Tag: cafe

Scran Café celebrates one year of impact at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People

Today marks one year since the opening of Scran Café at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP), the largest café operated by youth-led social enterprise Scran Academy.

In just 12 months, the café has become a valued and welcoming space for patients, families, NHS staff and visitors, while creating life-changing opportunities for young people across Edinburgh through real-life enterprise experience and Scran Academy’s youth programmes.

This year the café has made over 33,758 meals and 15,305 coffees, welcoming more than 37,540 customers, that’s over 200 NHS staff, patients and family members served each day, who are supporting Scran Academy’s mission to see every young person, regardless of background or barrier, realise their full potential in learning, work and life.

The RHCYP café represents this mission in action. Since opening, it has provided 8  young people with Living Wage employment, alongside work placements and volunteering opportunities, with young people making up the majority of the café team.

For many, it is their first experience of paid employment, giving them the chance to develop workplace skills, confidence and independence in a busy healthcare environment.

This impact has resulted in the café team gaining national recognition, with Scran Café becoming a finalist at the National Youth Work Awards 2026.

Reflecting on their first year, the young team at RHCYP shared: “Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. We are also thankful to all the people who made this possible, who have been leading and supporting us in this newly opened space.

“We have also built great friendships along the way, and we are so proud of what we have created.”

Founder and Chair of Scran Academy, John Loughton BEM, said: “This year we’ve watched young people graft, grow in confidence and build something pretty special.

“Yet again, they proved what I believe to my core: Back young people and they will amaze you.

“To NHS Lothian, our customers, partners and every person who has championed us this year, thank you for believing in young people with us.”

Scran Academy launches new youth-led café at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People

North Edinburgh-based social enterprise Scran Academy has announced the official opening of its exciting new youth empowerment café at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) – the New Sick Kids.  

Scran Academy is an Edinburgh youth work social enterprise on a mission to help young people realise their full potential in learning, work and life. Set within the Edinburgh children’s hospital, the new Scran Café is a key milestone in its drive to open doors for young people in the region.  

Building on four successful years running a popular café at NHS Lothian’s Comely Bank site, Scran Academy’s new café at RHCYP will provide employment and support for dozens of young people across Lothian, giving them opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop valuable skills, and grow in confidence within a supportive work environment.

Initially employing six young people, the site will also provide a platform for hundreds of work placements and paid jobs. 

The RHCYP offers world-class healthcare facilities for children and adults both locally and nationally with 600,000 staff, patients and visitors coming through its doors every year. 

The bright youth-led space at Scran Café has been thoughtfully designed to offer a calm and comforting environment for both patients and their families navigating a hospital stay as well as staff taking a break from a busy shift. 

Commenting on the opening, Will Bain, CEO of Scran Academy said: “Getting the keys to our Scran Café at the RHCYP is such huge step for us! We’ve got big plans to make this a brilliant, buzzing youth-led hub that brings young people’s voices and choices to life. 

“Over the next 3 years our café at the RHCYP will provide work and training for over two hundred young staff and volunteers. Every one of these young people will access the opportunities, relationships and experiences needed to help them build their own futures.  

 “We’ve demonstrated our model through our partnership with NHS Lothian in the Comely Bank Centre, where we see dozens of young people step out of their café experiences proud, capable and ready for what’s next. Now we are ready to step it up a gear – and we are so excited to be doing it at the RHCYP, one of the most important places in our city.” 

Aris Tyrothoulakis, Service Director for Women’s and Children’s at NHS Lothian said: ”We are thrilled to be welcoming Scran Café to RHCYP this summer. For our hard-working teams, patients and families alike, the new café will offer a bright and welcoming space to take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the hospital.  

“NHS Lothian is proud to be an Anchor Institution. Our mission to deliver world class health and social care is complemented by our desire to make our buildings and service delivery work in ways that support community wealth building and stable, secure employment.

“Building on our partnership with Scran Academy’s successful café at our Comely Bank site, we look forward to working together to increase access to fair work opportunities for young people in the region.” 

Councillor Jane Meagher said “What makes Scran and this cafe unique, is that they really live the principle that every young person has the potential, and the power, to thrive when given the right support. The young staff team here today are shaping their own futures. 

“This is exactly the kind of innovative model we want to champion in Edinburgh, where employability goes hand-in-hand with wellbeing, and where young people are supported not just to work, but to feel happy, valued and confident while doing so. 

“I am especially proud to know that Scran is fully integrated into the Council’s Accredited Pathways Framework for Schools, which means they are a key delivery partner in offering meaningful learning routes that equips young people right across Edinburgh with real-life experience, accredited training, and a strong sense of purpose.” 

