People living on the 22 main islands off the west coast of Scotland have two favourite topics of conversation – the weather and Caledonian MacBrayne. On both subjects there is plenty to moan about. The weather is always bad and the ferry service is worse.   

You have got to feel sorry for CalMac’s 1700 staff.  They are standing on windy decks or serving teas in swaying cafés, doing their best for the five million passengers, cars and lorries they take to the islands each year.  It’s more difficult to feel sorry for the Scottish government ministers, though I do have pity for them.  They spend £165m each year subsidising the ferries and yet they suffer wave after wave of problems and criticisms.

This week the boss of CalMac, Robbie Drummond, was sacked, though it’s not clear why.  Last week the boss of the shipyard where two new ferries are being built was also sacked, again for mysterious reasons. There’s talk of the need for “a change of direction” but so far the transport minister Mairi McAllan (the seventh in as many years) has kept her head well below the pier.

The basic problem it that the fleet of 33 vessels is getting old and there has not been enough investment in new ferries over the last decade.  But there are other problems. Fares have been kept low to satisfy the islanders and the tourism industry.  There’s confusion over the CalMac superstructure, a holding company David MacBrayne, an operating company CalMac and a procurement company Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (set up to satisfy EU state-subsidy rules).  Then there is the issue of where any new ferries should be built, in Scotland or abroad.

In an attempt to keep a struggling shipyard on the Clyde from closing, the Scottish government gave a £94m contract to Ferguson Marine to build two new super-ferries (capable of running on liquefied gas as well as diesel). This turned out to be a disaster.  Six years later neither of the ships is in service and the cost has soared to £400m.  In contrast, four other smaller ferries are being built to budget and on time at a yard in Turkey.   

Meanwhile the islanders are left guessing when the next ferry breakdown will be, how many days they will be without deliveries and how many tourists will be trapped trying to get home.  To add to the government’s worries, the tourism season is about to start and the CalMac contract comes up for renewal this summer. 

For Labour and the Conservatives, there are barrels of rotten fish to throw at the SNP in this election year. For them, the boat has come in.

In all, it’s not been a happy week for the SNP.  The latest opinion poll, from YouGov, shows them holding on to just 19 Westminster seats in Scotland and Labour storming into 28 (the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are put at 5 seats each).  

The SNP’s new Hate Crime annd Public Order Act, which came into effect on 1^st April, has turned out to a rather sick joke, which has caused more hate on social media rather than less.  It was supposed to project minorities, such as religious groups, gay and lesbian and transgender people, from abuse.  But the police have been overwhelmed with over 3,000 vexatious complaints – largely against politicians and other public figures with whom campaigners disagree.

It took the magical powers of JK Rowling to diffuse the situation. The complaint against her on-line remarks on trans-women was found to be unfounded and the police, eventually, had to concede that it would not even be retained on their records.  

Then the government’s attempt to reform the law, to try to achieve more convictions for rape and sexual assault, has also run into difficulties. The parliamentary committee on the issue issued a divided report. And the legal fraternity has been voicing its concerns over the proposal to drop the verdict of “not poven” and the changes to jury numbers and majorities. And they are certainly not in favour of non-jury trials.

The week’s boat has come in, but it’s brought with it just a cargo of problems and some wet and cold weather.

The Grange squash Open takes place this weekend with Scottish teenage prospect Robyn McAlpine and Sam Osborne-Wylde, from Worcester, strongly fancied in the women’s and men’s events.

Running alongside the PSA competitions will be graded tournaments.

McAlpine, from Glasgow, has had an impressive rise to prominence having won national under-17, under-19 and under-23 titles in the same year, becoming a senior internationalist into the bargain.

Osborne-Wylde heads into the Grange tournament on the back of winning the Northumbria Open, eliminating the top seed on the way through.

Action gets underway on the Portgower Place courts on Friday afternoon with the finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Fully funded places for five 10-15 year olds are available at the first Scottish camp being held in West Lothian next month.

The Woodcraft Folks’ Camps for All provides inclusive spaces where children and young people can connect to nature and grow in confidence. The camp takes place from 10 to 12 May at The Craig’s Campsite.

Lauren Karstadt, Programme Manager for Woodcraft Folk, expressed her excitement, “We are looking forward to our first Scottish camp and are grateful to Scotmid for funding free places for local young people. Our events see young people come together, make friends, find common ground, and enjoy adventurous and fun activities. The events are beneficial for physical and mental health, being outdoors, socialising and learning new skills.”

Kirsty Connell, Membership & Communities Manager (East) at Scotmid, said, “We’re thrilled to support Woodcraft Folk’s first camp in West Lothian. It presents a wonderful opportunity for young adventurers to learn new skills, build confidence, and create lasting memories.”

Professionals working with young people who wish to inquire about free places are encouraged to email Woodcraft Folk direct lauren.karstadt@woodcraft.org.uk

https://woodcraft.org.uk/projects-campaigns/camps-for-all/

The East of Scotland men’s tennis team achieved a hard fought victory in an invitational match against the All England Club at Wimbledon.

Each year the Wimbledon Championship hosts invites a county to field a team against them in a challenge match and perhaps the fact the East have challenged strongly for top honours in the prestigious Inter-County event in recent years counted in their favour?

Flying the flag for the East were Scott Duncan, Euan McIntosh, James MacKinlay and Sam Macneil who went up against an AELTC select led by former world doubles top 20-ranked Colin Fleming of Linlithgow, a Davis Cup performer.

The matches were played on Wimbledon’s new indoor tennis courts, with a number of friends, family and club members invited to attend.

Ahead 2-0 after the first round of doubles matches skipper Alan MacDonald entered the fray with Scott Duncan, recovering from recent illness, rested.

East momentum was maintained culminating in a three set win for James MacKinlay and Sam Macneil.

Portobello pizzaiolo Michael Notarangelo has returned to his roots with the opening of a new pizzeria in the seaside town.

Pronto, on Brighton Place, promises it will deliver the most authentic pizza possible outside of Italy.

Detailed research, exhaustive trials and sourcing the best ingredients from across Italy have been employed to evoke childhood memories of his Italian heritage, which can be traced to Belmonte Castello, a hillside town between Rome and Naples.

Michael said: “I always knew I wanted my own pizza place but it had to be right, serving the authentic log-fired pizza that I remember from my childhood. I grew up eating great pizza during trips to my grandparent’s home in Italy and my aim is to emulate that nostalgic taste in all we do.

“The key to getting that authentic flavour is all down the ingredients. Every core component has been carefully sourced using specialist Italian importers who find the very best ingredients from all regions of Italy.

