “Officers are carrying out enquiries after reports of abuse being directed towards players during a cricket match at Roseburn Park, Edinburgh on Saturday, 20 July 2024.”

Stewart’s Melville Cricket Club said that they were very disappointed about the experience of their 4th team at Roseburn Park.

A spokesperson for Stewart’s Melville said: “The treatment suffered by both teams in our 4th XI match against Murrayfield DAFs at Roseburn Park was completely unacceptable. All the players involved deserve credit for the manner in which they handled the situation. The club will be happy to assist the relevant authorities with anything required”. 

All other organisations with an interest in the matter including local politicians have been contacted for comment.

Edinburgh Live reported on Saturday that “balaclava wearing football fans” caused police to halt traffic on Slateford Road around 3pm.

Rangers FC reported that 56,574 people attended the match at Murrayfield – less than the 73,000 strong audience who came to the ground to see megastar Taylor Swift last month. The match could not be played at Ibrox due to work being carried out there this summer meaning it will be unavailable for around two months while 600 extra seats are added. Many other Rangers pre-season fixtures will be played in England.

At the time Scottish Rugby’s Director of Stadium and Development Operations, Mark Laidlaw, said that the Taylor Swift concert “was a huge achievement” and evidenced the cross organisation work involved in staging events at Murrayfield.

He continued: “Not just for everyone from Scottish Rugby who worked on making this event happen, but also for all partners that we have worked with since the tour was announced last year. We work closely with Edinburgh City Council, the emergency services and local travel providers for all of our events and I would like to thank them all for their support, both for the recent concerts and for other such events.”

Police Scotland Air Support Unit launched their drone in South Queensferry last week as part of an operation tackling antisocial vehicle use in the Hawes Pier area.  

Specially trained police officers deploy the drones and have all received Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved training and operate according to strict criteria governed by the CAA. 

Drones can be used for a variety of purposes, including searches across large areas for missing people that could otherwise take officers days to complete.

They are a low cost, effective and very visible asset that can support the force’s existing helicopter. 

Community officers were also joined by Councillor Lewis Younie and assisted by colleagues from the Roads Policing Team to raise awareness of the issue and engage with those involved. 

Hibs Head Coach David Gray was left frustrated after his side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Kelty Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup yesterday. 

Despite creating plenty of chances, Hibs were made to pay for our missed opportunities and Kelty claimed all three points thanks to Callum Flatman’s second-half header.  

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray shared his frustration with the result.  

“It’s extremely disappointing, and frustrating. We’ve let the fans down especially, who all came here in their numbers.  

“It has been really positive the last two weeks, but this just shows you that you need to be at your level every single time you pull on the jersey. There is an expectation that playing for such a big Club that needs to be there.  

“We created enough chances to win the game, but if you don’t show that composure and quality in the final third and you don’t score when you are on top – then it gives the opposition a lift.  

“We switched off at a corner, we didn’t set up quickly enough and they showed more desire to get their head on the ball than we did and we lose a goal.  

“We never got back into the game after that. Credit to Kelty, they threw their bodies on the line.  

“They did everything they could to hold onto the advantage that they had, but we certainly didn’t do enough in the end.” 

Gray admits his side were not clinical enough in the final third and highlighted the importance of making sure we bounce back quickly from this setback.  

“We had a lot of clear-cut chances – we hit the woodwork several times as well, but the longer the game goes on – the more they take from that, they throw bodies on the lines, their keeper made a number of saves and it became a very frustrating day. 

“We made changes today, it was our third game in a week so it was an opportunity to pull on the jersey and go out and impress. 

“ Unfortunately, I think our standards dropped, not just the changes but for the whole team – that is something that we need to definitely be better at.  

“That’s the beauty of football, we have the opportunity to try and change it straight up.  

“We will be back in on Monday morning to rectify the areas that we let ourselves down in today.” 

Hibs suffered an embarrassing defeat to League One side Kelty Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup at New Central Park yesterday. 

After two comfortable victories over Elgin City and Queen’s Park, the 1,100 fans travelled to Fife in confident mood packing out the north half of the stadium. 

David Gray raised a few eyebrows by making six changes and giving several players their first start of the season. 

New signing Jordan Smith made his Hibs debut, whilst Rocky Bushiri and Kanayo Megwa both come into the starting XI, completing a back four alongside Lewis Miller and Warren O’Hora.  

In midfield, Luke Amos and Dylan Levitt made their first starts of the season, alongside 18-year-old Rudi Molotnikov. 

The final change saw Harry McKirdy return, making his first competitive start since April 2023. 

On the bench, Gray had plenty of options to choose from with Joe Newell, Josh Campbell, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Jordan Obita all among the substitutes. 

The visitors dominated the opening stages of the game and McKirdy went close with a fine effort as did Dylan Vente. 

At the other end Megwa did brilliantly to get back on his goal-line and clear a looping header off the line. 

Liam Brown then bravely blocked Bushiri’s volley from point blank range. 

Shortly before the break Levitt forced an excellent save from Ryan Adamson and McKirdy rattled the crossbar. 

Just before the hour mark. Callum Flatman rose the highest in the penalty area to fire a bullet header into the far corner. 

Gray opted to make changes with Moriah-Welsh and Obita coming on for Amos and Megwa. 

Hibs continued to press forward and Vente’s header rebounded off the post but Kelty held on to secure a memorable victory. 

That leaves Hibs top of the table with six points from three games. 

They face Peterhead at Easter Road next Saturday needing a win to have any hopes of progressing to the last 16 of the competition. 

Kelty Hearts: Adamson, Thomas, Flatman, O’Ware, Paterson, Miller, Allan, Brown, McCarvel, Williamson, Moore Subs: Langlands, B Owens, Johnston, Cunningham, Cole, L Owens, Walsh 

Hibs: Smith, Miller, O’Hora, Levitt, Vente, Boyle, Amos, McKirdy, Megwa, Bushiri, Molotnikov, Subs Boruc, Ekpiteta, Newell, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Tavares, Campbell, McAllister, Whittaker 

ASKR, one of Edinburgh’s newest fine dining destinations led by Chef Dan Ashmore, has launched a new à la carte menu, available from 25 July in addition to the tasting menus that guests to the restaurant currently enjoy.

If you’re looking for somewhere away from the madding crowd which will soon be descending on the city for the Fringe, my advice is to hop on a tram down to the Foot of the Walk. Nestled in the heart of Leith, ASKR promises a unique culinary experience centred around seasonal ingredients. Chef Dan Ashmore’s focus lies solely on offering a menu cooked over coals, which is expertly paired with an exceptional selection of wines sourced from across the globe. With seating for 26 guests, Askr restaurant is open five days a week, serving both lunch and dinner with tasting menus and now à la carte options.