Cafe reopens at Portrait Gallery

Have you heard the exciting news? Café Portrait is open again with a fresh new look!🎉

Join us for a quick bite or a leisurely brunch in The Nook, our new and tranquil dining space. Enjoy signature dishes prepared right in our kitchen, inspired by the beautiful Portrait gallery’s artworks.

The menu will include delicious food made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, with everything prepared onsite. Under the guidance of Head Chef Alec, new signature dishes have been crafted, inspired by the gallery’s artwork.

One standout from The Nook’s menu is the Smokie Hash, a vibrant dish of smoked haddock, sweet potato hash, poached egg, wilted kale, spinach, grilled vine tomato, and cava beurre blanc.

It’s inspired by John Bellany’s Queen Street Café painting, which hangs in the Café and prominently features fish.

We’ve missed you, and we’re excited to welcome you back from 10am-4:30pm, daily. See you soon!

📷Roddy Scott Photography

Edinburgh cafe offers warm space to people with sight loss

A cafe run by national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland at its Edinburgh base in Hillside Crescent is extending its opening hours to offer a warm space to blind and partially sighted people during weekdays, from 10am to 4pm.

Jane Coates, the charity’s community connection manager, said: “We’re very conscious that many people with sight loss might be particularly hard hit by the cost of living crisis. So we want to do our bit to offer a safe, accessible and friendly environment where they can socialise.”

Other members of the public are also welcome to drop in to purchase hot drinks and snacks between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

At present, however, payment can only be made by card or phone.

Winner Winner, Weekday Dinner

Morrisons Introduces Evening Meals for Under a Fiver in its Cafés

– Customers can get an evening meal and a drink for just £4.99 –

– Menu rotates each day and includes roast chicken, a British beef burger and the ultimate fish & chips –

– Kids eat free so a family of four can enjoy a meal for under £10 –

Morrisons is introducing a ‘meal of the day’ for under a fiver to its cafés nationwide. Every weekday from 3pm, a ‘Daily Special’ will be discounted, offering a saving of up to £3.89 on the individual product price.

The meal on offer will rotate each day and customers can choose from British roast chicken served with chips and coleslaw, a hearty chicken tikka masala, a 9-piece breakfast brunch, a succulent British cheeseburger served with chips and coleslaw and the ultimate beer-battered fish and chips. The offer includes a drink and vegetarian alternatives are also available.

Each of these Morrisons classics will be priced at just £4.99, making them cheaper than the same evening meals at Wetherspoons, Harvester and Beefeater.

What’s more, kids can now eat free all day with the purchase of any adult meal meaning a family of four can enjoy a meal out together for just £9.98.

Ali Lyons, Head of Morrisons Cafés, says: “We know how hard it is for our customers at the moment and we want to make sure they are still able to enjoy a meal out, even on a budget.

“We’ve handpicked these favourites so that no matter what day it is, our customers can enjoy a saving.”

Morrisons £4.99 offer will be available in its 406 cafés nationwide after 3pm every weekday.

The ‘Daily Specials’ on offer are:

Monday·       Roast Chicken served with Chips & Coleslaw or·       Cheese & Onion Quiche served with Chips & Coleslaw 
Tuesday·       Chicken Tikka Masala or·       Mac ‘n’ Cheese 
Wednesday·       Breakfast Brunch or·       Full Vegetarian Breakfast 
Thursday·       Cheeseburger served with Chips & Coleslaw  or·       Vegetarian burger served with Chips & Coleslaw 
Friday ·       Ultimate Fish & Chips

GRUBS UP at Morrisons!

Feed the family for a tenner this Half Term

– Includes two adult meals, two kids’ meals and four drinks – 

– Offers customers up to £13 in savings –

– Deal running now and all through February half term –

Morrisons has launched a ‘Feed the Family’ offer for just £10 in its cafés nationwide.

It includes two adult mains, two kids’ mains and four drinks and means savvy parents can save up to £13 compared to the usual cost of the meals. 

The deal is available now and will be running throughout February half term to help families stretch their budgets and dine out together. 

Adults can choose from a range of café favourites including hand-battered fish and chips, lasagne, jacket potatoes and burgers as well as drinks such as soft drinks or coffee. For the kids, the offer includes smaller portions of chicken nuggets or macaroni cheese along with drinks such as Tropicana or milk. Children will also receive a piece of fruit and a snack alongside their main meals. 

Loved-up couples can also get a Valentine’s biscuit and coffee deal for £2.50 in the cafés and our new BREW coffee bars. 

Ali Lyons, Head of Cafés at Morrisons, says: “This great offer comes at a time when our customers really need it. For the price of one main at a high-street restaurant, you can feed your whole family of four. 

“We’re also running it throughout the February half term to help families stretch their budgets.”

Morrisons Feed the Family offer is available in all our 406 cafés nationwide until Sunday 27th February and the offer will be automatically applied on paying.

