World Premiere at St Mary’s

🎵 Join us for a world première!

✨ Our renowned choir will give the first performance of Joanna Marsh composer‘s new piece ‘The Everlasting Covenant’ at Choral Evensong on Sun 6th Oct at 3.30pm!

💡 All welcome to join us, for FREE. https://tinyurl.com/3w9pnztw

Million-pound legacy for Scotland’s national Music School

St Mary’s Music School, Scotland’s national music school, is celebrating the most significant legacy to be received in its 50-year-long history, thanks to the generosity of School supporter and music enthusiast, the late David Hutcheson.

A great music lover, David was a major supporter of the Edinburgh School in his later years and a regular attender at its concerts and performances. He believed passionately in supporting young people and music.

His legacy to the School, which will total more than one million pounds, comes at an exciting time in the history of St Mary’s Music School, as it looks to develop and modernise its facilities and provide the best possible experience for generations of talented young musicians to come.

St Mary’s Music School Headteacher, Dr Kenneth Taylor, remembers David fondly: “David was a great music aficionado and a generous supporter of the School. His support of our young musicians during his lifetime was wonderful but his legacy is nothing short of remarkable.

” We are deeply grateful to David for supporting the School with such a significant gift. His generosity will live on with the School and help our aspiring young musicians to go on to careers as professional instrumentalists, composers, singers, conductors and music teachers around the world.”

A music aficionado

Born in the Borders and raised in a musical family, it was David’s mother – an excellent violinist – who inspired in him a lifelong love of music and encouraged him to become an accomplished pianist himself.

A keen collector throughout his life, David amassed a significant collection of antique furniture, British & European paintings and silver. 

Highlights of his collection will be auctioned by Lyon & Turnbull in their forthcoming Five Centuries sale on 4 – 5 September and across a range of specialist auctions this autumn.

All will benefit St Mary’s Music School, as was his wish.

Westfield Road death: man arrested

A 43-year-old man has been arrested in connection with assault following the death of a man in Edinburgh.

Officers were called to Westfield Road in the city around 12.55pm yesterday (Friday, 7 June) following concern for a man within a property.

The 53-year-old was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin are aware.

Detective Inspector David McAlinden said: “Our enquiries remain ongoing but we are treating this as a contained incident.

“Westfield Road has been closed to allow for investigations to be carried out in the area.

“We know this has had a significant impact on the local community and wider public so we would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

Edinburgh Singers to perform Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle

TWO weeks to go until our performance of Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle”, a masterful choral work that blends solemnity and grace with operatic flair.

Join us on Saturday 15th June, 7.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh – tickets are available here: https://www.thequeenshall.net/…/rossinis-petite-messe…

Black Sheep Coffee open new site in Haymarket Square

Black Sheep Coffee, the Robusta rebel of the coffee world, is proud to announce the opening of its newest site in Haymarket Square. The latest Black Sheep Coffee is bringing its signature blend of passion and rebellion to Edinburgh.

The new site is set to become the go-to destination for locals and visitors seeking an unforgettable coffee experience from Edinburgh’s best baristas in a laid-back, welcoming space.

From carefully crafted coffees, to refreshing smoothies, to an indulgent selection of pastries and waffles, there is something for everyone to enjoy. With Edinburgh being a creative hub in the UK with a famously rich culture, the city is very special to the brand.

The new opening is a demonstration of the incredible recent growth for the Black Sheep Coffee family, as it spreads its wings further across the UK, with over 90 stores – and nearly 40 opened in the last year alone.

The pioneering coffee group is rapidly expanding, through combining a passion for coffee and a mission to take down the big corporate chains, along with harnessing support and funding from their loyal customers and those who believe in the values of the company.

Renowned for unapologetically bold flavours and an unrivalled commitment to quality, Black Sheep Coffee are innovators in the space – by sourcing the first specialty-grade 100% Robusta coffee, they went against the market trends and became the ‘Black Sheep’ of the coffee world.

With a commitment to sustainability and ethically sourced beans, every cup of Black Sheep Coffee is a statement of rebellion against the ordinary. The coffee shop group also achieved another world first with the launch of their Lion’s Mane Latte, which is made up of Lion’s Mane, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea extract & B12. 

Black Sheep Coffee is not just a space to grab your morning coffee, it’s a community hub where rebels, misfits, and free spirits come together to celebrate individuality and embrace the extraordinary. 

Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth commented on the launch: “We’re so excited to be launching our newest Black Sheep Coffee site in Edinburgh and creating another coffee haven for those who dare to be different.

“With Edinburgh’s rich culture of creativity, we feel that this is a perfect new spot for us to open in.”

Leave the herd behind and brew some positive change at Black Sheep Coffee Haymarket Square.

