We’re now nearly halfway through March, which means that there are just over two weeks left to take advantage of the fantastic restaurant deals on offer with Eat Out Edinburgh this month.
And with two major celebrations – St Patricks Day and Easter – over the next few weekends, the restaurant festival provides wonderful options to celebrate.
See below for some more information with suggestions on the best places to eat & drink throughout the rest of March in the capital.
St Patricks Day, 17 March
Angels Share: What better day to indulge in a pint of Guinness alongside your Sunday roast? Enjoy 28-day dry aged beef and all the trimmings as a part of the of 20% off a la carte throughout the month of March.
Rarity bottle shop, Bonnie & Wilde: After a filling meal, swap your usual dram for an Irish whisky, with tasting events and meet the maker sessions every weekend of the month.
Auld Hundred: The classic pub is offering20% off your total bill when booking in advance and quoting ‘EatOutEdinburgh2024‘ – including their signature whisky flights!
Easter Sunday, 31 March
Dean Banks at The Pompadour: Dressed in your Sunday best, head to Easter supper to enjoy a memorable meal in historic surroundings. The fine dining venue is offering a special six course tasting menu for £79 a person this month.
Contini: Enjoy Easter fare the Italian way with decadent pastas or go classic with Borders lamb, with two courses for £25 or three courses for £30 from their set lunch and a la carte menus, with a glass of complimentary Prosecco on arrival.
Duck & Waffle: A specially curated set menu for Eat Out Edinburgh features a multi-course selection of new and signature dishes perfect for Sunday supper, with 2 Courses For £24 or 3 Courses for £29 a person.
Deals from all 40 participating venues are available to book at:
POLICE are appealing for information after two men were seriously assaulted in Leith on Sunday evening (10 March, 2024).
Around 8.30pm, the two men aged 48 and 65, were standing at a bus stop on Ferry Road near to its junction with Great Junction Street and Coburg Street, when they were approached by a man who then attacked them.
Police and ambulance attended and the men were both taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where they are receiving treatment.
The suspect is described as black, around 30 years of age with short, dark hair. He was wearing a red tartan scarf and a long, black jacket with a hood.
Detective Inspector Steven Gray of Gayfield Police Station said: “This is a busy area and I would urge anyone who witnessed this attack take place, or anyone with information that may assist us to come forward as soon as possible.
“I would also ask anyone driving in this area around the time of this incident to check their dash-cam footage and please contact us with anything relevant.
“Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting reference 2805 of 10 March. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
Nobody will be surprised to hear that Scotland experienced a very wet autumn and winter – but abstractors are being reminded they still need to plan ahead in case conditions change.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have published the first Water Situation Report of 2024, providing information on water stores in the ground, lochs and reservoirs.
Weather conditions over autumn and winter have a major influence on water resources and the risk of water scarcity in the following summer.
As reported last month, SEPA issued a record number of regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings to the public this winter.
A total of 720 messages were sent between 1st September 2023 and 16th February 2024. The previous record of 714 was set over autumn and winter 2015/16.
Areas along the east coast of Scotland saw higher than average rainfall throughout autumn and winter, with some parts seeing 170% of the winter average.
Elsewhere rainfall totals have been within the normal range, and natural water storage in lochs and groundwater is between normal and high for this time of year.
However, if the country experiences particularly dry weather over spring and summer it could still lead to water scarcity.
Water users are urged to keep an eye on the situation and plan ahead to manage water supplies sustainably.
Stephen McGuire, Senior Hydrology Specialist at SEPA, said:“It would be easy to look at the amount of rain Scotland has seen over the last few months and think that water scarcity isn’t an issue.
“The risk is currently lower than normal as a result, but the reality is we can’t rule out a repeat of the water shortages businesses have experienced in previous years – if we have drier than average conditions over the next few months things can change quite quickly.
“Water abstractors licensed by SEPA need to make sure they are prepared to deal with water scarcity, so I would encourage them to consider how to improve their business resilience and manage water wisely during prolonged dry conditions. We can help by providing advice and guidance on ways to reduce pressure on the water environment.
“Taking the right steps now will lower the likelihood of resources reaching a critical level again this summer and SEPA having to suspend licences to protect the water environment.”
Scotland’s Changing Climate
Scotland’s climate is changing and businesses are experiencing the impacts of more frequent extreme weather events like water scarcity.
