Day: October 26, 2024

Manhatta Edinburgh is now OPEN

The wait is over! Manahatta, the stylish bar and restaurant inspired by the glitz and glamour of New York City, is now officially open in Edinburgh. Located in the heart of the city centre, Manahatta brings a vibrant blend of cocktails, dining, and nightlife to Scotland’s capital.

The new venue on Rose Street showcases a stunning interior that blends modern aesthetics with glamorous touches that are designed to transport guests straight to the Big Apple. From the chic décor to indulgent food and drink menus, Manahatta is the perfect destination whether you’re looking for a lively brunch experience or a glam night out. The Edinburgh location will also debut an unforgettable ‘LIVE & LOUD Piano Night’ every Thursday where guests can enjoy live music, request songs and dance the night away.

When it comes to drinks, there is something for everyone, with £7 cocktails from Monday to Thursday and a menu brimming with endless options including the Diamonds are Forever sharer – a delicious mix of Bacardí Carta Blanca, watermelon, kiwi, cranberry, apple, and lime, served in a giant sparkling diamond, plus other signature drinks from the Six in The City collection.

As well as a selection of carefully created cocktails, prepare to feast on a variety of dishes made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. From the NY Club Bagel and Karaage Chicken Bowl to the delectable Bao Buns and famed Steak Frites, there’s something to satisfy every palate.

Manahatta’s legendary Boozy Brunch has also arrived in Edinburgh, and it’s not to be missed! Running until 8pm daily, this brunch bonanza includes six delightful drinks and dishes from the main menu, serving up the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement. It’s the ultimate way to unwind, sing, dance, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

Set across two floors the impressive new venue boasts art deco-inspired bars and bold lighting that channels New York realness. A stunning mirrored disco ball, reminiscent of Times Square’s famous ball drop, adds a touch of glamour and an elevated DJ booth looks over the sprawling dancefloor – setting the perfect scene for chic gatherings and unforgettable parties.

Manahatta Edinburgh is open seven days a week, with both dining and late-night options available. Bookings are now open, and reservations can be made via the official website or by calling the venue.

For more information, please visit: https://www.manahatta.co.uk/bars/edinburgh or follow Manahatta on social media @manahattauk.

Martin Wolstencroft, CEO, Arc Inspirations said: “We are over the moon that our first official site in Scotland is now open and what better place to get the party started than in Edinburgh – the capital city.

“Manahatta is more than just a cocktail bar; it’s a place to gather, celebrate, and enjoy great food and drinks in a lively atmosphere. We can’t wait to welcome Edinburgh locals and visitors to newest spot in town.”

Chancellor to ‘unlock housing’ in first Budget next week

  • Thousands of new affordable homes set to be delivered in England through £500 million boost to the Affordable Homes Programme – bringing total investment in housing supply to over £5 billion.
  • Council housing stock in England protected by reductions to Right to Buy discounts and a consultation on new long-term social housing rent settlement.
  • Councils also able to keep 100% of the receipts from sales to scale-up delivery of much needed social housing.
  • £128 million funding injection for other housing projects to transform Liverpool’s central docks, build more energy efficient homes and clean up rivers to unlock up to 28,000 new builds.

The Budget will deliver more affordable housing, ensure social housing is available for those who need it and turbocharge the delivery of 1.5 million homes as the Chancellor commits to rebuilding Britain.

A housing package announced today will deliver up to 5,000 new affordable social homes with £500 million in new funding for the Affordable Homes Programme – bringing total investment in housing supply to over £5 billion – and supporting the delivery of 33,000 new homes through £128 million for housing projects across the country.   

Meanwhile, the stock of social housing will be increased through a new 5-year social housing rent settlement that will give the sector more long-term certainty on funding and allow them to invest in tens of thousands of new homes.

The existing stock will also be protected by reducing Right to Buy discounts so that thousands more council homes remain in the sector.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “We need to fix the housing crisis in this country. It’s created a generation locked out of the property market, torn apart communities and put the brakes on economic growth.

“We are rebuilding Britain by ramping up housebuilding and delivering the 1.5 million new homes we so badly need”.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “We have inherited a housing system which is broken, with not enough homes being built and even fewer that families can afford.

“This is a further significant step in our plan to get Britain building again, backing the sector, so they can help us deliver a social and affordable housing boom, supporting millions of people up and down the country into a safe, affordable and decent home they can be proud of.”

The £500 million to deliver thousands of new social and affordable homes is a top-up to the existing Affordable Homes Programme and comes ahead of the Government’s Housing Strategy due in the Spring.