“Italy has lots of variations of pizza but the Neapolitan style was always a favourite of mine and that’s what we specialise in. As any Italian will tell you, it’s all about the crust.”

The menu will include traditional favourites but Michael is planning to work with suppliers to develop new pizzas as regular specials. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available.

The launch of Pronto in Portobello gives Michael with his first “physical” premises for his fast-growing Belmonte Catering business, which was formed in 2021 and evolved from a street food operation.

Pronto Slice, a sister business, offers Scotland’s first pizza al taglio from a site on Castlehill close to Edinburgh Castle.

Michael, who was brought up in Portobello, said: “The opening of our first trading site is a big landmark for the business and it will also be the hub to serve Pronto Slice and to support our other street food operations as we continue expand in the future.”

Pronto, which offers some casual dining options, is open seven days a week and plans to serve pizza al taglio slices at lunchtime, as well as other Italian deli treats in the near future.

You can call to make your order for collection on 0131 287 2822. Open from 5pm.

Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce have confirmed two networking events this month.

A joint Chambers Networking Lunch is on at Norton House Hotel near Edinburgh Airport on April 17 (12.00 to 14.00) when businesses from East & Mid Lothian plus West Lothian come together.

The guest speaker is Tom Chambers from Alive Photos who will share his recent experience cycling from Edinburgh to Rome for the Italy v Scotland rugby match to raise fund for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

A Business Breakfast is being held at Penicuik Storehouse on April 24 (8.30 to 10.30) when like-minded, environmentally committed businesses share ideas and build working relationships.

Each event focuses on different topics like energy efficiency, transport or green marketing and they including presentations from industry experts.

Also featured in the series are case study businesses who have saved money and won new customers through improving their environmental performance.

Penicuik Storehouse is a community benefit society serving as cafe and a community space for local people.

Attendees will learn how the organisation is improving the sustainability of their operation and how they engage with staff and building users.

PICTURE: previous joint lunch at the North House Hotel. Picture Nigel Duncan

The SNP MP for Midlothian, Owen Thompson, has called for the UK Parliament to be urgently recalled to ban arms sales to Israel.

He demanded the immediate recall of the House of Commons after the Israeli air strikes on Gaza which killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers including three UK citizens earlier in the week.

Thompson said the Prime Minister must come to Parliament without delay to outline the UK Government’s response to the killing of UK citizens by Israel.

The SNP Chief Whip said: “The SNP has been advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel since October of last year.

“We have consistently urged the UK Government to take stronger action to achieve a prompt cessation of hostilities, including halting arms sales to Israel.

“Despite the compelling evidence of Israel’s violation of international law through its indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza and its punitive measures against the Palestinian population, our calls to cease arms sales to Israel have been repeatedly rebuffed by both the UK Government and the Labour Party.

“Given that three UK citizens were among those tragically killed in the Israeli strike on World Central Kitchen aid workers, it is imperative that the UK Parliament convenes without delay.

“This critical situation necessitates the Prime Minister’s immediate appearance before Parliament to present the UK Government’s response to the loss of UK citizens at the hands of Israel.

“Such an appearance will allow Members of Parliament to scrutinise the government’s actions and provide an opportunity for Parliament to debate and vote on the cessation of arms sales to Israel.”

The charity has confirmed that John Chapman, 57, Jim Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, were among the staff killed when their convoy was struck after unloading food in the Palestinian enclave.

The SNP has warned that “history will rightly cast a harsh judgement on Rishi Sunak if he fails to immediately end arms sales to Israel” – after more than 600 prominent lawyers, academics and former Supreme Court justices backed calls for the UK government to halt sales immediately. 

In a letter to the Prime Minister, they warned that the UK government is breaking international law by continuing to arm Israel – citing the International Court of Justices (ICJ) ruling in the genocide case.

Edinburgh’s Mr Entertainment picks his Hot Tickets to see in the Capital and beyond

Hamilton is here, Pretty Woman is on the street, and although it’s only April, the Fringe and Festival seem to be just around the corner. 

Have you seen Hamilton yet? The biggest show to visit Edinburgh this year had its glittering press night last month, with the great and the good of the city in attendance for a pre-show reception at which producer Cameron Mackintosh was in ebullient form. 

It’s been a while since we chatted, in fact, the last time we caught up was the after show for Mary Poppins’ Dublin opening at the Bord Gáis Theatre. “I’m bringing Mary Poppins back to the Festival Theatre, soon, very soon,” he confided, and sure enough, a day later the news broke that the magical nanny flies back into the Nicolson Street theatre from 22 January to 15 February, 2025. Definitely one to look forward to. 

Hamilton’s Scottish season finishes on 27 April and right now is looking like a complete sell out. Check out my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review here. While Hamilton is wowing them at the Festival Theatre, over at The Playhouse, advertising for Pretty Woman: The Musical (2-13 April), seems to be plastered across every other Lothian bus at the moment.

Set in the Eighties, with music by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, Pretty Woman is the story of wealthy businessman Edward Lewis and escort Vivian Ward. When he hires her to accompany him to a series of functions, little did either of them expect the business arrangement to take an unexpected turn. If you loved the 1990 romcom starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, get ready to be swept up in Edward and Vivian’s unlikely romance once more. Featuring Amber Davies as Vivian, Oliver Savile as Edward and Ore Oduba, last seen in Edinburgh as Brad in The Rocky Horror Show, as Happy Man/Mr Thompson. 

Running time 2 hours 30 minutes including interval. Tickets £13-£99.50 

www.atgtickets.com/shows/pretty-woman-the-musical/edinburgh-playhouse/

April finds The Royal Lyceum looking to Edinburgh author Muriel Spark for inspiration, though not to Jean Brodie, that woman in her prime, on this occasion. The Girls of Slender Means (13 April-4 May), based on Sparks’ 1963 novella, is set in the summer of 1945 in the May of Teck Club, a hostel for the ‘Pecuniary Convenience And Social Protection of Ladies of Slender Means Below The Age Of Thirty Years’, who are obliged to ‘reside apart from their families in order to follow an occupation in London’.

Despite the ending of WWII, the girls do their best to act as if it never happened; practising their elocution, jostling one another over suitors and debating whose turn it is to wear a Schiaparelli gown when the occasion demands. Not far beneath the surface, however, tensions are rising. 