For more information visit: https://my.morrisons.com/blog/food/new-cafe-menu/ 

Morrisons brings back the 15-piece Ultimate Breakfast

– The Ultimate Breakfast is back on the menu after feedback from customers –

– It has bacon, sausages, fried egg, mushrooms, tomato, black pudding, hash browns, beans and fried bread –

– Other customer favourites coming back include the Prawn Mayo Sandwich and Mini Fish & Chips –

A selection of customer favourites are making a return to the Morrisons Café menu this week, including The Ultimate Breakfast. 

The 15-piece fry up is available all day and includes three large sausages, two bacon rashers, a fried egg, two flat mushrooms, a griddled tomato half as well as two black pudding slices, two hash browns, Heinz beans and a slice of fried bread cut in half.  What’s more, it costs just £6.95.

Other winter warmers making a comeback include our Mini Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash and Sausage, Egg, Chips & Heinz beans.  The smaller café classics all cost £4.50 and are available all day. 

Our Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwich is also back by popular demand.  For an additional £1.00, customers can now add a portion of chips to their sandwich orders as well as to other main meals such as salads, pies or pizzas.

This week also sees our takeaway Afternoon Tea reduced from £12.00 to £10.00, including the festive option.  It includes a selection of sandwiches, cakes and mince pies that are served with British clotted cream – all served with proper Yorkshire Tea.

If it’s just a hot drink you’re after, then you can now order a coffee and cake for £3.00 or simply add a muffin to your drinks order for just £1.00.

In addition, kids can also eat free all day everyday when an adult meal over £4.50 is purchased.

Our Christmas menu is currently available with a wide range of breakfast and lunch options including our Christmas Turkey Lunch with all the trimmings for just £5. Succulent hand carved Morrisons Deli turkey is served with roast potatoes, creamy mash, carrots, brussel sprouts, stuffing, yorkshire pudding, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Ali Lyons, Morrisons Head of Café, said: “This week we’re bringing back by popular demand some of the items from our menu that customers have told us they are missing, particularly our 15 piece Ultimate Breakfast as well as a selection of smaller dishes. 

“We’re also making it easy to add some extras to your orders such as a portion of chips to a main meal or a cake or muffin to a hot drink.”

To help customers in the run up to Christmas, we’re also offering £5 main meals on a selected number of delicious Morrisons café dishes.

Customer favourites include our Best Beef Burger which is stacked in our The Best Brioche Bun with cheese, salad and burger or a Crispy Chicken Burger using Market Street succulent chicken.

For pie lovers there’s our Market Street Chunky Steak Pie which is served with creamy mash, mushy peas and piping hot gravy. Our Full Breakfast is also available in this offer too.

For more information on our cafés, please visit: 

https://my.morrisons.com/blog/food/new-cafe-menu/

Earth in Common: Croft Coorie-in

We’re so excited to introduce our first “Croft Coorie-in”, coming Saturday 30th October – 11am-4pm!

The Croft Coorie-in is a new exciting community day hosted by Earth In Common on Leith Community Croft.

We want to create a warm inviting space to come together and embrace our community for a better and more just future for all!

Come and warm yourselves up at our Coorie-in where you’ll find: environmental workshops, a craft corner for carving pumpkins and making placards for COP26, flea market stalls, local organisations discussing their work, and a film screening of “NOT WITHOUT US” by @takeoneaction

#COP26

#coorie

#cooriein

#leith

#leithcommunitycroft

#notwithoutusmovie

Kids eat free in Morrisons all summer long

This summer, Morrisons is letting kids eat free in its cafes all day, every day.

Throughout the summer holidays, with every adult meal over £4.50, customers can also get a kid’s meal absolutely free.

The deal is available at Morrisons cafes nationwide and will run throughout the summer holidays to help parents get more value for money during breakfast, lunch or dinner.  

Salads, fish & chips, pies, burgers, and pizzas are all available for the adult meal with mac ‘n’ cheese, fish goujons, sandwich boxes and more available on the kids’ menu. Each kids’ meal also includes a piece of fruit and a drink.

Ali Lyons, Head of Cafes at Morrisons said: “We know that feeding the whole family during the summer holidays can quickly add up and so we’re pleased to be running our Kids Eat Free All Day deal.  

“We recently introduced a brand-new menu and have invested heavily in coronavirus safety measures such as screens and our contactless ‘Order & Pay’ app. 

“This means that whether you are popping into your local Morrison’s to do some grocery shopping or passing by one on a day-out you’ll have a safe and cost-effective option when thinking about ways to feed the children.”

Kids Eat Free All Day is currently live and will run until 5th September. The offer only applies when any one adult meal with a value of £4.50 or over is purchased.

For more information and to see the cafe menu, visit: 

my.morrisons.com/blog/food/new-cafe-menu/