The expansion of the menu has been designed to fit the changing preferences of diners, offering more flexibility in choice for guests who can now choose to visit simply for a few oysters and a glass of wine, or build their ideal feast from a unique variety of dishes cooked over fire.

The à la carte offering stays true to the restaurant’s ethos of coal-fired cooking, using seasonal ingredients found locally in Scotland. The menu will feature a range of favourites from the set menu, including a ‘rip it and dip it’ flatbread with smoked aubergine and Orkney scallops with borlotti beans and nduja, in addition to new dishes, like a koji brined guinea fowl and Shetland cod with peas and pancetta – alongside a showstopper dish of whole lobster aged in wagyu fat.

ASKR will continue to offer the tasting menus the restaurant has become known for offering a range of courses from both land and sea, and a ‘garden menu’ of vegetarian and vegan options that can also cater to gluten-free diners. A set lunch is also available with three courses for £35.

Dan Ashmore said: “Opening my first restaurant in the middle of one of the most challenging times for not only hospitality but also for our guests has certainty been interesting. We’ve received fantastic feedback since we opened for both our food and service, however I’m aware of the desire for choice from our guests. With that in mind, we have decided to launch a new à la carte menu to run alongside our tasting menu.

“Whether you’d like to come in for a glass of wine and some oysters after work, a quick meal before a fringe show or the full ASKR tasting menu experience, we have you covered.”

ASKR by Dan Ashmore is open for dinner service from Tuesday – Saturday and lunch from Thursday – Saturday.

For more information and to book a table, visit https://www.askr.co.uk

A US comedian is calling for people to send her snaps of Edinburgh’s best bathroom-wall graffiti for a musical show at the Festival Fringe next month.

New-York based Caitlin Cook’s show The Writing on the Stall is made up of songs with lyrics from loos.

She wants people in Edinburgh to send her pictures of the best, funniest and most thought-provoking lines from capital cubicles to make up an original song for her Fringe show.

Cook, who has been photographing bathroom-wall graffiti for over a decade and performed all over the world, will bring her one-woman show to Edinburgh’s The Pleasance from August 14-25.

People who contribute images chosen to be used in the song will be offered free tickets.

Pictures of bathroom-wall graffiti can be submitted to thewritingonthestallshow@gmail.com or sent by DM to @TheCaitlinCook on instagram.

Justin Sedgmen will not return to the saddle for Edinburgh Stellar Omada Monarchs until next month, it has been confirmed.

The popular rider was involved in what the promotion called “a horrendous crash” at the start of Heat Four in the home victory over the Workington Comets in the Cab Direct Championship on Friday.

The 32-year-old from Mildura, Victoria, was treated on the track and then lifted off it on a stretcher. He received treatment at the side of the track by medical staff and then visited hospital.

A Monarchs spokesman said: “Justin has suffered concussion which rules him out of next weekend’s home and away fixtures against Berwick.

“However, although very sore, he has suffered no broken bones and, all being well, Justin should return to the saddle in August.”

PICTURE: Justin Sedgmen testing his bike in the pits area at Armadale watched by his mechanic Cammy minutes before the crash. Picture Nigel Duncan

JUST CHECKING: Match referee Jim McGregor checking Justin Sedgmen’s bike with the rider’s mechanic, Cammy, at Armadale. Picture by Nigel Duncan

MAKING SURE: Monarchs star Josh Pickering giving his bike a once-over at Armadale. Picture Nigel Duncan

PICTURE: Norwegian racer Lasse Fredrikson looks on as skipper Paco Castagna works on his bike. Picture Nigel Duncan

Author Jacqueline Dempster has just published a young person’s book PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers – The Phantoms of Pittenweem which tells the story of the Pittenweem witches for a younger audience.

In this article she tells the story and the importance of Sir George Mackenzie whose recommendations led to a decline in accusations of witchery and of subsequent executions, as well as some present day plans.

The Witches of Eastwick may have conjured up a storm, but the Witches of East Neuk and indeed throughout Fife and Scotland are creating a tempest, with a revival of calls to posthumously pardon those innocent people who were accused, tortured and executed for witchcraft during the 16-18^th centuries.

Royal Turbulence

For those who don’t know, storms were the catalyst for witch hunting and persecution in Scotland, when King James VI of Scotland and I of England’s attempts to transport his new wife, Anne of Denmark to Scotland were thwarted by tempests during her voyage. Once safely installed in her new country, the Danish Minister faced Royal accusations of cutting corners in the creation of the ship that carried Queen Anne, causing it to be unstable. He in turn denied any culpability, pointing the finger, instead, at ‘witches’ for sending imps and creating the storms. 

Witchcraft Legislation

From that point on, James VI took a great interest in witchcraft, publishing his own book on the subject, Daeomonologie in Forme of a Dialogue, published in 1604. Witchcraft was already a crime punishable by death in England under the 1542 Witchcraft Act passed during the reign of Henry VIII. Mary Queen of Scots, James VI’s mother, passed legislation for Scotland in 1563 resulting in 150 years of witch-hunting and persecution when practising witchcraft or consulting a witch was outlawed.

2,500 Executed for Witchcraft in Scotland

Until the Witchcraft Act was repealed in Scotland by new legislation in 1736, four thousand Scots, mainly women were accused of witchcraft, with 2,500 of those convicted and executed.

Those accused of witchcraft were often victimised for their differences, such as learning difficulties, disabilities, or because they had knowledge of herbalism and basic medicine. While people relied on them to help with medical conditions for humans and animals, one false word, apparent curse or grumpiness could lead to the belief that these ‘wyse’ women (although some could be men) were turning their powers against victims to cause harm, rather than good. People believed that their knowledge was magic, rather than any natural understanding of how to use plants and herbs for healing and cure. 

Such persecutions were not, of course, confined to Scotland. Between 1692 and 1693, the town of Salem in Massachusetts famously executed 19 people by hanging following the accusation of 200 people for practising witchcraft.

Witch Executions in England and Wales

England sent around 1,000 people to their death for witchcraft between 1542 and 1736 but astonishingly, it seems that only 5 were executed in Wales. Why this is the case isn’t entirely clear, but author Phil Carradice has suggested that the Welsh valued, and were more reliant upon the local wyse women who were accepted in the community for helping people and animals with their potions, ointments and charms. There may have been another entirely practical reason for the lack of convictions in Wales – apparently, few judge or examiners spoke the Welsh language, thereby making interrogation impossible. 

