Category: Newhaven

We LOVE our community!

Scottish groups receive special National Lottery 25th birthday funding to bring their great community ideas to life 

  • Scottish projects are among the lucky recipients of The National Lottery’s special 25th birthday fund
  • Minishant Social and Leisure Club in Ayrshire, Kinellar Community Hall in Aberdeenshire and Friends of Starbank Park in Edinburgh are amongst the groups spreading love in their communities and bringing people together
  • #CelebrateNationalLottery25 invited applications from anyone with a great idea to make a difference in their local community

last year’s event at Starbank Park

The National Lottery is using Valentine’s Day to reveal some of the local champions who love their community so much that they applied for a special grant to do something positive locally – and were successful.

Over 200 projects in Scotland will receive money from the fund – called #CelebrateNationalLottery25 – after they applied to the £2 million pot last December. Among them is local group Friends of Starbank Park.

The fund, which has now closed, invited applications from anyone with a great idea to make a difference in their local community. Up to £1,000 was available to them, showing that no individual or idea is too small to make a big difference and bring people together across the Scotland.

An award of £250 means that the Friends of Starbank Park will be able to organise a very special Cherry Blossom Picnic at the picturesque community park in North Edinburgh.

Graham Buckley said; “This brilliant funding from The National Lottery means that this year in May we can open up this even further by inviting groups of disadvantaged people from surrounding areas to join our annual Cherry Blossom picnic events.

“We hope that this will lead to these groups and individuals, especially the children, start using this unique park on a regular basis in the future.” 

An award of £1,000 to Minishant Social and Leisure Group means that the small village in South Ayrshire is able to host its first community gala for 20 years. 

Jackie Murray said: “This is amazing, we have little amenities here and we are extremely grateful to have received this money from The National Lottery to help us organise our Gala Day in June this year.

“As many of us who live here will remember this used to be such a highlight that everyone looked forward to each summer.  The money will be used to lease the grounds and buildings required, hire inflatables and the carriage for the king and queen.   Our Gala Day will see neighbours of all ages coming together to socialise and I can’t think of a better way to pull community spirits back together.”

In Aberdeenshire, Kinellar Community Hall receives £1,000 to organise a very special party for the local community which will celebrate the hall’s 15th birthday.

Kirsty Quin said: “What a wonderful way to celebrate our community hall’s birthday. We are having an afternoon tea party on 29 February with lots of entertainment and a performance from the local school choir.

“The hall is in the heart of our village and this event will be a very special way for the whole community to get together. Thanks so much from all the Kinellar Community Hall staff and board.”

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Director, Neil Ritch, said: “It’s fantastic to see people’s love for their communities inspiring them to use National Lottery funding to make great things happen – we’ve been blown away by all the great ideas.

“#CelebrateNationalLottery25 is supporting a wide variety of projects across Scotland this year, all bringing people together to show the impact that small grants can make.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £40 billion has been raised for good causes in the areas of arts, sport, heritage and community over the last 25 years.

#CelebrateNationalLottery25 is funded and delivered by The National lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

The #CelebrateNationalLottery25 fund marked the culmination of a major campaign by The National Lottery celebrating its impact over the past 25 years and thanking players for contributing £30 million to good causes every week.

The National Lottery Community Fund is responsible for giving out money raised by National Lottery players for good causes.  Last year it gave out over £36m of National Lottery funding to community projects across Scotland. Over 1291 projects benefitted from this, enabling people and communities to bring their ideas to life.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk   

Stylish waterfront brasserie to reel-in foodies

AN AMBITIOUS new venture is set to breathe life into a prominent historic site overlooking Newhaven Pier – at a location fast becoming one of Edinburgh’s foodie destinations.

Due to open in mid-February, Pier Brasserie will bring a warm, contemporary bar and brasserie into the former Prezzo, within the renowned old fishmarket building in Newhaven, overlooking the famous Newhaven Lighthouse and with views across the three famous Forth bridges.

It is the vision of Mark Patonyi, one of the city’s most-esteemed restaurant managers, with 13 years’ experience that includes helping launch and manage the front of house at Martin Wishart’s The Honours – and just under five years as manager of Steak Restaurant at Picardy Place.

Along with 15 staff, Steak’s former executive chef, Vladimir Garcik will head up the new kitchen, which will create seasonal, inclusive menus utilising top supplier relationships with the likes of Donald Russell butchers – and neighbours Welch’s fishmongers.

