Tag: food and drink

Pubs to stay open late as England bid to ‘bring football home’

Pub and bar licensing hours extended tonight after England reach the final of the UEFA European Football Championship

TONIGHT (Sunday 14 July), pubs and bars across England and Wales can keep their doors open until 1am as England bid to become champions of Europe, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed.

Following the Three Lions’ emphatic (Eh? – Never a penalty! – Ed.) semi-final win on Wednesday night, the team is set to go head to head with Spain in the final of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.

The heavyweight clash will kick off at 8pm, with fans up and down the country coming together to show their support.

Pub licensing hours can be relaxed to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, meaning pubs and bars will be able to stay open for an extra 2 hours tonight.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We’re so proud of Gareth Southgate and the England team. It’s right that we can all come together tomorrow to enjoy the match and—do we dare to dream?!—hopefully celebrate an England victory.

“I want to pay special thanks to the police officers and first responders who will be working across communities to keep us safe.

“I look forward to getting behind all our brilliant players, who bring so much pride to our country, and I want to wish the team the best of luck. Let’s bring it home.”

As well as bringing fans together for longer, tomorrow night’s extension is due to be a welcomed boost to the hospitality industry.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “As with the semi-finals, pubs will be licensed to stay open until 1am on Sunday night and thanks to the Home Office for making the changes to the licensing rules for allowing this to happen. 

“The changes give fans even more time to enjoy the game, support our pubs and hopefully celebrate football finally coming home. 

“Fans have shown us resoundingly this tournament that there is no better place to watch our teams and soak up the atmosphere than the great British pub. This Sunday the BBPA urges everyone to get down their local, support our pubs and get behind the boys. Come on England!”

UK Hospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The Euros have provided a huge boost for hospitality businesses this summer, as fans pack pubs, bars and fan zones to come together and cheer on the home nations.

The extended licensing hours for the final will allow venues and fans to take advantage of the occasion, and hopefully celebrate an historic England win.”

IN THE INTEREST OF BALANCE IT’S ONLY FAIR TO SAY THAT NOT EVERYONE IN THE BRITISH ISLES IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ‘AN HISTORIC ENGLAND WIN’:

MAY the best – and not just the luckiest – team win tonight! – Ed.

COSMO Edinburgh reopens today

First look as Edinburgh multi-cuisine restaurant COSMO Authentic World Kitchen unveils stunning refurbishment as it sets to reopen this Saturday, 13th July from 12 noon: 

The restaurant, recently named Best Restaurant in Scotland by The Golden Chopsticks Awards, co-founded by Gok Wan, has recently undergone an impressive eight-week makeover, enhancing its luxurious ambiance with modern, stylish decor and furnishings.

COSMO Edinburgh, renowned for elevating the buffet dining experience, now boasts an inviting atmosphere filled with contrasting textures and tones. Guests will be guided through a world of flavours by an innovative lighting system and elegant marble counters.

For added comfort, the restaurant features plush leather booth seating, large stand-out wall projections, and a mix of dark and light oak shelving that offers private dining areas.

Conveniently located in the Omni Centre on Greenside Row, COSMO World Kitchen’s extensive menu showcases a diverse array of global dishes, ensuring every palate is catered for.

From Asian stir-fries and sushi to Italian pasta and American BBQ, COSMO’s all-you-can-eat buffet promises a culinary adventure for the entire family. The live food theatre, featuring Teppanyaki stations, adds to the excitement, with food freshly prepared and cooked to customers’ preferences.

Taking inspiration from the most extravagant five-star hotel buffets worldwide, the Tasting Kitchen offers a tour de force of the globe’s most popular dishes served on small plates. Diners can savour delights such as chilli con carne, tandoori chicken, and salt and chilli hash browns, making it the perfect opportunity to explore new dishes and cuisines. 

Kan Koo, Partner at COSMO, said: “We are excited to reveal our newly refurbished restaurant to the people of Edinburgh.

“Our goal was to create a luxurious yet comfortable dining environment that continues to elevate the buffet experience for the full family. We can’t wait to welcome our guests this weekend as a world of flavours awaits.”

COSMO delivers high-quality fare, world buffet style, offering Continental menus, Carvery, House of Spice, small plates Tasting Kitchen and Deli style food, alongside their East and South East Asian menus and reopens this Saturday, 13 July from 12 noon. 

Follow COSMO on social: 

@cosmorestaurants

Find out more or book a table at: 

www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants 

Morrisons Gyle fights holiday hunger

Morrisons Gyle has announced that it will continue to support its local community by joining the national effort to help prevent holiday hunger this summer.

Morrisons Community Champion Tess at Edinburgh Gyle donated £200 to Community One Stops Shop and Space at The Broomhouse Hub to help towards their free breakfast and free lunch for kids, to support families and children in the community and to tackle holiday hunger this summer. 

It was our pleasure to donate £100 to our friends at Community One Stop Shop and £100 to Space at The Broomhouse Hub. Community One Stop Shop are offering free breakfast packs, and Space at The Broomhouse Hub are offering free lunches to children. Tess met with Willie from Community One Stop Shop on Monday to hand over the donations.