The Government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This will lay the foundations for the manifesto commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, and to support councils and housing associations to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply.

It will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

The Government will also consult on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement, which caps the rents social housing providers can charge their tenants, to provide the sector with the certainty it needs to invest in new social housing.

The intention would be for this to increase with Consumer Price Index inflation figures and an additional 1%. The consultation will also seek views on other potential options to give greater certainty, such as providing a 10-year settlement. 

These measures to increase affordable housing come alongside changes to the Right to Buy scheme, which will protect existing social housing stock to meet housing need and deliver a fairer and more sustainable scheme.

England’s existing social housing supply is depleted every year by the scheme while also disincentivising councils to build new social housing.

Discounts will be reduced alongside greater protections for newly-built social housing and councils will be able to keep 100% of the receipts generated by a Right to Buy sale. This will enable councils to scale-up delivery of much needed social housing whilst still enabling longstanding tenants to buy their own homes.

The £128 million will support the delivery of new housing projects – including up to 28,000 new builds currently blocked by river pollution – cleaning up our rivers in the process – 3,000 energy efficient homes across the country and 2,000 new homes in North Liverpool.

Meanwhile the £56 million investment at Liverpool Central Docks will also deliver office, retail, leisure and hotel facilities alongside the new homes. As well as demonstrating our brownfield-first approach, it will transform Liverpool’s former docklands into a thriving waterfront neighbourhood. 

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, says: “We strongly welcome the £500m top-up to the affordable homes programme. This vital injection of funding, which we’ve been urgently calling for, will support housing associations to continue to deliver much needed affordable homes in the immediate term and prevent a collapse in delivery.

“We share the government’s ambition to build 1.5million homes over this parliament and stand ready to deliver the social homes needed, which is why we welcome a consultation on a new rent settlement.  This will provide both transparency for residents and long term certainty and financial stability for social housing providers. We also support the government’s decision to review right to buy discounts.

“To achieve the affordable homes needed across the country, alongside this short term top-up, we look forward to a new long term housing strategy announced at the next spending review, including a significant boost in funding for social housing.”

Appeal after man injured following disturbance on Rannoch Road

Detectives are appealing for information after a man was injured following a disturbance in the Clermiston area last night (Friday, 25 October, 2024).

Around 10.50pm, officers were called to Rannoch Road where a 23-year-old man was found injured.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he is being treated for a laceration.

Enquiries are also ongoing to trace a second man who may have received a minor injury during this disturbance.

Detective Sergeant Jen Hughes said: “Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident and trace everyone involved.

“If you were in the Rannoch Road area around the time of the incident on Friday night and you haven’t yet spoken to police, I urge you to contact us.

“I would also ask anyone who was driving in the area and has dashcam footage or if you have any personal footage that may assist our investigation to please come forward.”

Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting reference number 4488 of 25 October. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.

“Scrap charity lottery sales cap” – Social Justice Secretary

UK Government urged to remove limit on funds raised for good causes

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy to urge the UK Government to remove the cap on charity lottery sales.

Charity lotteries raise money for local, national and international good causes through their ticket sales. However, the current sales cap means that charities can raise no more than £50m for these causes per year.

Ms Somerville said: ““As the difficult economic climate has made it harder for charities to raise funds, while also increasing the need of the communities they serve, the cap on charity lottery sales is only serving to restrict the positive impact they could have in raising money for good causes.

“The UK Government should undertake a review of the cap and consider the huge difference that lifting it could bring to lives and communities across the country.”

People’s Postcode Lottery Managing Director, Clara Govier, said: “The charity lottery sales limits are causing increasing difficulties for charity fundraising at a time when charities need these vital funds to respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

“Charity lotteries exist to benefit society, yet have sales limits in place which do not apply to any other type of gambling product, and ultimately make raising funds for charity more difficult.

“Removing them would cost the Treasury nothing but benefit many charities. We welcome the Scottish Government’s call for these outdated sales limits to be removed, and urge the UK Government to take action.”

The full text of the Social Justice Secretary’s letter: 

Charity lottery sales limits: Letter to UK Government – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

State of Care report reveals a social care catastrophe

State of Care report reveals a social care catastrophe, with thousands of older people being put at risk of abuse and neglect

Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to calling time on the abuse, harm and exploitation of older people, is raising concerns of a social care catastrophe following the release of the CQC’s State of Care report.  