Mark, 36, has been at the heart of the £100,000+ transformation of the site, project managing each process to ensure they meet his exceptionally high standards – as well as hand-picking a 15-strong team.

He said: “We’re bringing something entirely bold and new to this striking location. It’s been a labour of love, but this is a prospect that truly excites me – and I want Pier Brasserie to quickly become a local gem that also encourages more people down to this beautiful part of the city.

“Everything we’re doing is about honesty and inclusivity, with a bar suitable for lovers of fine beers wines, a date-night drink, as well as being a spot that families can feel entirely at ease.

“It’s important to me that our food will be good value, high quality and gimmick-free – so that we can become a welcoming spot for all, from vegans and vegetarians, to seafood lovers and steak aficionados.

“We’re fortunate to have some amazing foodie neighbours around us too, who have also been charmed by this quirky old fishmarket building – as well as a view that is hard to beat!”

Mark is inspired by the famous Newhaven fishwives that thronged the Pier Place building, which dates back to 1896. Famed for their sharp-tongues and quick wits, they established a strong, vibrant community.

He added: “We’re proud to use the finest Scottish ingredients which have been farmed, caught, raised or bred in Scotland and we’re passionate about supporting businesses in our local area and the community on a whole.”

The new spot will fit in excess of 70 covers and has a separate bar area with the design focused around natural tones and exposed materials, creating a warm shelter from which to admire the expansive Forth.

In the summer, it will be able to utilise the outside decking, creating a cosmopolitan experience for diners and drinkers.

A private dining area will also enable Pier Brasserie to take larger bookings for special occasions and corporate dinners.

For more information about Pier Brasserie or to get first sight of the new menu when it launches, visit: https://www.pierbrasserie.com/ or follow us on Facebook @pierbrasserie and Instagram @pierbrasserie

Police seek two men following Bonnington Road assault

Police have released CCTV images of two men they wish to speak to as they believe they may be able to assist with their enquiries in relation to an incident during which a man was assaulted and required hospital treatment. The incident took place at around 11.20pm on Saturday 23 November, on Bonnington Road.

Continue reading Police seek two men following Bonnington Road assault

Council ‘doing as much as we can’ to support Leith businesses during latest trams disruption

Cargo bikes to support deliveries and special vouchers for local shops are part of a £2.4m package of Support for Business measures helping local traders along the Trams to Newhaven route.

A Trams to Newhaven cargo bike

 

Work started in Constitution Street and Leith Walk on 18 November and the Council’s Trams to Newhaven project team has been working very closely with local traders to maintain the appeal and vibrancy of the area.  Continue reading Council ‘doing as much as we can’ to support Leith businesses during latest trams disruption

Local MSP calls on shoppers to support businesses on Constitution Street affected by tram work disruption

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, 7 DECEMBER

Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson has called on Leithers and people across the city to support the excellent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants that are open throughout the tram works on Constitution Street.

The local MSP is encouraging people to visit Constitution Street and Bernard Street on ‘Small Business Saturday’ (7 December), and throughout the tram works, to enjoy all that the businesses have on offer. Continue reading Local MSP calls on shoppers to support businesses on Constitution Street affected by tram work disruption

Showdown at Sundown at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop

SATURDAY 30th NOVEMBER

3pm – 5.30pm. Free, no need to book

Join us on the 30 November 3.00 – 5.30pm to celebrate the year’s end. Following on from the success of last year, on the 30th of November we will be running Showdown at Sundown, the 2nd ESW annual winter event.

There will be a chance to see the work of our artists as they open the doors of their studios, performances, a screening of Juliana Capes’ film Sunset Reports, artist-made games, a workshop and a smoke firing in the courtyard and the opening of the new exhibition, Display Copy, in the Hawthornvale Space. There will be winter themed refreshments provided by MILK and the event will be finished off with drinks and music from Karate Priest.

https://edinburghsculpture.org/whats-on/showdown-at-sundown/https://edinburghsculpture.org/whats-on/showdown-at-sundown/

Labour launch North & Leith general election campaign

Scottish Labour and Co-operative party candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, Gordon Munro, launched his campaign at The Prentice Centre in Granton Mains Avenue yesterday. 

The launch was attended by members, activists and supporters who then started out on the campaign trail, canvassing and speaking to local people about the issues that matter in this election (see below).   Continue reading Labour launch North & Leith general election campaign