The number of serious drought events is projected to increase from an average of one every 20 years, to one every two years in the near future.
In 2023 the first area reached Alert level at the end of May, and five areas (Rivers Annan and Nith in the southwest, the Black Isle, the Outer Hebrides and the Loch Maree area of the Highlands) had reached significant water scarcity by the end of June.
Significant impacts from water scarcity were apparent during 2022, particularly in the east of the country. Groundwater levels in the region were their lowest since records began in 2009 and there was below average rainfall in eight out of the twelve months.
SEPA had to take steps to protect the environment from the effects of prolonged dry weather and suspensions were imposed on 175 water abstraction licences in four catchment areas.
From May, SEPA will publish a weekly Water Situation Report looking at the latest conditions across Scotland.
Cruse Scotland, a Scottish charity that provides essential support to people struggling with bereavement following the loss of a loved one, has been able to extend its vital Early Support Programme following a fourth significant financial boost from Scotmid Funerals.
The funding has supported people across Edinburgh to better cope with each stage of grief, through one-to-one and group support sessions with trained volunteers.
Edinburgh-based Brian, who sadly lost his brother suddenly in 2021 and his mother the following year, shares how he benefited from speaking to Cruse Scotland:
“I can’t talk highly enough of my experience with Cruse Scotland. My counsellor was amazing – extremely professional, highly perceptive, and responsive to the finer nuances of the conversations we had.
“Each session I found hit the right balance of challenging yet supportive, and it was all done with warmth and good humour. It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time, and I feel the benefit of it every day.”
Last year, Scotmid Funerals donated £8,000 to extend Cruse Scotland’s Early Support services and this year, the funeral provider has made a further £10,000 award.
This latest funding will allow Cruse Scotland to develop its volunteer recruitment and training programme to upskill its crucial volunteers in 2023-24 to continue its support to bereaved people in Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland.
Artisan Real Estate is set to progress with the ‘spectacular’ homes-led redevelopment of one of Edinburgh city centre’s largest potential development sites following planning approval by The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). Councillors at CEC’s Development Sub Committee on Wednesday (13 March) were ‘minded to grant’ consent for 256 low-carbon homes and commercial space at 525 Ferry Road.
Artisan’s Section 75 Education contribution was voted through in line with the planning officers’ recommendation.
Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate, together with fund manager REInvest Asset Management S.A., will now take forward their ambitious plans to redevelop the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, near the Crewe Toll roundabout.
The developers are set to transform the vacant site, to be known as ‘525 Park View’, into a new residential neighbourhood providing 256 sustainable homes, 25% of which will be for affordable housing. Flexible commercial space facing on to Ferry Road will provide potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces.
Designed by Edinburgh-based 7N Architects, the proposals will dramatically raise the bar for sustainable city-centre living. More than two thirds of the development area will be made up of high-quality green spaces – including a large central communal garden as well as biodiverse green roofs and a ‘wetland’ area which enhances local ecology whilst contributing to the wider sustainable urban drainage system.
Smart technology such as individual air source heat pumps for each home also means no fossil fuels will be used, underlining the Artisan’s commitment to sustainable low carbon development and delivering low energy costs for occupiers.
The planning approval follows a comprehensive 14-month consultation programme, with the developers working closely with local community and wider city interests to ensure maximum benefit for both the local area and Edinburgh as a whole.
Welcoming the 525 Park View planning approval,Artisan Real Estate’s ’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused site, whilst ensuring its long-term future by bringing a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location.
“Following the consultation feedback, we have worked hard to make this development not just the right fit for the site but also an integral part of the wider city centre area. We have reduced the heights of the building from nine to seven storeys and ensured the overall architectural design and materials respect local and historical contexts.”
He added: “We are also fully aware that we have the responsibility to ensure that our developments exceed all current environmental standards, setting new benchmarks for smart, sustainable living whilst providing a high quality of internal and external space.
“Our proposals have been guided by low-carbon design and encompass a mix of apartment sizes and layouts, led mainly by residential as well as much-needed affordable housing and other complementary commercial uses.”
Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive city centre environments across the UK, and in 2023 won the inaugural ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ award at the 2023 Scottish Homes Awards.