You ‘Herd’ It Here First – £1 Coffees!

BLACK SHEEP COFFEE OPEN NEW SITE IN HAYMARKET SQUARE

Black Sheep Coffee,  the Robusta rebel of the coffee world, is proud to announce the opening of its newest site in Haymarket Square on 14th May 2024. To celebrate, Black Sheep Coffee will be offering £1 coffees throughout, for customers to enjoy a fantastic first day.*

Located in the middle of the bustling Haymarket Square, the latest Black Sheep Coffee is bringing its signature blend of passion and rebellion to Edinburgh.

The new site is set to become the go-to destination for locals and visitors seeking an unforgettable coffee experience from Edinburgh’s best baristas in a laid-back, welcoming space. From carefully crafted coffees, to refreshing smoothies, to an indulgent selection of pastries and waffles, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

With Edinburgh being a creative hub in the UK with a famously rich culture, the city is very special to the brand.

The new opening is a demonstration of the incredible recent growth for the Black Sheep Coffee family, as it spreads its wings further across the UK, with over 90 stores – and nearly 40 opened in the last year alone.

The pioneering coffee group is rapidly expanding, through combining a passion for coffee and a mission to take down the big corporate chains, along with harnessing support and funding from their loyal customers and those who believe in the values of the company.

Renowned for unapologetically bold flavours and an unrivalled commitment to quality, Black Sheep Coffee are innovators in the space – by sourcing the first specialty-grade 100% Robusta coffee, they went against the market trends and became the ‘Black Sheep’ of the coffee world.

With a commitment to sustainability and ethically sourced beans, every cup of Black Sheep Coffee is a statement of rebellion against the ordinary. The coffee shop group also achieved another world first with the launch of their Lion’s Mane Latte, which is made up of Lion’s Mane, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea extract & B12. 

Black Sheep Coffee is not just a space to grab your morning coffee, it’s a community hub where rebels, misfits, and free spirits come together to celebrate individuality and embrace the extraordinary. 

Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth commented on the launch: “We’re so excited to be launching our newest Black Sheep Coffee site in Edinburgh and creating another coffee haven for those who dare to be different.

“With Edinburgh’s rich culture of creativity, we feel that this is a perfect new spot for us to open in.”

Leave the herd behind and brew some positive change at Black Sheep Coffee Haymarket Square.

Black Sheep Coffee Haymarket Square will be open from 14th May 2024 at Unit 1, 3 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8RY.

Craigmount pupils put business skills to the test in Dragons’ Den style competition

The groups pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, including teachers and senior Deloitte partners

Pupils from an Edinburgh secondary school put their business skills to the test last week in an attempt to win over judges in a Dragon’s Den style competition hosted by Deloitte.

Six ‘Pupil Action Groups’ (PAGs) from Craigmount High School, made up of pupils from S1 to S6, have been working throughout 2024 on proposals for the school to tackle major issues, including sustainability, mental health, equalities, equity, digital learning and children’s rights.

The groups pitched to a panel of judges, including teachers and senior Deloitte partners, at Deloitte’s new offices in Haymarket. They competed to secure support for their proposed initiatives, including the creation of a Mental Health Festival, the development of a school newspaper and the purchase of reusable water bottles.

Craigmount High School is one of Deloitte’s partner schools through its 5 Million Futures Programme, which helps people overcome barriers to education and employment.

Working with schools and charities, Deloitte mobilises its people through volunteering, fundraising and pro-bono work to build better futures for people throughout the UK.

On the day, the pupils that make up Craigmount’s Charities and Equity PAG were named the Most Impactful Group and the school’s Sustainability PAG was awarded Best Group Presentation.

Deloitte also presented an award for Most Effective Individual Presentation to Imaiyal (S2) from the Equalities PAG, who reflected on her group’s efforts to champion equality in Craigmount’s community. Their work involved holding a bake sale during Transgender Awareness Week and organising a dress down day to raise money during Women’s History Month.  

Imaiyal said: “I’m really happy to be recognised for my hard work to help improve equality at my school.

“I had a really good time at the Deloitte offices for the Dragons’ Den competition and I enjoyed working with my school friends to figure out how we can solve these big problems.”

Lesley Smillie, Partner, Public Sector at Deloitte in Scotland, said: “We were really pleased to welcome pupils from Craigmount High to share their visions for the future.

“We were so impressed by the pupils’ presentations – it’s really encouraging to see their passion and enthusiasm to solve the various important issues we discussed.”

Alison Clark, Deputy Headteacher, Craigmount High, said: “I’m very proud of our Pupil Action Groups who have worked so hard this year to improve our school and community.