The report reveals a shocking level of discontent among care staff in the UK due to inadequate training, high staff turnover and vacancy rates. The report reveals that by the end of 2023/24 over a quarter of staff in care homes have left their roles, with vacancy rates three times higher than the wider economy.
 
A GMB Union survey shows that 70% of social care workers say understaffing is negatively affecting their mental health in addition to increasing rates of care workers neglecting themselves.
 
The charity warns that this level of dissatisfaction among care staff is a huge risk factor for the abuse and neglect of older people and raises deep concerns over the future of the care sector.
 
Hourglass also warns of troubling reports from the CQC regarding a lack of understanding of older people with dementia. Ineffective support, poor training and a lack of specialist care results in increased risk of abuse.

The report notes from an anonymous source that:

“The people treating him didn’t know how to communicate and shouted at him about causing distress. I intervened on several occasions. We were left for long periods of time with no explanations.”



With an extra nine million older people, a population the size of London, set to populate the UK by 2050, Hourglass is calling on the UK government to prioritise reform of the social care sector to protect this ageing population from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The charity is encouraging everyone to support their Older Age, Tomorrow’s Hope campaign, which calls on the general public, third sector leaders, care professionals and businesses to sign up and support a Safer Ageing Society by 2050. 

The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.

If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

Drug dealer jailed for offences committed in prison

A 34-year-old man has been jailed for organised crime offences whilst in prison.

Christopher Smith was sentenced at the High Court in Livingston on Thursday (24 October) after pleading guilty to organising the supply of controlled drugs.

Smith’s offences occured at HMP Edinburgh and at addresses across Edinburgh, Inverness and Nairn between March 2018 and November 2019.

He will now spend seven years and five months in prison.

He was also issued with a Serious Crime Prevention Order, which will last for three years, to help prevent him returning to crime when he is released from jail.

Detective Inspector Angus Morrison said: “This conviction and sentencing highlights our ongoing commitment to disrupting the illegal and harmful supply of illegal drugs in our communities.

“I hope it sends a message to those involved in serious and organised crime that you will be caught and you will face the consequences.

“There is no place for this type of criminality in our communities. Such operations underline our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy. We will continue to work with partner agencies to tackle this issue and make our communities safer.

“Information from the public is absolutely crucial to our work and we would continue to urge anyone with knowledge or concerns about drugs activity in their area to contact Police Scotland on 101.

“Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Appeal for witnesses following petrol station robbery in South Queensferry

Detectives are appealing for information following a robbery in South Queensferry.

Around 2.15pm yesterday (Friday, 25 October, 2024), a man was seen outside a petrol station at Ferrymuir Gait.

A short time later he entered the premises, presented a weapon and demanded money.

The male staff member was unhurt and did not require medical treatment.

The suspect is described as being between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins and of medium build. He was wearing a black beanie style hat with a grey trim, a grey snood which covered his mouth and nose. He was also wearing a brown coat with a fur trim collar and cuffs, blue jeans and white trainers. He wore blue gloves with writing on the rear of the left hand, was carrying a black backpack and he spoke with a local accent.

Detective Sergeant Martin Smith said: “The staff member was understandably shocked at what happened, but thankfully uninjured.

“Reviewing CCTV is key part of this enquiry and officers are extensively working through all available footage. If you have local CCTV or were in the area and have dash-cam footage, please get in touch as you may have captured something that can assist our investigation.

“Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2072 of 25 October, 2024. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

OPEN MEETING: Cramond Drama Group and our next Pantomime

Monday 28 October 7.30pm at Cramond Kirk Halls

Calling all potential actors, stagehands, costume makers and painters of scenery!

Cramond Drama Group, supported by the Cramond Association, is planning the forthcoming events for Christmas 2024 and for 2025 – including our next pantomime – and we need your help.

We have a small, strong team but still need a chair (and a person to sit in it) as well as lots of actors, helpers and friends to make it happen.

If It’s Drama You Want, Don’t Miss It !

Mel Young MBE receives the Edinburgh Award 2024

The Homeless World Cup co-founder and social entrepreneur, Mel Young MBE, was officially presented with the coveted Edinburgh Award by the Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge.

The award was presented on Thursday evening (October 24) at a civic reception at the City Chambers.

Since 2007, the Edinburgh Award has celebrated individuals who have made a truly unique contribution to the city and brought the Capital to national and international attention.

Alongside family, friends and invited guests, Young received an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost, an official award certificate, and a set of his handprints preserved in stone in the City Chambers quadrangle was unveiled.