In an unexpected turn of events, however, during the seventeenth century, Sir George Mackenzie, Lord Advocate for Scotland, proved to have more sympathy with those accused of witchcraft than he did with the Covenanters he persecuted and incarcerated in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Although he appears to have believed in the powers of the Devil to inflict harm and, in some cases, cure diseases, he was reluctant to accept that those accused of witchcraft had necessarily made a pact with the Devil. Although willing to allow torture of the Covenanters, he was instrumental in the decline of witchcraft trials in Scotland, criticising judicial practices against the accused and the use of torture, such as ‘witch pricking’ to extract confessions from them.

The Pittenweem Witches

Whilst researching my children’s book, PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers – The Phantoms of Pittenweem, the parallels in accusations of witchcraft between Salem and Pittenweem were evident. In the former, a group of girls and young women demonstrated horrific afflictions which they claimed had been caused by witchcraft by others in the town. Similarly, in Pittenweem, a young apprentice blacksmith, Patrick Morton, crossed swords with a customer, Beatrix Laing, whose order for nails he refused to expedite, resulting in an angry exchange, during which Ms Laing threatened him. He returned home to find a bucket of water and some burning coals outside his house, a sign of a curse. Morton immediately became ill after this discovery and was unable to stand or walk. He suffered convulsions in which his body became rigid and twisted, his stomach allegedly distended, and he developed marks which people said resembled pinches from fingernails.  

The townsfolk quickly decided that witchcraft was afoot and laid the blame on Beatrix Laing. Morton claimed to have seen other local people around his bed, cursing him and claiming to be witches and from there, a horrific period of persecution, torture and execution ensued. Possibly the most dreadful story is that of Janet Cornfoot who was returned to custody after escaping the Pittenweem Tolbooth and was subsequently hunted down by a lynch mob, subjected to near drowning, and stoned until she was finally crushed to death before being driven over by a horse and cart several times.

In both Salem and Pittenweem, there may have been logical reasons for the apparent sickness and behaviour of the accusers, including mass hysteria or convulsive ergotism (caused by eating grains or rye infected with fungus). Nevertheless, due to lack of knowledge of such things, all were attributed to witchcraft.

A Profitable Business

In Pittenweem, more nefarious reasons may have been present. The local Minister, the Reverend Patrick Couper, a friend of Morton’s family, had been distributing leaflets about witchcraft, exposing the young lad to tales of witchcraft and devil worship. 

The Church had become wary of the Protestant Reformation and the 1563 Witchcraft Act made it a crime to use herbs as medicine as it was a pagan celtic tradition. Failure to attend church was evidence of witchcraft and, most strikingly of all, those women successfully prosecuted were prevented from claiming new rights in terms of property and land ownership that had resulted under the Reformation. Indeed, to find someone guilty of witchcraft allowed the local authorities or the Church to claim the property of those so condemned. 

There were, therefore, ulterior motives in stoking up fear of witchcraft in those turbulent times. Indeed, Patrick Morton was described as having blatantly lied about the Pittenweem ‘witches’ by the Edinburgh Courts. The Scottish High Court in fact, released Janet Cornfoot back to Pittenweem due to its disagreement with the local proceedings, an action which sadly led to her horrific demise when she was re-arrested in Fife.

While the witch trials may be attributable to considerable misogyny, given most victims were female, there was undoubtedly a huge benefit in the ability of the state and Church to divest any property owners of their worldly goods. In fact, families of those condemned to execution were even heavily charged for the services of arranging the burning of alleged witches and disposal arrangements. Pittenweem itself had lost its men to war resulting in pecuniary losses and in addition to the seizing of property to add to the town coffers, the spectacle of trials and executions brought tourism and money to its economy.

In Memory of the Victims

It is little wonder, therefore, that in more enlightened times, there are those who feel that history should be recognised and those innocent, brutalised victims should be remembered with more than lip service. 

Amongst those who have tried to memorialise the victims are Leonard Low, author, historian, and expert on Scottish Witches. He is a descendant of two women on his mother’s side, one who was burnt and the other who died accused of witchcraft. He is a passionate campaigner and advocate for a memorial to be created. The local council initially welcomed his suggestion to place it on Council land, on a cliff path popular with tourists. Sadly, however, he explained that the Pittenweem Community Council rejected the idea. 

The Furore of the Larachmhor Mural

More recently, there has been something of a furore after the owner of the Larachmhor Tavern in Pittenweem commissioned a street artist of the Banksy ilk to paint the mural of a witch on the side of his pub. The witch is depicted stereotypically as a ‘pointed-nosed hag’, resplendent with wizened features and toothless gums. Her long-fingered hand is threateningly poised at all who gaze at her as she stares out from the side street, haloed by a glowing harvest moon.  It has been suggested that the mural is too cartoon inspired and is derogatory to the memory of the innocent persecuted women of Pittenweem. Although it is certainly caricature and unmistakably raises the inference of witchcraft, it might be argued that the features could easily have resembled those of an older lady of the time who may well have been seen as frightening and accused of witchcraft. 

Following thirteen complaints, and accusations that it raised “historically inaccurate false narratives,” not in keeping with the village’s conservation area, Leonard explained that Fife Council ordered Alan Adey, the landlord of the Larachmhor Tavern to remove the mural as it did not have planning permission. Although retrospective planning was applied for, it was rejected. Mr Adey was served with enforcement action to remove it. 

The mural, described as ‘gaudy and inaccurate’ by local counsellors became the subject of further appeals, finally to the Scottish Government, with Leonard Low expressing his opposition to its removal. He argues that it brings tourism to the town and helps its economy and reminds us of Pittenweem’s history, which, however horrific, isn’t something that can be erased. If the mural had just been of an ordinary looking woman, he argues, the purpose of it wouldn’t be recognised. Leonard believes that the mural isn’t there to ridicule those who perished, an idea which he reviles, given his own ancestry, but to remember and recognise the perceptions that people held in those days. 

Expression of Art or Commercialism?

There are, of course, those who support the mural as a work of art, expression of which, they believe, should not be crushed. Others, however, feel that such expression should be more compassionate and sensitive, particularly in an area where descendants of those persecuted in the witch trials still reside. 