Running time 2 hours 20 minutes including interval. Tickets £16-£38 

lyceum.org.uk/events/the-girls-of-slender-means

90 Days (12-14 April) by Kim Millar, is the story of 90 days that changed women’s rugby forever. Premiering at The Traverse, 90 Days whisks us back to the Nineties and, through the eyes of the players, reveals how Scotland’s first women’s rugby team was created only to have their dream of playing against the best teams in the world dashed… before becoming the unlikely saviours of the 1994 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Lifting the lid on the challenges and prejudice the women’s game faced in the early years, 90 Days reveals, for the first time, the events that led to the last minute cancellation of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Running time 60 minutes. Tickets https://www.90daysplay.co.uk 

www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/90-days-spring-24

If you managed to get a ticket for and were wowed by Ian McKellen in his sell out 2022 Fringe production of Hamlet, you might want to take a theatre break to catch him as Sir John Falstaff in Player Kings (1 April-22 June), at London’s Noel Coward Theatre. A new version of Shakespeare’s history plays Henry IV: Parts 1 and 2, charting the monarch’s turbulent reign over a divided England of 1403, the piece builds toward the climactic Battle of Shrewsbury. The highlight, however, is sure to be Prince Hal’s misadventures in the pubs of London with drunken knight, Falstaff. Can their friendship survive the pressures of kingship?

Running time 3 hours 20 minutes plus a 20 minute interval. Tickets £35-£287  

www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/37071-player-kings

If it’s a Tony® and Grammy® winning musical with a smoky, sensuous, jazzy, bluesy vibe you’re looking for, you might want to check out Hadestown (booking through to December) at The Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. Drawing on the Greek myth telling the tale of the ill-fated Orpheus and Eurydice, Hadestown transports the ancient legend to a post-depression industrial underworld where the poverty stricken are forced to become another’s property to survive, signing away their life, if not their soul. It’s a sinister, sexy, sassy tale of love and despair, power, corruption, rebellion and trust; a multi-layered retelling that makes it worth reading the programme notes before viewing.

Running time 2 hours 30 minutes including interval. 

uk.hadestown.com

Now, it might seem a lifetime away right now, but Edinburgh’s Festivals season is already ramping up with tickets on sale for Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) and some Fringe productions. From what have been announced so far, here are my Hot Tickets. From the EIF programme, National Theatre of Scotland’s The Fifth Step (21-25 August) at The Lyceum is a thrilling new play from the brilliant David Ireland, starring Jack Lowden as Luka. Luka has joined AA and is searching for a sponsor. James has been in the programme for years and looks like the ideal man to shepherd Luka through the 12 steps. However, the road to recovery isn’t that simple…

Running time 1 hour 10 minutes. Tickets from £20  

www.eif.co.uk/events/the-fifth-step

Fringe-wise, it’s Miriam Margolyes and her one woman appreciation of Charles Dickens that caught my eye. Margolyes & Dickens: The Best Bits (7-15 August), will play at the EICC, daily at 4pm. Combining her infectious love for Dickens, the unstoppable 82-year-old, (she’ll be 83 by the time the Fringe comes around), will bring Dickens’ most colourful characters to life before opening the floor for a no holds barred Q&A. Explosive stuff, I reckon.

Running times 70 minutes. Tickets £25 

www.pleasance.co.uk/event/margolyes-dickens-best-bits 

Until next time, read my Edinburgh reviews via The Edinburgh Reporter website and subscribe (free) for all my other reviews at liamrudden.substack.com

Also I have a new website here.

Enjoy your theatre, folks.

Torrential rain and cold temperatures have forced the postponement of Stellar Monarchs’ season opener against Glasgow Tigers on Friday.

Forecasts predicting heavy rain overnight and throughout Friday with cold temperatures following weeks of relentless rain have triggered the early decision to abandon efforts to race this weekend.

Alex Harkess, Stellar Monarchs’ co-promoter, said: “There is a tangible feeling of excitement in the build-up to the new season which we saw with a sell-out crowd at the Season Launch Show last week.

“We do not wish to tarnish this excitement with a wet and miserable opening night so have made the early decision to postpone tomorrow’s match.

“Our track staff have done an excellent job of working around the recent rain, working last weekend to ready the surface for the rain that has fallen this week. However, the forecast for tomorrow is so awful that we have no option but to postpone.”

Monarchs season now starts on Friday, April 12 at Glasgow, sponsored by Allied Vehicles, and Harkess said: “The team are up for the challenge. We are looking at options for rescheduling the home leg and will announce details once confirmed. We look forward to welcoming our supporters to a sunny Armadale Stadium in the near future.”

TICKET NOTE: Tickets purchased for the postponed fixture are valid for the rescheduled date once confirmed or for any other standard Monarchs fixture at Armadale Stadium this season. Those who have pre-ordered live streams will be contacted directly.

PICTURE: Alex Harkess (right) with one of the track staff at Armadale. Picture by Nigel Duncan

A consistent theme of this column is that good coffee is not easily made.

While specialty coffee culture and language (artisanal, third wave etc) has spread quickly in the last decade and a half, only a select number of places really have the art to produce high quality espresso on a consistent basis. In the last few years, many places have found it difficult to recruit and hold onto very capable baristas. During the Covid lockdown of 2020 and 2021, many baristas moved into other jobs and haven’t returned. There is, in the city, a considerable shortage of top class baristas.

Good baristas focus on the job in hand. They don’t, like a barista I saw in a chain recently, tried to combine checking his phone, chatting to colleagues about his weekend and making espresso! This lack of focus and seriousness (as well as technical know-how) is why the coffee served by most of the chains is so inconsistent – and generally mediocre. With the beans and machines they have, they should be able to produce much better.

Detour Espresso in Marchmont is certainly a place with a serious attitude to coffee. On a recent visit, the two baristas were discussing the fact that the espresso wasn’t flowing with the smoothness they desired; it wasn’t quite ‘dialled in’. So, they took time to make the necessary adjustments rather than just continuing to serve something below their usual standards. When customers are paying well over 3 quid for their coffee, they deserve something well made that makes the best use of the beans. While serious about the coffee, the atmosphere at Detour is not austere and overly cool. 

In fact the place has a very chilled vibe, with lots of warm, friendly interaction between the customers and the baristas. In many ways Detour is representative of the way that cafes have, in recent years, taken over some of the social roles previously associated with pubs. Increasingly they are becoming social spaces. On my last visit, there was lots of chat involving Detour’s boss Matt Rees about the music choices. When I entered, they were playing some early Tom Waits which helped create a chilled, jazzy vibe. Later the music became distinctly more up-tempo. The music isn’t just in the background but is a talking point, helping to create the right atmosphere. In the corner of the café, an engaging science lesson for kids was taking place. It all added to a friendly, community feel with  a range of people of different generations.