“I’d also like to thank our partners at Deloitte for hosting this competition, which has given our pupils the chance to develop and demonstrate their communication skills and teamwork. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”

City Centre West to East Link officially opened

A scheme to transform walking, wheeling and cycling between the east and west of the city was officially opened yesterday (Wednesday 20 March).

Members of the community joined Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener; Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights; and other stakeholders in Haymarket to celebrate the occasion, following the completion of the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL).

Pupils from local primary schools were amongst the first to test out part of the route, participating in a group ride from Old Colt Bridge which arrived in Haymarket in time for the festivities. Here, they were treated to music performed by St Mary’s Music School pupils and a range of walking, wheeling and cycling-themed activities.

Construction on the £23m CCWEL route began in February 2022 and has been principally funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme.

The scheme connects Roseburn to Leith Walk via Haymarket and the West End with a safe and direct cycle route, as well as significantly enhancing streets for those walking, wheeling and spending time there.

This will tie into a new George Street cycling thoroughfare delivered as part of the George Street and First New Town project.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:Today we celebrated a major development for walking, wheeling and cycling in the Capital, with the completion of CCWEL.

“This major scheme is not only one of the largest pieces of active travel infrastructure delivered in Edinburgh, but it has transformed spaces along the route for the use and enjoyment of people who live, visit and work here.

“I’m pleased that that the community and all those involved were able to share in celebrating the occasion today – we really want them to benefit from the route. I’d like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience throughout construction, which I know has been disruptive at times.

“Now it’s open, CCWEL will form a key section of our growing walking, wheeling and cycling network, connecting with Roseburn to Union Canal, George Street and First New Town and other key routes.

“This kind of joined-up project delivery is essential for helping people to choose clean, sustainable modes of transport, in turn supporting our net zero 2030 goals, as well as improving air quality and reducing congestion.”

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Active Travel said: “I was delighted to attend the start of the work on the City Centre West to East Link two years ago and even more so to see it open today.

“This new active travel route forms a key part of the growing network across Edinburgh, providing another safe and sustainable option for people to move about Scotland’s capital.

“This ambitious investment in active travel infrastructure was made possible through grant funding from the Scottish Government administered through Sustrans Scotland’s Places For Everyone Fund.

“I am grateful to City of Edinburgh Council for working so closely with all partners, not least the many communities set to benefit from this investment.”

Karen McGregor, Scotland Director for Sustrans said:The City Centre West to East Link is an absolute game-changer within the world of active travel.

“For the first time ever in Scotland, we’ve delivered a fully segregated walking, wheeling and cycling connection that cuts through the heart of the city centre. In doing so, this fantastic new route gives the people of Edinburgh a safe and accessible driving alternative, allowing people to get to where they want, how they want, regardless of age or ability.

“I would like to thank all those involved for their support and keen involvement in its delivery.”

Other activities along the route included free bike checks from Dr Bike, bike marking by Police Scotland, cargo bike trials and the opportunity to meet the team responsible for the project.

As well as connecting to cycling and walking improvements delivered through the George Street and First New Town project and on Leith Walk as part of Trams to Newhaven, CCWEL will link to the Roseburn to Union Canal route, due for completion this year, and Meadows to George Street. Construction on this is planned for 2025.

By supporting people to travel by foot, bike and wheel, CCWEL aligns with the City Mobility Plan 2030, which envisions a clean, connected and net zero carbon future.

Find out more about CCWEL.

Green light for new office space and hotel at Haymarket Yards

Proposals for the delivery of an exciting mixed-use development at 20 Haymarket Yards have been given the green light by City of Edinburgh Council.

The approved planning application, granted subject to conditions, includes the demolition of the low-rise and outdated Elgin House office building, which lies close to Haymarket Station and the tram link. and the construction of a sustainable mixed-use development.

This will comprise a hotel with a ground floor café and a separate modern office building with associated public realm plaza, in an extremely well-connected city centre location. It is being brought forward by Stamford Property Holdings and potential occupiers are now being sought, with construction set to start in 2024.

Designed by the award winning 7N Architects, the new ten-storey 183,000 sq.ft. net office and nine-storey hotel of approximately 197 rooms is highly accessible by public transport, reducing car dependency and enhancing and improving the vitality of this area.

The net-zero in operation office building will respond to the shift in occupier demand for more sustainable workspaces that are focused on the positive wellbeing of future occupants. It will have shared internal winter garden spaces and extensive landscaped roof terraces offering amenity space and views south to the Pentland Hills.

This is a striking new landmark development at a gateway site on the rail and tram network into the heart of Edinburgh City Centre, and it will meet a growing demand for modern office workspaces, enhancing Edinburgh’s offering to major occupiers, and for hotel rooms.

Located near a major transport intersection, it will also play an important role in the reinvigoration of the former goods yard into a new business district clustered around this public transport hub.