There are merits on both sides of the argument, it might be said. In Salem, Massachusetts, the entire atmosphere is one of ‘Witch Town’ where the history of witch persecution is overshadowed by shops selling magickal ephemera, offering Tarot readings, all year-round Hallowe’en decorations with witches on broomsticks hanging outside every doorway, and waxwork exhibitions depicting the events. It is fair to say that trials of Salem are somewhat lost in the ruthlessly commercial streets of the town and are only preserved in the historical areas where you can see the Jonathan Corwin House (The Witch House), home of the judge who presided over the witch trials. There is the Old Burying Point Cemetery, Salem Jail, Salem Courthouse, and the Execution Site on Gallows Hill where 19 innocent people were hanged for witchcraft. 

It’s hard to disagree that some balance between history and kitsch commercialism is desirable and that as long as it doesn’t get out of hand, the odd artwork by a well-known artist (‘Rogue-one’, allegedly a friend of Banksy) might not be so terrible if taken in the context and spirit it was created. Love it or hate it, the fight continues to retain the Pittenweem Witch Mural, and, Leonard Low, at least hasn’t given up the fight.

Scottish Witch Trial Museum

Whether successful or not in his battle in the name of art, Leonard Low is planning to thwart the rejections of the past in terms of remembering Pittenweem’s witch trials with the launch of his own Scottish Witch Trial Museum to be located in Leven, Fife, in the very near future. Over many years, he has gathered artefacts and manuscripts associated with, and documenting all things related to the Scottish Witch Trials and he is determined to create a permanent exhibition of his fascinating collection. Leonard Low has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Scottish Witches and other Scottish oddities which even led to his appointment as a consultant on the popular show, Outlander. 

Pardons, Memorial Service and Commemoration of Victims in Scotland

It took me three years to fully research and write my children’s ghost adventure book which re-tells the story of the Witches of Pittenweem for a younger audience. In the year of its publication there has been an astonishing revival in interest about Scottish witches generally. On the last International Women’s Day Nicola Sturgeon formally apologised to those persecuted, and in February this year, campaigners called for dormant proposals for legislation posthumously pardoning witches in Scotland to be resurrected by a Member of the Scottish Parliament. A Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Natalie Don in 2022 but had to be withdrawn when she was appointed a minister (and thereby could not promote a Private Member’s Bill). 

A plaque remembering dozens of people accused of witchcraft was unveiled in Forfar, however, campaigners not only want to see the legislative pardon implemented, but also seek a memorial to remember the 4,000 accused and 2,500 convicted witches in Scotland.

On 4^th June, the day when the Scottish Witchcraft Act 1563 commenced, creating the death penalty for offences, a Memorial Ceremony was conducted in Dunfermline Abbey, organised by Creative Coven and the charity, Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland (RAWS). During the ceremony there was a simultaneous reading of the 4000 names of those accused by eight name bearers, significantly, on hallowed ground. Indeed, it is RAWS members who are actively seeking to create a national monument to those thousands of people and educate young people about the true story of Scotland’s witches. Just recently, actress Suranne Jones presented her take on “Investigating Witch Trials” on Channel 4.

The commemoration doesn’t end here, however. Dunfermline and Carnegie Library and Art Gallery is planning further events dedicated to Scotland’s bewitching history in the autumn. 

Only through history can we learn the lessons of the past and with the many creative ideas now taking on new life and the passionate advocates like Leonard Low and organisations such as RAWS, the memory of Scotland’s Witches will never die.

Jacqui Dempster is the author of PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers – The Phantoms of Pittenweem – The Book Guild Ltd, 28 April 2024. Price £8.99 and PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers – The Mackenzie Poltergeist (Suitable for middle grade readers aged 9-14).

M&S through their partner HM Stanley Ltd have set up a new food store in Stockbridge in the former Scotmid building.

Promised for the new development at the Accies ground initially it has now taken over where Scotmid left off and headed west along Comely Bank.

There is an instore bakery which was doing a roaring trade in pastel de nata and croissants on Saturday morning, despite the number of independent coffee shops and bakeries in the area.

Percy Pig came along to cut the ribbon and declare the store officially open.

Store Manager Paul Donnelly said: “We are thrilled to officially open our brand-new convenience store in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. The last few weeks have been so exciting for us all as we’ve seen the store take shape, and I’d like to thank everyone in our team of colleagues for all their hard work to make sure everything is ready for our customers today. The store is an exciting investment in the future of M&S in Scotland, and I can’t wait for our customers to explore all the new features that the store has to offer.”

Sean Geddes, Managing Director of The Explorer Group Ltd, a Scottish-owned company based in East Lothian said: “We are so excited to open the doors to our Edinburgh Stockbridge M&S Food Convenience Store. This new store marks the latest of an ambitious roll-out of M&S Food Convenience stores across Scotland by HM Stanley Ltd. in partnership with Marks and Spencer. We can’t wait to welcome the local community through the doors and let them experience it for themselves.”

The store is located at 36-38 Raeburn Place, EH4 1HX. The store is open Monday to Saturday 7am to 10pm and Sunday 8am to 10pm. Click and Collect is also available.

The team behind one of Stockbridge’s hottest bars, Skua, will host a street food pop-up, Coop on Potterrow in Fettle Cafe on the 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 and 31 July and for the whole of August to coincide with the Edinburgh festivals.

Taking inspiration from its popular signature dishes at Skua, the menu will include Skua’s incredibly moreish fried chicken, smoked East Coast lobster rolls, Maneesh zaatar and olive oil, braised Free Company roast lamb, and nabulsi cheese flatbreads with togarashi or seaweed flake fries. Skua is renowned for its eclectic drinks list, featuring natural and biodynamic wines, as well as innovative cocktails crafted by mixologist Jacob Thunder. Following this same ethos, Coop will offer Vinca canned wines, Newbarns Brewery beers on tap, and a rotating selection of Skua’s cocktails to toast the festivities. Coop is the perfect hangout for a late-night bite between shows to sit in or take-away, just a 10-minute walk from top festival venues The Pleasance, The Underbelly, Gilded Balloon and The Assembly. 

Tomás Gormley said: “Growing up in Edinburgh the Festival has always been the highlight of the year for me. While I usually feel the increased bustle in my restaurants, I rarely get to see much of the festival itself.  This year I’m looking forward to spending a month right in the thick of it serving up some of my favourite things to eat and drink including the signature fried chicken from Skua.”

Coop has taken over Fettle cafe, Marshall St, Edinburgh EH8 9BJ and is open from 6 pm – 1 am on Friday – Sunday from 19th July and 7 days a week in August from the site of Fettle in Potterrow. It will operate a walk-in-only service.