Detour generally serves coffee by Machina, one of Edinburgh’s leading  coffee suppliers – who roast their coffee at Peffermill. Machina, launched in 2013, is one of the most renowned names in specialty coffee in Edinburgh. They now have their large, stylish café in Marchmont. Along with Argyle Place a few yards away, Detour faces plenty of local competition. However, the number of students and young professionals in the area means there is space in the market. Detour has been consistently busy on my last few visits. Some customers clearly use it as a bit of a work base, though laptop free tables are also available. There’s a nicely curated selection of books on sale (they also host a New Writers Group), again adding to the sense that the place isn’t merely a place to drink coffee. It’s also a place to study, work, discuss music or lose yourself in a good book. Detour also features the work of artists and photographers on wall – nice exposure for local creatives, as well as adding to the visual appeal of the place. The high, corniced ceiling gives the place a airy feel, while simple furniture helps it feel uncluttered even when busy.

Food wise, Detour offers toasties,  quesadillas,  soups, smoothie bowls and a selection of baking. They also sell Machina’s beans – and also those and the excellent James Gourmet Coffee, based in Ross-on-Wye. Detour has been in business since August 2018. Detour previously had a second café in the famously ‘posh’ residential area of Morningside, opposite the old post office. They decided to sell this on to some of the staff who now run it as POP Coffee. Detour in Marchmont is an excellent spot on the Edinburgh coffee scene, combining chilled, friendly vibes with high quality espresso. 

Detour Espresso, Argyle Place, EH9 1JT.

The Old Edinburgh Club has published Volume 19 of their Journal for Edinburgh History which is available now.

In this volume readers will learn about the goings on at Georgian Edinburgh’s Stamp Office, a Napoleonic War veteran’s contribution to the cityscape, the demise of a Jacobite from Leith, Victorian government funding for Scotland’s metropolis and church seat rents and their contribution to the city’s finances.

Wilson Smith, Editor of the Journal said: “”There really is something for everyone with an interest in the history of our city in the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club. The latest issue confirms our commitment to high quality research, attractively presented. The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club continues to be an essential source for all aspects of Edinburgh history.”

The Old Edinburgh Club says the Journal now confirms its place as the authoritative voice on Edinburgh history. The club is Edinburgh’s local history society, and is concerned with all aspects of the city’s history and development.

For more than one hundred years it has encouraged interest through lectures, visits and projects. It publishes The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, renowned as an authoritative source for residents and researchers alike. Membership is open to all, whether living in Edinburgh or further afield.

The Old Edinburgh Club is a Charity registered with the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (SC006177). 

Buy online here.

Grange whipped Western Wildcats at Fettes recently and they also won the first men’s Premiership clash, and now the sides clash head-on again in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre on Sunday (14.00).

The Edinburgh side, who are the current league champions and currently lead the race for this year’s title, emerged from their EuroHockey Club Trophy, Division One, campaign in Portugal in fourth place after being beaten in a shootout for the bronze medal with Austrian side Arminen.

Grange, however, recorded two wins and a draw in normal time, their only defeat being to Irish cracks Lisnagarvey who won gold in the competition in Lousada.

Western Wildcats, who defend the cup crown, have slipped to third in the Premiership but they have firepower with skipper Rob Harwood plus Fraser Moran, Fraser Calder and evergreen Jonny Christie all danger men.

Kelburne and Watsonians square-up in the second semi-final (16.00) and the Edinburgh side are highly-fancied as Kelburne have been officially relegated from the Premiership, finishing bottom of the table with only three points from their 14 games so far this term.

Coach Chris Caldwell guided his men to a 2-1 victory over Clydesdale at Titwood in the previous round, courtesy of a last gasp strike by Tommy Austin.

He will naturally hope for another shock result but Watsonians are fifth in the top six with 17 points but have lost form dramatically, losing their last three games.

Watsonians player/coach Dan Coultas guided his men to a 3-0 win over Kelburne, one of their five victories in the Premiership, earlier this season and they reached the last four by knocking out Grove Menzieshill in a shoot-out following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

PICTURE: Action from Grange v Western Wildcats as Fettes by Nigel Duncan

A new exhibition at the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (a charity promoting the study, protection and enjoyment of wild birds in Scotland) presents the work of three artists who apply unusual media to the subject of wildlife: collages by Paul Bartlett, recycled sculptures by Barbara Franc and stencil paintings and prints by Jo Ruth.  

Paul Bartlett uses collage to recapture in the studio the thrilling experience of encountering wildlife in remote and beautiful places. “The challenge is to create a piece almost entirely out of ripped paper from magazines. The use of text that relates to the subject adds an extra element of intrigue.”

Barbara Franc is a London-based artist who has always been fascinated by the sculptural forms of animals. She developed her own techniques to create sculptures from unusual materials such as tins, foils and textiles, that are either found or discarded. Beyond the sound ecological reasons for this, what attracts her is the idea of creating something new from materials charged with their own histories. 

Jo Ruth is based in York and her inspiration comes from her observations of birds in and around the city. Experiments with silkscreen printing sparked her journey into stencil making then combining painting and printmaking techniques to create fresh and contemporary interpretations of nature.

Summer opening hours (from 17 April): Wed-Sun (10am – 5pm), free entry.

• Nature Reimagined
• Paul Bartlett, Barbara Franc and Jo Ruth
• 17 April – 2 June 2024

Watsonians could retain the woman’s hockey Premiership title on Sunday if they beat Western Wildcats at Tipperlin (15.00).

Keith Smith’s side have 40 points and are five ahead of second-placed The University of Edinburgh University. They come into the test following a EuroHockey campaign in which they finished in fifth place, two above their seeding.

Western Wildcats have slipped to fourth in the table after taking only one point in their three games since the mid-season break.

The University of Edinburgh visit GHK on Saturday (14.15) and they won the previous game against the Glasgow side earlier this season but only by a single goal scored by Scottish international Jika Nyirenda in the final quarter.

Third-placed Clydesdale have recovered from an inconsistent start to the season and they host Grange Edinburgh Ladies who have enjoyed a good season to date.

At the bottom end of the table, Uddingston and St Andrews University are safe from relegation but Gordonians are relegated, however, only one point separates Inverleith, Hillhead and Glasgow University.

Inverleith have 11 points, Glasgow University and Hillhead have ten. Hillhead visit Inverleith in a match where the loser will emerge as favourite for the relegation play-off spot.

PICTURE: Watsonians v Inverleith at Tipperlin by Nigel Duncan

Stewart Dickson, the new team manager of Berwick Jewson Bandits, has challenged Drew Kemp to up his game this season.