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Edinburgh Award Panel, Robert Aldridge said: “It was a pleasure to present Mel Young with the Edinburgh Award yesterday evening. Mel’s handprints are now immortalised in stone at the City Chambers quadrangle, and he deservedly follows in the footsteps of some of the finest individuals associated with our great city.

“From The Homeless World Cup to The Big Issue in Scotland, his passion and dedication to changing lives and advocating for fairness is admirable and inspiring. Through his work he has represented the Capital with pride, dedication, and skill.

“I’d like to congratulate Mel on behalf of the city, and I’m sure he will continue to do great things, both here in Edinburgh and beyond.”

The Homeless World Cup co-founder, social entrepreneur and Recipient of the Edinburgh Award 2024, Mel Young MBE said: “I am honoured to receive the Edinburgh Award this year. Edinburgh is a stunning capital city, and I am proud to be one its citizens.

“The Homeless World Cup Foundation headquarters is in Edinburgh and our tournament connects people all over the globe. I would like to share this Award with the many hard-working people who have contributed to making the Homeless World Cup so impactful and successful.

 “Also, this Award belongs to the real heroes of our work, the homeless people themselves who change their own lives through their involvement with our tournament and our operations across the world.”

QMU teams up with Hearts FC and professional theatre company to revive historic plays at Tynecastle

A university in Edinburgh has formed a unique collaboration with an award-winning theatre company to co-produce two ambitious plays for Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s 150th anniversary celebrations this year.

The hugely popular and critically acclaimed shows, A War of Two Halves, and Sweet FA, will be revived in collaboration with BA (Hons) Acting & Performance and BA (Hons) Costume Design and Construction students at Queen Margaret University (QMU).

Taking place across November 2024, the shows will be performed at the renowned home of Heart of Midlothian FC, Tynecastle Park.

Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of QMU, said: “It’s incredibly exciting that our students will get the opportunity to perform at such an iconic Edinburgh venue and help Hearts mark their special 150th anniversary – an experience that I’m sure will stay with them for years to come.

“As we celebrate 150 years of Queen Margaret University in 2025, we take pride in the many meaningful collaborations we’ve fostered over the years, each of which reflects our deep commitment to supporting our stakeholders and enriching the communities we serve. This new partnership, merging the vibrant worlds of theatre and sport, perfectly embodies QMU’s core values of creativity, innovation, and community engagement.”

Heart of Midlothian FC has welcomed productions at Tynecastle Park since 2018 and recognises their vital contribution to the heritage and cultural understanding of the club and its history.

Throughout this year of Hearts’ 150-year celebrations, the club has found a number of innovative ways to commemorate this important milestone. 

Ann Park, Director of Communities and Partnerships at Hearts, said: “Both of these productions highlight important episodes from the club’s proud history, and we are thrilled that both plays make these accessible and captivating for football and non-football audiences alike.”

A War of Two Halves is a powerful story about the Heart of Midlothian players who, in 1915, showed tremendous courage and team spirit and volunteered en masse for McCrae’s Battalion. This promenade performance leads the audience on a moving journey through various locations around Tynecastle Park, including the home dressing room.

Sweet FA is a companion piece to A War of Two Halves. It is a play with music that tells the inspiring tale of an Edinburgh women’s factory team in 1915, united by their passion for football and their unwavering support and love for one another against the backdrop of the ban on Women’s Football. It will be performed in a purpose-built stage within the main concourse at Tynecastle Park.

The cast of Sweet FA will also be performing at half time of the Women’s Premier League Capital Cup game on 17th November.

Ann, continued: “A War of Two Halves performed to sell out audiences in 2018, 2019 and 2022. BBC Radio 4’s Front Row listed Sweet FA as one of the three must-see shows across 2021’s Fringe and International Festival.

“It is fitting that it is being revived on the 50th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on Women’s Football in 1974. Brilliant dialogue and powerful songs deliver a timely, no holds barred, take on Scottish culture during the Great War.”

Bruce Strachan, co-founder of Two Halves Productions and Lecturer in Acting and Performance at QMU, said: “This new collaboration between us, Hearts Heritage and Queen Margaret University, looks to build on the award-winning success of these two ambitious plays, rooted in the history of Edinburgh.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for two young casts, on the cusp of their launch into the professional world, to explore the importance of these stories and their impact on local history and contemporary Scottish theatre. Given current global events, both pieces serve as a timely reminder of the horrors and futility of world conflict.”

A War of Two Halves and Sweet FA will take place at Tynecastle Park from the 9th to the 21st November 2024 with varying performance times. To purchase your ticket, visit Heartsfc.co.uk.