To stay updated on more exciting announcements and developments from Coop and Skua, follow coop.skua and @skua.scot on Instagram and visit the websites, chickencoop.scot / skua.scot

Hot off the heels of two sell-out shows, The Bohemians next stop is at The Festival Theatre with a live sing-a-long performance of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. 

In honour of the 30th anniversary of the cult classic, The Bohemians are performing the jukebox musical in their largest venue yet, with a one-night-only chance to sing-along with the performers. Audience members can don their disco boots and belt out their favourite pop anthems, including ‘I Will Survive’, ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ and ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’. This groundbreaking choice by the company marks the first full length sing-along musical performance in Edinburgh.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert tells the story of three performers, Adam, Tick and Bernadette, who are booked to perform a show in the heart of The Australian Outback. Follow the glamorous trio through the highs and lows of their journey across the desert as they travel on their bus, Priscilla. The three friends encounter a comedy of errors, with a number of strange characters in this heart-warming tale of love and self-discovery.

Chairman, Kirsty Tomassi is delighted with this bold choice of 2025 musical. She said: “The Bohemians are known for putting on professional standard shows and next year will be no different. After our sell-out run of Sunshine on Leith and the incredible reception from audiences, we felt there was no better show for us than Priscilla. Adding the sing-along is going to create an electric atmosphere – it’s absolutely not to be missed.”

This announcement follows on from the company’s success with their 2024 production of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ – garnering 4 star reviews across the board. Theatre Scotland said: “All of this cast were fantastic on stage, every one of them were stellar comedy actors and beautiful vocalists.”

Reviewer Corr Blimey said: “The Bohemians continue this passion with confidence and skill, inviting everyone in Edinburgh (and further) into a warm embrace and a cracker of a show. “

Tickets are live, with several hundred selling within its first week of general sale, so secure your seats now. Performances run from 12 to 15 March 2025, with the sing-along show on Thursday 13th. 

Adult prices start at £26.50 and senior, student and child concessions are available.

“The Bohemians” is one of Edinburgh’s major amateur musical companies. Formed in 1909, it is one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected amdram companies, committed to bringing high quality productions of musicals and musical concerts to Edinburgh and East of Scotland audiences.

Every year the Company provides aspiring performers from all walks of life with the opportunity to work with dynamic and experienced directors, musical directors, choreographers and technicians on a large-scale production

• Performance information
• Wednesday 12th March, 2025 – Saturday 15th March, 2025 – ticket link here
• Thursday performance is sing-a-long – tickets for this performance here
• Matinee 2.30pm | Evenings 7.30pm
• Age: 14+
• Running time: TBC
• Prices: Adult:  £26.50/ £27.50
• Seniors:  £22
• Students & Children:  £18

Zara Kennedy, who plays club hockey for The University of Edinburgh, was the toast of her Scotland under-21 teammates in Konya.

The player, one of seven University of Edinburgh students in the squad, netted early on and Scotland held their nerve to win gold and preserve their 100 per cent record in the Turkey-based event.

Scotland beat Ukraine 3-1 in their opening match of the EuroHockey II-B tournament and followed up with a 2-1 victory over Poland and a 4-0 win over the hosts.

Coach Jimmy Culnane’s bonus for success in Turkey is qualification for the Junior World Cup next year and this is the first time since 2005 that the Scotland under-21 women have qualified for that event. A venue has yet to be announced.

This will be Scotland’s third appearance in the world event and qualification is, without doubt, a significant result given the opposition, the travel, a flight then a four-hour bus trip into deepest Turkey, and also the heat which, on occasions, topped 30c.

Scottish Hockey bosses were quick to complement the squad on social media and one message said: “Huge congratulations to the team. A 100 per cent record.”

Barry Cawte, the former chief executive officer of Scottish Hockey, said: “Trust in the process.”

PICTURE: Jimmy Culnane focused during a recent training session for Scotland’s women at Peffermill. Picture Nigel Duncan

The Resident Edinburgh has striking views over the whole city, from the Castle to the Firth of Forth, all from a West End location.

The hotel is ready to welcome guests from 1 September 2024 with rooms available to book now and adds the first Scottish destination to the hotel brand’s four in London and one in Liverpool.

The hotel is just a short walk from both Princes Street and Charlotte Square in the heart of the capital, combining the heartfelt hospitality The Resident is known for with a distinct Scottish warmth.

All 164 rooms and suites are designed for the home from home experience with mini-kitchens in every room and great natural light. Guest rooms have been specially crafted anticipating a slightly longer guest stay. Overall, the hotel has a cultured thoughtful elegance befitting the prime location and the world destination status of Scotland’s capital city. From Double Rooms to Junior Suites averaging between 17 and 35 square metres rooms have a range of breathtaking views including Edinburgh’s skyline, Edinburgh Castle and exceptional views north over the Firth of Forth.

Amenities have been carefully selected and include everything from a personal Nespresso coffee machine with complimentary capsules, GHD hairdryers for the dressing and vanity area; Molton Brown bathroom products in the stylish en-suites; a dining/working area beside the full height windows. The Resident has the latest easy to use in room tech and free Wi-Fi solutions for simple streaming from your own devices to minimum 50” UHD TVs. The beds are bespoke designed for The Resident with multi pocket springs and luxurious mattress toppers, Twin, King, or Super King.

Heartfelt hospitality is the ethos of The Resident Edinburgh’s guest experience. Each team member will be a “Resident Insider”, meaning they will have insider city knowledge and will be able to offer local advice, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in what Edinburgh has to offer.

The personal touch is what The Resident is renowned for, every evening hosting an hour of early drinks for guests. This social pause gives guests and the teams an opportunity to connect with each other and receive recommendations straight from the knowledgeable Resident Edinburgh team, all while enjoying drinks and snacks from local suppliers, including Stewart Brewery and Quirky Chocolate or Wines from Justerini & Brooks. Guest events will showcase local artisan producers and give deeper insight to Edinburgh’s culture and Arts scene.

The hotel will partner and support businesses around the city, providing guests with exclusive offers for local restaurants, bars and gyms to ensure they have access to the best venues in Edinburgh. The breakfast partner, The West End Brasserie, will offer a full breakfast offering for guests to go to. The other partners include Cairngorm coffee, Dulse, Kyloe and attractions such as the Royal Yacht Britannia, The Real Mary King’s Close and Pickering’s at Summerhall.