Glasgow visit Shielfield Park on Saturday (7pm) in the BSN Series and Berwick’s mechanical team believe they have sourced the problems which restricted Kemp’s scoring in last weekend’s Border Trophy series against Workington Comets.

Kemp (pictured by Taz McDougall) was down on power but accumulated 11 points over the two matches in which Berwick claimed the silverware, but demanding Dickson wants more.

He also manages the 21-year-old rider at Premiership level with Leicester Lions and Kemp has also endured a frustrating start to the season there.

Dickson has challenged the three-time British Under-19 champion to take his career onto the next level in 2024 by finding consistency and the team boss said: “Drew has been at the same level for the past couple of seasons and this is the year he has to push on.

“Most riders have what I call a jump year, the one where they concentrate on stepping up to the next level, and 2024 needs to be Drew’s jump year.”

He could find it tough against Tigers, a side packed with former Bandits, and the West of Scotland combine arrive having won the last 13 meetings between the sides in all competitions.

Chris Harris and Berwick-born Leon Flint are Bandits’ previous two captains while Lee Complin and Paul Starke both had successful spells in the yellow and black.

Reserve Ace Pijper began his professional career with the club’s National Development side, the Bullets, as a 15-year-old and former Edinburgh Monarchs star Steve Worrall and James Pearson have scored well on the Borders track in the past.

Dickson said: “The Border Trophy was a useful warm-up but our season starts here. I don’t expect us to score 56 points again this week, but we have the benefit of two meetings and there were promising signs last weekend.

“It was a real seven-man effort against Workington. Lewi (Kerr) and Rory (Schlein) had a middle of the road night on Saturday but the other five scored 45 points between them. On Sunday, they led from the front and saw us over the line in Cumbria.”

He added: “Everyone knows their job and, if we do it to the best of our ability, then we are a match for any side, including the reigning play-off champions.

“Glasgow come with plenty of track knowledge and that winning streak behind them, but this is a new Bandits side and one which doesn’t carry the scars of previous losses.”

Bandits: Lewi Kerr, Danyon Hume, Jye Etheridge, Drew Kemp, Rory Schlein, Freddy Hodder, Bastian Borke

Tigers: Chris Harris, James Pearson, Leon Flint, Paul Starke, Steve Worrall, Lee Complin, Ace Pijper

The organisers of the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival have declared 2024 as their biggest and most successful year yet.

The festival ran in late March over five days when 2,970 tickets were sold with 1,390 online views. The festival closed on 24 March with the world premiere of a new restoration of Victor Sjöström’s 1928 The Wind.

The 340 strong audience one evening for The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric was the biggest in the Hippodrome since the early twentieth century. This film was also a premiere with a new score from Shetland musicians Inge Thomson and Catriona Macdonald for the film by Scottish filmmaker Jenny Gilbertson (née Brown).

The Steele designed building is the oldest purpose built cinema in the country and it also hosted many other films with musical accompaniment. Inspired by the cinema in which it takes place, the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival is a champion for Bo’ness community and the Falkirk District. The Festival continued to prioritise accessibility for local audiences, young people, and deaf and hard-of-hearing people.  All spoken content was live captioned and the Opening Night live stream featured creative captioning to describe the musical accompaniment. The Festival’s Pay-it-Forward scheme ensured that carers and service users of Friends of Scottish Settlers were able to attend free of charge, and young audiences were supported through a range of ticket schemes, special events, and workshops.

HippFest Director, Alison Strauss said: “The whole team are thrilled by the success of this year’s Festival celebrating silent film with live music… and what a celebration it was! With the difficulties we have seen in the cinema industry in Scotland these past couple of years, it is heartening to see audiences come out in such numbers for titles which are often obscure or unknown. Their faith has been rewarded by exceptional performances and films, and has made this year’s event our biggest yet. I’d like to thank everyone who participated, from the musicians and speakers, to the Festival team and staff of Falkirk Council, and most of all, everyone who joined us in person and online for HippFest 2024 – we’ll see you next year!”

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council added: “Hippfest has always seen cinema enthusiasts attracted from across the world attending and helping to boost the local economy. It’s great to see they have had another successful year.”

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival 2024 took place Wednesday 20 to Sunday 24 March 2024 at the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness, Falkirk. HippFest will return next year for its 15th edition, Wednesday 19 – Sunday 23 March 2025. For further information and to sign up to receive news visit www.hippfest.co.uk. 

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival is a project of Falkirk Council, supported by Film Hub Scotland part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI. 

Hidden Door comes out of hiding

The secret location for the 10th birthday party for Hidden Door Festival has been revealed. It is in the city centre and it will be a lot different from their usual “fixer uppers”.

Read more here about the birthday party which will be staged over two days before the festival returns over five days in the autumn at another secret location.

Scotland is off to New York

Representatives from the UK and Scottish Governments are off to New York to promote Scotland to the US and to take part in the 26th New York City Tartan Day Parade on Saturday.

Angus Robertson the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture is visiting Washington DC before heading for the Big Apple. Read more about his visit here.

Minister John Lamont is already in New York and will attend a number of events including the parade on Saturday when the Grand Marshal will be actor Dougray Scott.

The Minister, who is attending his second Tartan Day, will be accompanied by a troupe from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, two pipers, four dancers and a fiddle player.

Last night the UK Government hosted a reception at the Diageo New York HQ along with representatives from the Tattoo and Edinburgh Festival Fringe who spoke to the gathered guests.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced that their Keep it Fringe fund will be extended for two years using £1 million of the capital which they received from the UK Government last year to establish a new Fringe Hub. The capital will be diverted into a project to offer bursaries of £2,500 to 180 applicants this year and a further 180 next year. This will help to pay for the costs involved in staging a show at the Fringe.

More details here.

Scran and a Song in Newhaven

Out of the Blue Fleamarket

The pitches for the fleamarket on 27 April go on sale on Saturday 6 April at 10am. £30 a pitch and £5 for a table.

Support the Edinburgh Reporter

Please support us if you can with advertising, donations or by buying a paper. Our new April issue is out now and you could join the happy band of readers who pay to have the newspaper delivered to their front door.

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Funding is available for community groups with applications open now for a grant of up to £5,000 for each project.

Community Grant Fund is a pot of money set up by the council in 2007 as a way of starting off schemes to help local communities.

The Fund is divided into 13 local funds each applying to a different area of the city. The size of each fund will depend on how many people live in your area, and there is a possibility of more grants becoming available later in the year.

One of the projects funded in this way last year was the Broomhouse Street Party.