Development partner REInvest Asset Management S.A. was founded in Luxembourg as a specialist for future-facing investment ideas and currently manages and develops properties across Europe with a value in excess of EUR 2.3 billion.
525 Park View is held in a progressive property fund within a pan-European portfolio managed on behalf of a German insurance group.
Thomas Merkes, Head of Asset Management at REInvest Asset Management S.A. added: “Our joint venture partnership with Artisan represents a major step forward in providing an innovative and collaborative mixed-use development solution to unlock the potential for this significant city centre site, which is set to create a genuinely transformational development in an accessible city centre location.
“The planning approval for this complex site demonstrates how we can make a positive contribution to the local area, bringing investment, life and excitement back to this important part of the city.”
Over 23,000 ambulance journeys have been avoided in the past five months thanks to the Scottish Ambulance Service’s Integrated Clinical Hub (ICH).
The ICH, launched in December 2022, is co-located with the SAS ambulance control centres in the west, north and east of Scotland and is made up of a multidisciplinary team of clinical advisors, advanced practitioners and GPs.
It provides assessments for all patients who are initially triaged as non-immediately life threatening and may benefit from a further virtual consultation and referral to other services in the community, rather than unnecessary trips to A&E.
Latest data shows that around 71,000 patients have been assessed by the ICH since August 2023.
Michael Dickson, Chief Executive of Scottish Ambulance Service said: “For those patients that require an ambulance, such as immediately life-threatening conditions, we will always dispatch the most appropriate resource.
“However, our data shows that nearly 50% of our patients don’t require transfer to A&E and can be better treated in other ways, such as in the home, in the community or through specialist services.
“The ICH plays a vital part in carrying out advanced assessment of these patients to identify their clinical needs to ensure they receive the best possible response for their condition.
“The hub is a vital tool in helping us free up vital capacity to attend our sickest patients whilst also reducing the demand at the A&E front door by utilising regional and national pathway alternatives.
“To help our staff we also would like to remind people that if you need urgent care, but it’s not life-threatening, you can call NHS 24 on 111, day or night, or your GP during opening hours.”
National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch will leave his role as National Clinical Director at the end of April.
Mr Leitch became a much-recognised face as a Scottish Government spokesperson during the Covid pandemic, regularly appearing on the nation’s media.
In recent months Mr Leitch has been criticised for the deletion of WhatsApp messages and some private comments he made to government ministers during the pandemic that have recently come to light.
Professor Leitch said: “It has been an enormous privilege to carry out this role and work closely with colleagues across the health and care sector in service of the patients, their families and carers. The NHS and social care system does remarkable work every day, and I am immensely proud of the teams I have had the privilege of being part of.
“The ongoing success of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme is globally recognised and has significantly improved the safety and reliability of care in many ways. The Covid pandemic was an unprecedented challenge for all countries and I am proud of my colleagues inside and outside Government for their incredible work.
“It was a privilege to be able to communicate with the public so directly and be part of that co-ordinated response, and I will forever be grateful for the public’s attention and willingness to follow the guidance – it saved lives.
I have decided to look for new challenges across health and care after a break, and to spend more time with the charities I work with.
“I wish colleagues well for the future.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Jason Leitch has made a fantastic contribution to the health of the nation, leading work to reduce hospital acquired infections and improve the quality of care in the NHS.
The enduring success of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme is testament to his work. He played a huge role in helping me and fellow Ministers navigate the Covid pandemic by providing advice to help reach the best decisions, and by communicating so well with the public.
“I of course wish him every success in the future.”
Arrangements for the post will be set out in due course.
New Lanark World Heritage Site has announced a jam-packed schedule of free events this Easter, with festivities beginning on the 30th of March.
Between the 30th of March and the 14th of April, visitors can uncover the scenic views and walkways during the New Lanark Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, with hundreds of 3D-printed eggs dotted in hidden places.
During Easter weekend (Saturday, 30th March – Sunday, 31st March), one lucky winner who finds the golden egg will win a chocolate egg and a 3D-printed toy from the Lanark Men’s Shed.
Over Easter weekend, families can also take part in bonnet-making at the visitor centre between 10am and 2pm, before parading their designs at the Easter Parade, which will depart from the visitor centre at 2pm led by the Easter bunny.
The site will host a traditional egg rolling at 3pm each day over Easter weekend, with families encouraged to bring hand-painted designs to roll down the main hill outside Robert Owen’s House.