The Resident Edinburgh is aware of the cultural and arts appeal of the City to its visitors. The library lounge will host a curated book collection of fascination and relevance to the city, as well as its culture. The hotel owners, Mactaggart Family and Partners have commissioned Art for the public spaces from Emily Beamish of Dacre Fine Art, featuring local artists Katy Eccles, Hatti Pattisson and Poppy Cyster. The Resident will be the perfect spot to relax with friends for a quiet glass of wine, or a specially selected whisky. The hotel has a variety of quiet niches to retreat for work or leisure. Whether a long day of exploring the city, or returning to the hotel after a day of work, the warmth of The Resident Edinburgh’s team will be there for you.

The Resident Edinburgh’s interior design takes inspiration from local surroundings and the designers have placed emphasis on sourcing items to fully capture the vibrant character of Edinburgh.  Furnishings have been carefully handpicked and fabric elements in the rooms and lounge areas have been sourced from well-regarded Glasgow-based, Timorous Beasties. The hotel’s interior colour palette draws subtly on national references; the pale blue of the Saltire flag, the soft hues of the Craigleith sandstone, the earthy tones of the countryside visible from the rooms and finally the smoky browns that allude to the city’s affectionate nickname of ‘Auld Reekie’.

David JM Orr, CEO of Resident Hotels Ltd, said: “The Resident Edinburgh marks a significant milestone for The Resident brand, many of us in the business and especially our ownership have cherished, deep Scottish roots and a great affinity for Edinburgh and its cultural affluence.

“The Resident Edinburgh brings a new offering to the visitor for the city, a slightly longer stay with the guest and our teams at the centre. The Resident has an enviable track record at ensuring the visitor whether on business or leisure can experience a home from home, living like a local but with a very light touch.

“The Resident teams’ advocacy of businesses, attractions, artisans and institutions within the city will be fulsome as our mission to showcase the entrepreneur chefs’ restaurants and bars throughout the city.

“The guest experience is at the centre of our operation, and we have carefully curated a hotel that is inspired by Edinburgh, Scotland and the people who live here. We are delighted to be able to offer a personal experience for any guest that enters The Resident Edinburgh and equip them with insider knowledge, so they can feel like a resident in Scotland’s vibrant capital. I’m looking forward to welcoming guests from September; the afterglow of the Festival will be a perfect time to visit a city that has proven increasingly to appeal throughout the year.”

Gillian Mylles, General Manager of The Resident Edinburgh, said: “I am so excited to be bringing The Resident experience to Edinburgh. The attention to detail in The Resident Edinburgh is impressive. Amenities and services have been diligently considered to offer an exceptional experience for guests in an idyllic setting. We will be welcoming guests from all around the world, each visiting the capital for a variety of different reasons, and we have made sure we can cater to any potential need.

“The Resident Edinburgh will be a comforting home away from home. Guests will be able to get involved in the Edinburgh community, learn insider tips from the very best and also have the chance to socialise with other guests. I’m looking forward to our doors opening in September and meeting Edinburgh’s current and new residents.”

The Resident Edinburgh has seen the redevelopment of a 1960’s building, repurposing the former 1963 HM Revenue and Customs office for a use for at least the next 60 years. An innovative glass recycling solution by Arup is a first in a hotel project in the UK; 10 tonnes of glass from the building’s façade were returned to glass manufacturer, NSG Pilkington, which resulted in savings of 12 tonnes of virgin raw materials and more than 5 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided during new glass manufacture.

The hotel will open on 1 September 2024, and reservations can be made directly on the hotel’s website. By becoming a member, guests can enjoy 15% off booking and other benefits. Sign up in one step by visiting: https://www.residenthotels.com/registration/.

The Resident Edinburgh joins five existing The Resident properties located in prime locations in London and Liverpool, with planning permission approved for The Resident Farringdon, London. The Resident Covent Garden and The Resident Liverpool have both been ranked as #1 in their respective cities on Tripadvisor, cementing the fact that the brand has guest experience at its heart and will be bringing this elevated offering to Scotland.

Stay updated with The Resident news on Instagram @resident.hotels and on Facebook @ResidentHotels.

Average prices start from £269 per room.

residenthotels.com Facebook, LinkedIn X and Instagram

Mark Greenaway is the head chef at Grazing at The Caledonian Edinburgh where he is always keen to prepare great food for restaurant guests, particularly with the new Grazing menu, but also to share his knowledge and skills.

Here he explains the best way to use Scottish strawberries with gellan gum…

• Eton Mess 2.0 
• This is a highly experimental take on Eton Mess which keen cooks can make at home. An innovative fusion of Scottish strawberry fluid gel, Italian meringue and crème fraiche Chantilly, Mark has reinvented the traditional dessert with cutting-edge techniques and surprising ingredients.  
• Mark says it is essential to use Scottish strawberries for this recipe: “The amazing thing about Scottish strawberries is their flavour. Our slow growing conditions produce some of the world’s best strawberries, with a rounder, richer taste. After five years in Sydney, where I didn’t use any soft berries as their quality just couldn’t compare, I’m thrilled to showcase Scotland’s superior strawberries in my new Eton Mess.” 
• Strawberry Fluid Gel 
• 6g gellan gum type F 
• 150g caster sugar 
• 600ml fresh strawberry juice 
• Method 
• 1.      Rub the gellan gum through the sugar 
• 2.      Mix the strawberry juice with sugar and gellan gum and place in a pot 
• 3.      Slowly bring the mixture to the boil 
• 4.      Pass through a fine chinois  
• 5.      Chill in a container for 30 minutes  
• 6.      Once set blend on a medium speed for 10 minutes until smooth   
• 7.      Pass again through a fine chinois 
• 8.      Pour the mixture into a squeezy bottle and chill until required 
•  
• Meringue  
• Italian Meringue 
• 120g egg whites 
• 280g sugar 
• Method 
• 1.      Put the sugar and water into a small saucepan over a medium heat with a thermometer resting in the liquid 
• 2.      Start to slowly whisk the egg whites either in a stand mixer or with a hand-held electric whisk until just starting to foam 
• 3.      Heat the sugar until it reaches 121°C then slowly pour into the egg whites whilst still whisking 
• 4.      Turn the whisk up to full speed and whisk until cooled to room temperature  
• 5.      Spread the meringue onto silpat mats until extremely thin 
• 6.      Dehydrate at 65 degrees celsius until completely dry and crisp  
• Crème Fraiche Chantilly 
• 200ml whipping cream 
• 50g crème fraiche 
• 20g caster sugar 
• 100mls strawberry fluid gel  
• Method 
• 1.      Whip cream and sugar until soft peaks form 
• 2.      Fold in the crème fraiche and fold through the strawberry fluid gel, making sure you leave nice ripples 
• 3.      Pour the mixture into silicon moulds and freeze for 4-5 hours 
• 4.      Remove the frozen cream from the moulds 
• 5.      Scoop out the underside of the cream to form a hollow centre – you will need this to be as deep as possible without breaking the dessert as you are going to fill the cavity later 
• Chocolate Spray  
• 300g white chocolate  
• 100g cocoa butter  
• Method 
• 1.      Melt the cocoa butter and white chocolate together and mix well.  
• 2.      Fill up chocolate sprayer (we use a Wagner paint sprayer).  
• 3.      Spray the Chantilly to form an even layer of speckled chocolate.  
• 4.      Return the Chantilly back to the freezer.  
• To Serve  
• 6 strawberries (cut into small dice)  
• Assembly 
• 1.      Two hours before you are going to eat the Eton Mess 2.0, remove the dessert from the freezer. 
• 2.      In the cavity you previously made, fill it with the broken dehydrated meringue, fresh diced strawberries and fluid gel, you really want to make sure it is extremely full.  
• 3.      Turn the dessert back over (with the hole on the underside).  
• 4.      And allow to temper in the fridge for 2 hours – you want this to be served almost like a semifreddo, so not quite defrosted, but not frozen solid.  
• 5.      Serve with more fluid gel on one side and halved strawberry on the other.  