If you’re part of a community group with a project in mind, you are encouraged to apply to your local Community Grant Fund today.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “Our communities are the lifeblood of our city and we’re committed to ensuring that they have the resources to bring their ideas to life.

“From the Pentlands to Portobello and beyond I’m really excited to see the projects that apply for funding during this round of applications.”

Welcome to Hollywood. What’s your dream? 

Based on JF Lawton’s 1990 Hollywood rom-com of the same name, Pretty Woman is the unlikely love story of billionaire businessman Edward Lewis and Hollywood Boulevard ‘Hooker’, Vivian Ward… but is Vivian a damsel in distress or a hero with a dream? Hiring her professional services for a week of meetings and social gatherings, Edward is about to find out as the pair discover themselves caught up in a romantic, whirlwind voyage of self-discovery. 

Read more here

Hidden Door Festival is celebrating its 10th birthday this year and will hold a party in the St James Quarter car park in May.

The location has been kept a secret until now, but the underground venue is very much in keeping with the ethos of the arts and music festival, as it is hidden in plain sight while it is also quite different. Usually Hidden Door use a venue which has lain empty for a while pending redevelopment, but this time the festival will be held in the pristine surroundings of Level B3 of the underground car park which is painted bright and white and has lights above each space to tell drivers if it a spot is free.

This will be a two night programme of music, visual art and performance to celebrate a decade long contribution to the arts scene in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Tool Library also celebrate their 10th anniversary this year and will help create a custom bar. The venue is fully accessible with lift access and it is only a few minutes from public transport options.

Making With Pride will help with other aspects of the build in partnership with LGBT Health & Wellbeing.

Hazel Johnson, Festival Director of Hidden Door, said: “B3 is unlike any other space that has played host to a Hidden Door event and we can’t wait to reveal its transformation in May. This vast basement car park has plenty of room to play with; we’ll be making the most of the wide open floorplan, whilst creating nooks and crannies amongst the pillars for people to explore the art installations and projections.

“Hidden Door’s 10th birthday event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the past decade of festivals, collaborations, community and creative innovation – and what better way to do that than by opening up another of Edinburgh’s fascinating spaces and filling it with art, music and performance! 

“We can’t wait to welcome you to our birthday bash, to celebrate what has been – and what is yet still to come!”

Susan Hewlett, Brand and Marketing director at St James Quarter, said: “We’re really excited to work with Hidden Door and host their 10th anniversary party, bringing life, music and art into this unexpected space. We have already hosted Edinburgh College of Art’s Graduate Fashion Show as well as a ‘Deaf Rave’ in B3 but to now optimise this vast space which has incredible acoustics, with one of the biggest arts organisations in the city is amazing.

“Everything we do at St James Quarter is woven into the city’s culture, celebrating its rich heritage. We can’t wait to welcome event-goers to what will be a really special showcase of music and arts in one of the most creative cities, under a destination that’s redefining retail as a new lifestyle quarter.”

The programme will be curated by synth-pop duo Maranta around their multi sensory live show Microsteria. Paradise Palms Record will join in on the Friday night and EHFM on the Saturday introducing a long list of musical acts and DJs.

As well as music artwork created by 18 visual artists will be on display – and audiences are promised “surprises”.

On Saturday 11 May the doors will be open for free between 1 and 5pm with bars sponsored by Bellfield Brewery.

hiddendoorarts.org/tickets

Hidden Door will be back in the autumn with a five day festival at a secret location yet to be announced.

The Scotmid supermarket on Roseburn Terrace is to close on Friday much to the surprise of local people.

One local said that opening hours at the shop were drastically cut last April. But it appears that some Scotmid shops have been sold in a deal with another business specialising in “retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco” which was incorporated in England in January 2024. There is one director Ashok Pothugunta who also resides in England.

However the future of the Roseburn shop is unclear.

Karen Scott, Chief Operating Officer (Retail) at Scotmid, said: “Following the latest review of our trading estate, our stores in Marchmont and Polwarth have been acquired by Hannells Food Ltd.  Staff transferred to Hannells Food Ltd at the end of March. 

“The decision was made to close our store in Roseburn, due to trading conditions. We are exploring employment opportunities in our other Edinburgh stores for those employees impacted by the closure.”

“We understand that this is a difficult situation for staff, and we are fully committed to supporting them throughout this transition period.”

Whether or not the shop will continue trading immediately after 5 April is in doubt , as is the fate of the staff working there. If you live locally then perhaps you could let us know whether the shop opens on Saturday morning.

Hearts head for St Mirren and what looks like being a tricky cinch Premiership clash on Saturday (kick-off 15.00).

Both teams come into the game on the back of draws, the Jam Tarts being held 1-1 at home by fourth-placed Kilmarnock while St Mirren, who are fifth, drew 1-1 at Motherwell.

Third-placed Hearts have accumulated 56 points so far from 31 games and hold an 11-point lead over Kilmarnock while The Buddies are on 43 points.

They have scored 37 goals and let in 38 while Steven Naismith’s men have netted 40 goals and conceded 31.

Saints have won two of their last five games and drawn two, losing one, and Hearts have won one and drawn two, losing two.

Meanwhile, Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup semi-final tickets for Hampden on Sunday, April 21, are now on sale to fans with five-plus loyalty points.

And tickets for the home cinch Premiership clash with Livingston on April 13 and also on sale.

PICTURE: Kenneth Vargas celebrates after scoring earlier this season and he was on the mark again for goal No 8 of the season against Kilmarnock

Finally, Big Hearts have confirmed that £21,000 was raised on their fund-raising effort last Saturday at Tynecastle.

A spokesman said: “Big Hearts are immensely grateful to our amazing Jambo family for once again showing incredible support in raising and outstanding amount.”

Musselburgh Racecourse director Bill Farnsworth said he was confident the East Lothian track’s final jumps meeting of the season would go ahead on Friday. (5 Apr).

Farnsworth was speaking after the crushing disappointment of having to abandon Musselburgh’s opening Flat meeting on Easter Saturday due to incessant rain which saturated parts of the course.

He said: “We are absolutely gutted to lose Easter Saturday but it has hardly stopped raining since October. Another 18mm on Friday and Saturday morning tipped us over the edge and we were left with little choice but to call it off.”

Friday’s Go North Jumps Raceday takes places on the sand-based jumps track which drains must faster than Musselburgh’s Flat track, explained the racecourse boss.

He said: “While the Flat the track needs regular watering throughout the summer, we don’t water the jumps track, so that is a factor in our favour for Friday.

“It will be very soft but fortunately jump horses are bred to race on softer ground and it is certainly more suitable for Jump racing than Flat racing. I am as confident as we can be, that Friday’s meeting will be fine despite another wet week in East Lothian.”