Visitors can also browse a range of seasonal goods from Scottish vendors including Am-Fearann, Rise and Grind Roastery, Galloway Fudge and Bonnie Wee Dreams, at the New Lanark Easter Market which is open between 11am and 3pm during the Easter weekend.
Elsewhere, the Scottish Wildlife Trust will be hosting guided walks, nature crafts and birdfeed-making workshops from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 30 March, as part of its Biodiversity Bonanza. The Bonanza is the perfect opportunity for nature enthusiasts young and old to discover some of the incredible local wildlife.
One of the highlights of the festivities will take place on Saturday 6th of April with the Great New Lanark Duck Race. Beginning at noon, numbered ducks will be available to register for free before competitors take up their place for the drop at 1pm above the Falls of Clyde waterway.
Brittnee Leysen, Events Officer at New Lanark said: “We’re excited about our bumper programme of events taking place this Easter; from egg hunts to our legendary duck race, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
“It is also one of the best times of the year to see New Lanark’s beauty, with trees and flowers in full bloom, adding to the picturesque charm of our historic site.”
The site’s newly refurbished soft play will also be open during the weekend, as well as a bouncy castle and tuck shop. Located in the Schoolhouse, the soft play costs £3 per child and is open to children under eight.
Recognised as one of Scotland’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, New Lanark is a beautifully preserved 18th-century cotton mill village. Just under one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, it is an ideal destination for families seeking memorable days out.
Retail trade union Usdaw has today (13 March) launched shocking statistics from their annual survey of over 5,500 retail staff showing that 18% of shopworkers suffered a violent attack last year, compared to 8% in 2022.
The increase in assaults comes during an epidemic of retail crime with official stats and reports from retailers showing significant increases in theft from shops. Usdaw’s survey shows that levels of violence, threats and abuse all increased compared to pre-pandemic figures. In the last twelve months (pre-pandemic levels in brackets, from the 2019 survey):
These findings follow similar trends to recent reports from British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores.
Both retail trade associations found significant increases in violence and abuse against shopworkers alongside much higher levels of shoplifting, which is costing the industry £3 billion in lost stock and security measures.
Scottish voices from the frontline:
These are some of the comments Scottish shopworkers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
Central Scotland: “Customer wasn’t happy about something and took it out on me with shouting.” – “Most abuse when asking for ID for age identification.” – “Customer wasn’t sold alcohol and became verbally aggressive, they left but I felt shaken.”
Glasgow: “Shouting at me, getting in my face, calling me names, saying I’m useless, swearing, using derogatory female terms.” – “Pregnant member of staff got assaulted with a solar light.” – “Attacked in the car park finishing shift.”
Highlands and Islands: “Have been pushed and punched.” – “Called horrible name and barged past by a customer who I asked to leave because he is barred for shoplifting.”
Lothian: “Threats to stab us, wait for us to finish etc.” – “Customers who are drunk issuing vague threats, personal insults.” – “Touched by a male customer, he got angry, called me a rat and a lesbian because I didn’t want to be touched.”
Mid-Scotland and Fife: “Verbal abuse daily, at Christmas get threats.” – “Threatened to get punched and verbal abuse.” – “Challenging shoplifters on a daily basis and dealing with antisocial behaviour.” – “Grabbed me from behind.”
North East Scotland: “Customer said they liked my hair then pulled it.” – “Intentionally swung his basket at me after being told the alcohol aisle was closed.” – “Swearing directed towards me when asking shoplifter to leave the store.”
South Scotland: “Abuse from youths on a daily basis – threats and violence from shoplifters under the influence of drink and drugs.” – “Customer spit in my face after assaulting security.” – “Hit with packs of cakes and called a fat lazy cow.”
West Scotland: “Hit in the face by a drunk man with a basket.” – “Someone tried to hit me with a bottle.” – “Shouted at about queues, items not in stock or wanting a refund on an item that has been used and no receipt.”
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from Scottish shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive. Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by retail staff.
“No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that too many retail workers are. It is shocking that nearly a fifth of our members working in retail are being assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.
“Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. Theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for 61% of these incidents.
“Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and much more needs to be done to protect shopworkers. We were delighted to have won the campaign for a protection of workers law in the Scottish Parliament, but that is the beginning not the end. We have to ensure that the legislation is central to tackle a growing wave of retail crime and Usdaw looks forward to working with Police Scotland to make that happen.”