Cracking egg-perience as pensioners raise their own chicks and ducklings.

An Edinburgh care home has been chirping with joy, after taking part in a unique conservation project, that enabled its residents to welcome a range of chicks and ducks into the world.

Hatched by Cramond Residence’s unique lifestyle team, the home welcomed seven chicken eggs and five ducks which stayed in the residence for two weeks.

The residents were equipped with everything necessary to incubate eggs and support the chicks and ducklings with their first steps, allowing them to look after the new chicks for a short time before they are returned to the Incredible Eggs team.

The project was made possible as part of an initiative with Incredible Eggs, who aim to educate and preserve wildlife by offering hatching kits to schools, nurseries and care homes.

Crammond Residence’s Head of Lifestyle, Elaine Vallance said: “This was an amazing experience and all the residents loved handling them and seeing them run free in the library. We had a group of residents watch a chick hatch, they said it was a magical experience.

“For people living with dementia, caring for a pet can be a source of comfort and joy, offering them a meaningful sense of purpose.

“When we became aware of the hatching kits at Incredible Eggs, we just knew it would be the perfect activity to bring to the home and I’m so happy to see how much joy it has brought the residents.

“We’ve had a great experience previously with bringing animals into the home. Activities such as our therapet sessions have been of real benefit to our residents and always create a buzz in the home.

This is just one of many mental and social wellness-boosting activities that residents at Crammond Residence can enjoy as part of its lifestyle programme, which frequently organises various creative activities.

As dementia specialists, Crammond Residence is aware of the importance of providing dementia patients with a sense of purpose and achieves this, in part, through the various animal-care projects it provides.

Incredible Eggs, which has been running for more than 10 years, ethically produces all its hatching kits, ensuring that both the animals and their carers can get the most out of the conservation projects.

Michael Cowan, Branch Manager for Incredible Eggs said: “We’d like to say well done to the Cramond Residence Lifestyle team for providing such an uplifting and joyous experience.

“It’s wonderful to hear how the kit had such a positive impact on the residents. Feedback such as this never fails to warm the heart and it was our pleasure to have helped make it happen.”

The home’s lifestyle team launched a pet therapy initiative last summer, where different pets such as dogs, welcomed into the residence each month.

The sessions have been hugely beneficial in improving the mental and physical well-being of residents who are always happy to see a furry friend.

Established in 2018, Cramond Residence delivers unwavering nurse-led care alongside specialised services such as respite and dementia care. Presently, the care home accommodates 74 residents across nine beautifully designed homes.

The home boasts incredible facilities, including a cinema, functional exercise room, games room, and an elegant dining experience where residents can host their family members for a meal.

Residents enjoy excellent amenities as well as freshly cooked meals and various activities to participate in, guaranteeing a fulfilling and stimulating life at the care home.

Every resident receives a personalised care plan crafted by healthcare professionals, subject to continuous evaluation and refinement, ensuring access to optimal care.

Tours of the North Edinburgh Crammond Residence are available. These tours enable prospective residents and their families to experience the residence, meet the team, and address any additional needs.

To learn more about Cramond Residence, please visit Cramond Residence’s website or contact them directly at enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk.

To find out more about Incredible Eggs, please visit: https://www.incredibleeggs.co.uk/

Scotland’s under-21 women go into Saturday’s EuroHockey Championship II final on Saturday against Ukraine in buoyant mood after thrashing hosts Turkey 4-0 in their final Pool A game.

The Tartan Harts dominated the game early on but failed to turn territory into goals, Lexie McMillan (Uddingston) coming closest, only denied by a goal line clearance, and it was not until the third quarter that Scotland counted.

And it was Ava Wadsworth, who plays for The University of Durham, who found the net from a rebound following a penalty corner.

Scotland added three more in the final quarter, Ava Smith (The University of Edinburgh), claimed No 2 after a flowing move involving several players, Mhairi Low (Loughborough University) added a third from a cutback and Keira Foster (Loughborough University) completed the scoring.

The target for Scotland now is to win the final which would guarantee a place in the Junior World Cup and coach Jimmy Culnane (pictured centre by Nigel Duncan) guided the Scots to a 3-1 victory over Ukraine in their opening game in the competition in Konya.

Scotland topped the pool with nine points with Ukraine second on four and the Scots had a goal difference of plus seven against plus one for Ukraine.

Poland were third in the pool and they face Turkey in the third and fourth place play-off. The hosts have failed to score a point so far.

Former Monarchs captain Craig Cook powered to 17 points to top score for Workington Comets in this Cab Direct Championship clash, but the under-strength Cumbrian side lost on the night but still collected the aggregate bonus point in a 55-35 defeat at Armadale.

In-form Cook (pictured before the meeting by Nigel Duncan), won five of his six races and he only dropped a point when Josh Pickering won Heat 13 with Cook in second position.

The 37-year-old former British Champion and a Scottish Open winner, who rode for Monarchs from 2011 to 2015 and again in 2023, was backed up by 36-year-old, former Grand Prix rider Troy Batchelor, as Comets took the aggregate score to 96-84.