Musselburgh’s fixture is the first of three weekend meetings – with others at Kelso and Carlisle – which constitute the finals of the Go North national hunt series and has attracted a healthy 77 declarations for the seven race card.

Gates open at 2.30pm and the first race is scheduled for 4.30pm. For more information and to book tickets visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk

Pretty Woman The Musical, at Edinburgh Playhouse

The Playhouse began filling up in droves with a dressed-up Edinburgh audience ready to banish the grey, miserable Easter holiday weather.

Even before the show began, fans were quoting their favourite lines from the 1990 film and swooning over 1980s film idol Richard Gere. Soon we were transported to 1980s Hollywood with Guns N’ Roses and Kiss T-shirts, sleazy streets and fake trees outside the Blue Banana Club for a rousing performance of Welcome To Hollywood.

Amber Davies as street worker Vivian Ward brings just enough Julia Roberts references while making the role her own. There’s a tangible chemistry with Oliver Saville taking on Gere’s role of Edward Lewis. He displays an arresting vocal during Something About Her and they deliver a classic power ballad 80s style during Long Way Home on a stand-out score by Bryan Adams and Jim Wallace.

Journalist and broadcaster Ore Oduba as Mr Thompson at the glamorous Beverley Wilshire brings an enjoyable comic turn while transferring some of his Strictly dance magic. When he popped up in the orchestra pit he had the audience in the palm of his hand.

Natalie Paris also entertains as Vivian’s comic foil Kit De Luca. The lighting is another feature used well, making romantic scenes low-key and leaving plenty to the audience’s imagination.

“I wonder what’s going on now?” said the woman sitting behind, proving again how much people were lost in the moment, perhaps with one eye on their past having grown up with film.

Edinburgh Trams will provide extra trams for anyone travelling to and from the Terminal V techno festival at The Royal Highland Centre later this month.

To accommodate festival passengers, the tram operator will run extra late-night tram services running every 20 minutes until around 12.30am, in addition to the regular service of trams every 7 minutes throughout the day.

A free shuttle bus will also be available to ferry attendees between the Ingliston Park & Ride tram stop and the festival grounds.

The extra tram schedule and shuttle bus connections will ensure festival-goers can rely on safe public transport to get them to the event and back to their accommodation after the late-night festival on 13 and 14 April.

Jon McCulley, Edinburgh Trams Operations Manager, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support the festival once again by working with the organisers to ensure fans can make the most of two nights of top techno music.

“On arrival at the Ingliston Park & Ride tram stop, anyone heading for the event can board the free shuttle bus running regular intervals to the centre’s North Entrance, and there will also be convenient travel back from the venue once acts leave the stage at 11.00 pm on both nights.”

Buy tickets in advance from edinburghticket.com.

Barratt Developments Community Fund is supporting three causes helping families and individuals living in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, currently donates £1,500 per month to local charities in its divisions as part of its pledge to improve the quality of life of those living in the areas where it operates.

Barratt began 2024 by donating £3,000 to its new East of Scotland main charity partner, Cash for Kids. The charity works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people living locally who are affected by poverty, illness, neglect or have additional needs. The cause also works with other organisations which make a difference to young people, directly supporting families who often have nowhere else to go.

Cash for Kids replaces St Columba’s Hospice Care as the East Scotland division’s main charity partner, having raised £247,909 in the last two years through fundraising, including a Pentland Hills walk, charity dinners and office events.

Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager at Cash for Kids, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to receive the Barratt Community Fund for this first quarter of the year. This £3,000 will make such a difference in our local community, specifically to families really struggling with the cost of living. We are receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of requests for support with real basics such as food, toiletries and nappies, so these funds will go a long way in supporting us with helping these families who are living on our doorstep.

“To also be chosen as Barratt East Scotland’s new main charity partner was really just the cherry on top. I was delighted to get the phone call and we are excited to build some brilliant fundraising plans across the next two years and help even more local children.”

In February, a further £1,500 was given to Capital Carers, which supports carers in the North West of Edinburgh. The organisation’s highly trained staff provide one-to-one support as well as a range of services which help people to support the person they care for and assist them in carrying out their caring responsibilities, while also ensuring that they look after themselves.

Lauren Alexander, Young Carers Support Worker at Capital Carers, said: “A huge thanks to Barratt for this generous donation, it will enable us to provide respite trips for young carers and young adult carers which we would otherwise not have been able to do. All of our carers love interaction with animals, and this therapeutic approach can really benefit those with challenging situations. Horses are a big favourite, but it is an expensive activity. The money will allow us to take several groups horse riding, alpaca trekking, a trip to the zoo and going out to eat.

“The funding has already allowed us to take young carers on active respite trips, to Laser Tag, swimming and escape rooms, and meals out where all carers can relax together, make new friends, reconnect with old ones and have that important peer support.”

And in March, Barratt Developments donated £1,500 to Midlothian Foodbank. The charity, which is supported by The Trussell Trust, provides three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are in need in the Midlothian area.

Ian Purves, from Midlothian Foodbank, said: “Thank you to Barratt for their generous donation to Midlothian Foodbank. The donation will help people in our area struggling with the cost of living and support them with emergency food parcels, food vouchers for families in school holidays, or a hot meal at one of our two weekly lunches. They also have access to an advisor from Citizens Advice who is present during one of our lunches. All this helps to reach our aim of ensuring that no one in Midlothian goes to bed hungry.”

Alison Condie, Managing Director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “We’re proud to be supporting causes which are carrying out such essential work in communities throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“From foodbanks through to care, cost of living has placed a significant strain on the services that charities can provide. We hope that our donations can help to alleviate some of this pressure and allow causes to continue supporting families and individuals in the communities in which we build.”

A new report has warned that the new digital era of AI and cryptocurrency is creating complex challenges in the financial industry, increasing the demand for skilled tech-savvy workers.

Offering insights into the challenges for 2024, Core-Asset Consulting’s Salary Guide has now launched its ninth edition, which stresses the need for rapid adaptation in technology and regulation to manage emerging risks effectively.

Offering a wide range of predictions, the report has become the barometer for the financial services industry for pay scales and planning for the coming financial year.

Betsy Williamson, founder of Core-Asset Consulting said: “Scotland’s financial and professional sectors, while steady, face extraordinary challenges today.

“These include political uncertainty in the UK, global conflicts, rising inflation and interest rates, diversity and inclusion issues, environmental concerns, stricter regulations and compliance demands, workforce challenges, and the accelerated pace of digital change such as AI and cryptocurrency.