Smokers are being urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day to improve their health and wealth
5.3 million smokers in England urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, as one of the best things they can do for their health and their wealth
With up to two in three long-term smokers dying from smoking and causing 64,000 deaths in England each year – No Smoking Day remains important 40 years on from its launch
It’s never too late to quit’: presenter Coleen Nolan tells us why she is stopping smoking following a recent health scare and reassures others on taking first steps to a smokefree life
It comes as the Prime Minister’s landmark legislation to create a smokefree generation is due to be introduced,
Leading charities, including ASH, Cancer Research UK and Asthma + Lung UK, are joining forces with the government to encourage the nation’s 5.3 million smokers to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, 13 March.
The campaign comes as part of the government’s bold plans to bring about the first smokefree generation and introduce legislation so children turning fifteen this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco. Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital in England with a smoking-related disease and in 2022-23 there were over 400,000 hospital admissions in England due to smoking.
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, at any age, and the benefits begin immediately. After eight hours your oxygen levels recover and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half. After 48 hours all carbon monoxide will have flushed out, your lungs will clear out mucus and your sense of taste and smell improve.
Stopping smoking is also one of the best things people can do to save money to spend on other things. The average smoker spends around £47 a week on tobacco, which is around £2,450 a year. More broadly, it costs society over £17 billion per year, which includes a £14 billion cost to productivity and £3 billion cost to the NHS and social care.
UK Public Health Minister Andrea Leadsom said: ”Smoking is the biggest preventable killer in the UK and places a huge burden on our NHS. Cigarettes are responsible for 64,000 deaths a year in England – no other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.
“That’s why No Smoking Day is still so important 40 years on from its launch. We are taking action to prevent our children from ever lighting a cigarette, and our proposed historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill will safeguard the next generation from the harms of smoking and risk of addiction.
Up to two in three long-term smokers will die from their smoking. Despite the harms associated with smoking, it’s estimated that nearly 50 million cigarettes are smoked every day in England, with every single one negatively impacting the smoker’s health.
Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty said: “Cigarettes kill. They cause at least 15 different types of cancers and increase your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions.
“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health – no matter your age or how long you have smoked.”
Today, presenter, singer and TV personality Coleen Nolan – who smoked for over 40 years and is currently on her quitting journey following a health scare – shares her story to encourage others to join her.
Singer and presenter Coleen Nolan said: “I smoked for about 40 years and was heavily influenced by my friends and family around me. At such a young age I wasn’t aware of the health risks of smoking and soon found myself becoming addicted.
“Following a recent health scare, I realised how precious life is and became determined to quit, not just for my own health, but so I can be there fully for my children and grandchildren. To anyone out there thinking of giving up smoking, my advice is do it! ”
She is joined by ex-smoker and cancer survivor Sue Mountain who shares her story in a bid to urge smokers to quit smoking before it’s too late. Sue features in a powerful TV advert released by the department as part of a new Smokefree campaign, encouraging people to quit smoking.
Sue Mountain said: ”I never once thought I’d get cancer. Not once. To tell your family you’ve got cancer through smoking, is really hard. My kids thought they were going to lose their mam.”
Smoking rates have reduced by two-thirds since the first year of No Smoking Day 40 years ago, but smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England – estimated to account for 64,000 deaths annually.
Stopping smoking is the best thing people can do for their health, and it can significantly reduce the risk of younger people taking up smoking and becoming addicted. Currently, four in five smokers start before the age of 20 and smoking from a younger age is linked to being more likely to smoke in later years.
Better Health offers a range of free quitting support, including a local stop smoking services look-up tool and advice on stop smoking aids, including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.
As part of the government’s Swap to Stop scheme, almost one in five of all adult smokers in England will have access to a vape kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit and improve health outcomes.
Plans to introduce the most significant public health intervention in a generation and phase out smoking are progressing at pace, with the UK now in the lead to be the first country in the world to create a smokefree generation. The UK government is proposing the phasing out of the sale of tobacco so that any child born on or after 1 January 2009 can never legally be sold cigarettes.
Be part of the change and help build a smokefree generation. For free support to quit this No Smoking Day, search ‘Smokefree’.