What’s more, Stellar Monarchs suffered an injury blow to popular Aussie Justin Sedgmen who withdrew from the meeting after a spectacular four-man pile-up coming out of the first bend in Heat Four.

Comets rider Sam McGurk picked up drive on the inside and was in collision with Monarchs duo, Connor Coles, and then the unlucky Sedgmen. All four riders ended up of the track.

Sedgmen was lifted from the track by a stretcher and was given treatment trackside.

Overall, Monarchs top racer was Josh Pickering with 13 points and skipper Paco Castagna was the next best on 12 with Finnish racer Lasse Fredriksen on 11.

The home side recorded back-to-back 5-1 scorelines in Heats Two and Three to ease to a 13-5 lead but the 61-29 first leg deficit from the Northside Stadium in mid-May hung heavy even if two of Comets regular riders – ex-Monarchs rider, Claus Vissing, stranded in Denmark, and Celina Liebmann, stuck in Germany – were absent because of the IT chaos at airports around Europe.

Another home 5-1 in Heat Nine moved the scoreline to 33-21 in favour of Monarchs and another heat maximum in the next race made it 38-22 before  4-2 in the penultimate heat saw the home side move 20 points in front.

The home side who drew the final race with Cook again coming home in front with Pickering second and Castagna third.

Monarchs: Josh Pickering 13, Kye Thomson 8, Lasse Fredriksen 11, Paco Castagna 12, Justin Sedgmen 0, Max James 4, Connor Coles 7.

Comets: Craig Cook 17, rider replacement for Tate Zischke, Antti Vuolas 5, Laylan Richardson 1, Troy Batchelor 9, Mason Watson 0, Sam McGurk 3

David Gray says that Hibs will likely be without Elie Youan and Chris Cadden for the game against Kelty Hearts tomorrow their third Premier Sports Cup group game 

Both picked up slight injuries in the club’s opening fixtures. 

But Harry McKirdy could return for the game. 

Gray told Hibs TV: “It’s a bit disappointing with Cadds, he has been for a scan and has a little niggle in there – so that will be another week or so. At this stage of the season, we’re not going to take any risks. 

“Elie is in a similar situation. We all saw the collision that he went into at the end of the Queen’s Park game. We need to assess that one further and not take any risks.” 

The good news is that Harry McKirdy could return this weekend.  

“On a positive note, Harry McKirdy has trained the last couple of days and is looking really good. 

“We’ve managed him through the last 10 days or so, just to manage his load. He’s been really bright and positive so he comes into the squad which is positive.” 

A former Edinburgh police chief’s thrilling account of the “first modern murder” has premiered on a hugely popular crime podcast produced by Emmy Award winning actress Yeardley Smith.

The podcast examines the horrific murder and dismemberment of two women at the hands of Dr Buck Ruxton and is based on the book Beyond Recognition: The Ruxton Murders by former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian & Borders Police Tom Wood.

It premiered today on the award-winning true crime podcast Small Town Dicks, which is co-hosted by Yeardley Smith, the actress, novelist, and playwright who has appeared on television, film and Broadway, and has been the voice of Lisa Simpson on the hit television show The Simpsons since 1987.

Yeardley co-founded media company Paperclip Ltd with Ben Cornwell in 2014, with the goal of fostering distinctive ideas in entertainment at their earliest stages, across mediums.

The series delves into the 1935 disappearance of a glamorous young mother Isabella Buxton and her dutiful Leith-born maid, Mary Rogerson, whose deaths resulted in one of the most important investigations the world had ever seen at that time.

Ruxton used his medical knowledge to dismember his victims and later discarded the body parts 100 miles away from the crime scene in a tranquil part of the Scottish Borders.

Only the brilliance of Scottish scientists and determined police officers brought Ruxton to trial and led him to the gallows in a case which established many ground-breaking forensic techniques which are still in common use today in criminal investigations.

“Beyond Recognition: The Ruxton Murders” will unfold over six riveting episodes, releasing weekly on Fridays and will be available on the Small Town Dicks podcast feed and other podcast channels.

Yeardley Smith said: “I’m fascinated by people who take a leap of faith and do something in a new and different way. For me, that’s the crux of the Ruxton case. The team of investigators tasked with solving the murders decides to save all the bits and pieces from the body dump. We take this for granted now, but this kind of collection and preservation was brand new back then.

“One of my favorite ah-ha moments in the case is when one of the detectives decides to track down the origin of a special newspaper insert that was used to wrap up one of the body parts. That inquiry leads to a short list of people who had the special insert delivered to them at home, and that list includes the name of the murderer. Though this case happened 90 years ago, I think it’s just as gripping and relevant today.

“Tom Wood is a master storyteller and with Ruxton he’s deftly made the history of modern forensics read like a true-crime thriller. I can’t wait for audiences to hear the podcast.”

Now retired, Tom Wood has written three true crime books including, Ruxton: The First Modern Murder, which draws upon previously classified documents to build a detailed, engaging story about criminal investigation and justice. Wood is also well-known for his regular column “Inside Justice” in The Scotsman, and for his lecturing across the country.

You can listen to a trailer of the podcast here.

Kevin Stewart, General Manager at Luci’s Italian Restaurant in Lasswade says the monthly “Boozy Brunches” which combine his restaurant’s delicious food with live saxophone music and interaction with a DJ have been very successful.

He said: “Since we launched this a few months ago, the Boozy Brunches, held 12 noon til 4pm on the last Saturday of every month,  and costing £40pp, have been really popular indeed, selling out almost instantly.  We have a waiting list for the September event, and would say to prospective customers of this event to keep an eye on our social media channels.”

Along with a main course choice of dishes such as Eggs Benedict, Brioche French Toast, Croque Monsieur, or freshly made pancakes, washed down with a wide choice of fizz, cocktails or wine,  guests can enjoy listening to both a DJ and a saxophonist as they eat and drink.

“The Boozy Brunch is an ideal event to kick off hen night celebrations, for a birthday, or just for group of ladies getting together. As a venue, we work hard to create a fantastic atmosphere. This, together with our quality food and drink, is what’s making them so sought after!”

Kevin finished by saying that Luci’s was delighted to have become known as  “the home of fresh pasta.”

“Our chefs skilfully prepare around 40kg of fresh pasta a week -it’s so much better than dried, and is a real USP for the restaurant .”

To register interest for a forthcoming Boozy Brunch call Luci’s on 0131 663 0961.

www.lucis-lasswade.co.uk