“Companies now need to enhance their reporting processes to meet the demand for transparency regarding their environmental and customer impacts.

“These developments are ushering in a significant transformation in the financial services sector, underlining the pivotal role of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence to navigate these changes efficiently.”

The recently released guide is crucial for setting the stage for annual salary reviews within Scotland’s financial services sector, traditionally occurring in March and April, and tech-savvy workers are becoming increasingly sought-after within the sector.

Betsy added: “There is already a major demand for skilled digital workers to tackle complex issues around reporting quickly and accurately with AI and we don’t see this slowing down in 2024.

“With AI driving rapid changes in business and finance, we’re already seeing massive surges in new tech investments, driving a demand for a more digitally adept workforce.

“These big changes mean that the financial industry needs to become more digital and have the right skills to handle them. Digital innovations, such as AI and machine learning, are reshaping how financial services work, and this transformation is happening quickly.”

Core-Asset Consulting, founded in 2005 by Betsy Williamson, is Scotland’s foremost recruitment and headhunting agency for the financial and professional services sectors.

Based in Edinburgh, the £26m firm employs 16 people and works across the entire financial services sector, from the smallest boutiques to the biggest global players.

Initially focused on Scotland’s asset management sector, the firm quickly built a strong reputation, enabling it to broaden its services into the wider financial market.

Today, it features specialist teams in accounting, investment operations, finance, and the legal sector.

The Industry Trends and Salary Guide offers 28 pages of market analysis, salary information, and insights, available for those who register on their website.

To find out more about Core-Asset Consulting’s Salary Guide, please visit: https://bit.ly/salary-guide-2024-25

Minister for Scotland John Lamont MP is in New York to promote Scotland and represent the UK Government in the US.

This is the Minister’s second trip to the States for Tartan Week and he will use the opportunity to host a reception at Diageo New York HQ in the World Trade Centre with representatives from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as a number of business events arranged by the UK Government’s Trade and Business Department.

A toast to Scotland’s culture will be raised with a glass of Johnnie Walker.

The Minister said that his visit will include discussions on attracting investment into the Scottish energy sector and a reception for Scottish FinTech company leaders from the New York financial services sector.

Mr Lamont said: “Last year I saw Tartan Week for the first time, and was blown away by the passion of those who celebrate the links between Scotland and the US. I want us to strengthen our links even more by promoting our most important exports – whisky, energy and financial services – and our rich culture. 

“I look forward to marching down Sixth Avenue with partners from The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo, Diageo and the British Consulate – who all do so much to represent the UK and Scotland across the world.”

Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “It was fantastic to share our military traditions at last year’s event and we’re delighted to have been invited by the Scotland Office to take part in this year’s Tartan Week celebrations. We have bold ambitions to share our unique and stirring performances with the world and it’s a great opportunity to showcase the talent of the Tattoo’s musicians and dancers. We’re very much looking forward to joining the other extraordinary local and international Scottish organisations at the parade.”

General Election

Are you standing as a candidate in the General Election (whenever it is called). We have tentatively started some coverage here. So if that is you then please send your pitch in to us.

And if you are a voter then what questions would you like your potential MP to answer or what matters most to you? Tell us what your Edinburgh or Midlothian constituency is and what questions you would like us to put to the candidates.

Get in touch here.

At Jupiter Artland

A season of events, activities and workshops which celebrate creativity and inspire hope, lightness and joy will open the new season at Jupiter Artland this week. The Happiness Series creates moments for escape and dreaming together in the beautiful Jupiter Artland landscape.  

Nicky Wilson, Founder and Director, Jupiter Artland, said, “We are delighted to open our 2024 programme with such a range of joyful events and exhibitions ahead. Experience luscious and textured paintings and sculptures, relax with a wild swim, or join for one of our workshops set to take place in the artland – we look forward to welcoming you this season.”

The Bike Station – Free Wheel Gorgie

The project is a partnership working with organisations in Gorgie, supporting individuals with free bikes, accessories and skills classes.

The public facing aspect of the programme aims to skill up individuals in the local community with free maintenance classes, Dr. Bike services and skills development.

More details here.

Revised planning application lodged – for student flats

A planning application for purpose built student accommodation at 26 Dunedin Street where there was a car rental office has been revised after permission for the original 73 room student flat development was refused.

The application for London-based company Dunedin Street (Edinburgh) LLP has been lodged by planning consultant Colin Turley.

The Cockburn Association objected to the previous application saying: “This part of Edinburgh is in danger of being redeveloped through ad hoc market driven development” and recommending that a Local Place Plan could be drawn up for the area in which locals could say what they would like and suggest proposals for land and buildings.

In the new application there does not appear to be any mention of the previous application.

Support the Edinburgh Reporter

Please support us if you can with advertising, donations or by buying a paper. Our new April issue is out now and you could join the happy band of readers who pay to have the newspaper delivered to their front door. Sign up by clicking on the image below or book your advertising. We have some new off the shelf advertising deals for local businesses.

This is a shameless plug for food writer (and dear friend) Ghillie Basan’s new book Seafood Journey, which includes a foreword by Gary Maclean, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals and the National Chef of Scotland.

The very modest and understated Ghillie Başan lives in the Highlands in a beautiful remote cottage. She is also one of Scotland’s Food Tourism Ambassadors, championing local produce.

She has written more than fifty books on different culinary cultures which, over the last forty years, have been shortlisted and have won a variety of awards. Her recent book, on Lebanese cooking, won Best in the World in the Gourmand International Cookbook Awards 2021 and A Taste of the Highlands was shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers Award 2022. Her food and travel articles have appeared in a huge variety of newspapers, including the Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph, and magazines such as BBC Good Food and Delicious.

Being allergic to fish and seafood, I won’t be able to indulge in any of the recipes, but everyone needs to know more about Ghillie, a very talented food writer, who despite her impressive literary catalogue, remains relatively unknown.

Scotland produces some of the best fish and shellfish in the world. In her latest book, Ghillie embarks on a journey around Scotland’s long and varied coast and across to the islands. As she meets a host of people whose lives revolve around the sea – fishermen and women, salt producers and seaweed harvesters as well as seafood chefs, shellfish farmers and boat builders – she learns about age old traditions and modern innovations.

Featuring almost a hundred recipes, from traditional favourites such as Champion Cullen Skink and Creamy Fish and Leek Pie to more adventurous dishes such as Singapore Spineys and Monkfish Tagine, this is a wonderful celebration of Scotland’s culinary association with the sea.

Seafood Journey, £25 hardback – ISBN 9781780278322