This sustainable net-zero carbon in operation development responds to the climate emergency through adopting extensive energy efficiency measures and renewable energy strategies by virtue of a highly insulated built fabric, solar PV array, and air source heat pump (ASHP) low carbon heating system. The development is aiming for a minimum BREEAM Excellent rating, WIRED Platinum rating, Gold Smart Score and a NABERS minimum target of 5.

Located at a major transport hub close to Haymarket Station, the office proposal includes four parking spaces with electric vehicle charging capability and one accessible parking bay. The hotel is parking-free.

Commenting on this, Stamford Property Holdings Uri Goldberg said: “Our development will regenerate and intensify a current brownfield site in Edinburgh City Centre, meeting a significant demand for a new kind of workspace that is sustainable and enhances the wellbeing of occupiers, designed to be amongst the highest standards of ESG compliant developments coming forward.

“Addressing a growing demand for modern office workspaces in this historic city, this will help to retain and create jobs in the city centre.  Additionally, our hotel offering serves to address a clear need for bed spaces. This will allow people to work and stay in the city centre, supporting local businesses.

“Located at a key public transport hub at Haymarket, and with high-quality public realm on offer, this net-zero development will adopt extensive energy efficiency measures and renewable energy strategies, playing an important role in helping to achieve Edinburgh’s drive towards becoming a Net Zero city by 2030.

“We are keen to discuss the opportunities on offer with any potential occupiers.”

The offices are being marketed by Mike Irvine of Savills and Chris Dougray of CBRE.

Project Team

Architect – 7N Architects

Civil and Structures – Woolgar Hunter

Environmental Consultants, Acoustics and Air Quality – ITPEnergised

Sustainability and Building Services – Atelier Ten

Landscape Architect – OPEN

Planning Consultant – Scott Hobbs Planning

Project Manager – Edmond Shipway LLP

Transport – SWECO

About Stamford

Stamford is a real estate company specialising in regional mixed-use, office, residential, student and hotel development.

More traffic chaos looms: Haymarket Terrace to close until NOVEMBER

Yet more misery for businesses and residents

Haymarket Terrace will be temporarily closed eastbound from 3 April as part of a project to transform the area for people walking, wheeling and cycling. The road will be closed eastbound between its junctions with Rosebery Crescent and Magdala Crescent until November.

The traffic disruption is dreadful news for local traders who have already seen their trade hammered during the city council’s controversial City Centre West to East link (CCWEl) works. The work was planned to take seven months but has seriously overran and some businesses fear that the latest disruption could be the final straw.

The local gas network will be upgraded by SGN at the same time.

The Council has requested SGN divert a gas main to allow for City Centre West to East link (CCWEL) construction. SGN will carry out the necessary diversion and renewal of the gas main at the same time, to minimise disruption as much as possible. SGN’s work is scheduled to last 12 weeks, while CCWEL construction in the area is expected to finish in January 2024.

Haymarket Terrace will be closed eastbound between its junctions with Rosebery Crescent and Magdala Crescent until November 2023. A signed diversion route will be put in place for traffic travelling eastbound via Magdala Crescent, Eglinton Crescent, Palmerston Place, Lansdowne Crescent and Grosvenor Street. Temporary bus stops will be placed along this route.

Once complete, CCWEL will connect Roseburn to Leith Walk via Haymarket and the West End with a safe and direct cycle route, as well as significantly enhancing streets for those walking, wheeling and spending time there.

This will tie into a new George Street cycling route delivered as part of the George Street and First New Town project.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:In consultation with Lothian Buses, we’ve worked closely with SGN to make sure these two major projects are carried out together to reduce disruption as much as we can for residents, visitors and people travelling through the area.

“CCWEL is a landmark scheme for the city, providing a safe, welcoming route for all those travelling from the east to west by foot, wheel or bike, as well as transforming public spaces along the way to help support local businesses. Using funding from Sustrans to invest in active travel projects like this supports our net zero goals, boosts the local economy, and helps improve people’s health and wellbeing.

“I’d like to thank all those who live, work or run a business along the route for their patience as we carry out these improvements.”

SGN Project Manger Matthew Ferguson said: “Carrying out our gas main diversion and renewal work at this time will both allow the CCWEL project to progress and reduce disruption for the local community and commuters in future.

“Our work involves replacing our existing metal gas pipes with new plastic pipe, which will ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to the local area for many years to come.”

During the closure, eastbound bus stops will be relocated to Magdala Crescent and Grosvenor Street and the Haymarket taxi rank will be removed with alternative locations available nearby.

Information on bus diversions can be found on Lothian Buses’ website.

CCWEL is funded by Places for Everyone, an active travel infrastructure scheme backed by Transport Scotland and administered by Sustrans. Find out more about the CCWEL project.