Morrisons stores across the country will support school holiday activity programmes – arranged by local schools, community groups and HAF (the Holiday Activities and Food Programme), by donating £100,000 of food across the UK this summer. 

To help those in need, Morrisons already has its in-store Food Bank ‘Pick Up Pack’ scheme which allows customers to purchase a bag filled with a mix of products which are distributed to local food banks and community organisations by the in-store Community Champions. 

To find out more about the work being done by your local Morrisons community champion please visit: https://www.facebook.com/GyleCommunityChampion/

LIFTFEST

17 JULY FROM 12 – 4pm at AT MUIRHOUSE MILLENNIUM CENTRE

Liftfest was the idea of our fab volunteers Tyler, Stacey and Wendy – they organised everything from asking for donations, organising the band, wee singer, DJ, and food donations.

Everything will be priced cheaply and affordable.

There will be table sales in the hall and lots going on outside

We would like to be able to supply the kids with either free cartons of juice or free diluting juice so if any nice person wants to donate cartons of juice or diluting juice and cups we would really appreciate it.

This has al been organised on a very low budget as everyone knows money is tight but the volunteers wanted to have something in Muirhouse for the families, the kids and their community.

Well done everyone involved in planning this day

I’m dreading to see what they have planned for me but whatever it is I’m sure they will all enjoy taking the mick out off the CEO!

Look forward to seeing you all on the 17th July.

Pauline N Bowie MBE

CAMRA: Pints of View Summer issue

The latest issue of our CAMRA branch magazine Pints of View (number 82, summer 2024) is now being distributed around pubs in South East Scotland.

It contains news of pubs and breweries in SE Scotland along with general articles that may be of interest 

The magazine is available on line via the Issue reader.

OR

Can be downloaded NOW as a PDF (10MB) from https://edinburgh.camra.org.uk/dl.php?id=222840

POV82Download

Local Care Home hosts Open Day

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Queens Manor on Queensferry Road to enjoy an Open Day held at the home on Friday 21st June 2024.

Queens Manor hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including a tasty BBQ prepared by their hospitality team, musical entertainment, pet therapy and even a surprise visit from a local ice cream van, which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event.

Staff at Queens Manor made everyone feel welcome and were delighted to see different generations having fun together. Visitors enjoyed plenty of refreshments and fun, such as burgers, hot beverages and tasty trifle prepared by the catering team, who were hard at work making sure that a great time was had by all, as well as furry visits from Doc, Frank & Elvis and musical entertainment from Margo the Butterfly singer – it really was a team effort from all!

Resident, Jean Gillies, said, “I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was surrounded by lots of great people, and the refreshments & fun kept flowing into the afternoon. The weather held out until we finished.

“Staff did a great job, not just on the day, but organising the event and getting everyone together. The entertainment was amazing – from the dogs and guineapigs, to the singer and a special shout out to the ice cream man! the van took me back to times I spent with my family at the beach all enjoying 99’s!”

Shannon Cullen, Senior Head of Lifestyle & Enrichment at the home, said: “Staff at Queens Manor are dedicated to making sure that the home is a hub of the local community and residents, and this event, along with all their hard work, has definitely paid off.

“It was a resounding success, with everyone having a great time!”

Queens Manor care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. 

Queens Manor Care Home provides residential care and dementia care for 60 residents from respite care to long term stays.

Market stall returns to Lauriston Farm

THURSDAY 27th JUNE from 4.30 – 6pm

The Market Stall is back and even better for 2024, starting tomorrow – Thursday 27th June – from 4:30-6pm at the community entrance behind the Toby Carvery car park.

As well as fresh veg picked straight from the Market Garden, we will have even more #NorthEdinburgh produce on offer …

British Summer Sports Afternoon Tea at The Caledonian Edinburgh

Celebrate the spirit of British summer sports with The Caledonian Edinburgh’s latest afternoon tea, featuring a variety of innovative sandwiches such as Squash, Chilli & Coconut Quiche; Hoisin Duck Crème Fraîche Wrap; and Steelhead Smoked Trout & Pear Chutney.

The pastry chefs have hit it out of the park with selections including the baseball Yogurt & Mango Compote Macaron; football Mint Buttercream & Lime Ganache Battenberg; and tennis Coconut Paste & White Chocolate Crunch Pepite – for sport fans and pastry lovers alike.

Standing proudly at the West End of Princes Street, this former Victorian railway building hotel nestles in the shadow of the imposing Edinburgh Castle. Its reputation for style and excellence has attracted generations of locals, internationals, and notable personalities for over one hundred years.

Formerly the station concourse and ticket office, The Lounge represents the historic heart of the Caley – the perfect setting for an unforgettable afternoon tea. 

The British Summer Sports afternoon tea is available in The Lounge, The Caledonian Edinburgh daily from 12:30 – 4pm. Gluten free, vegan, and children’s menus are also available. The menu can be viewed here.

Bookings can be made by emailing dining@edinburghcaledonian.com or calling the reservations team directly at 0131 222 8832.

Sky’s the limit with the capital’s latest rooftop cocktail bar

Following on from the success of their pop-up bar two years’ ago, Skyline Sips is returning to level 5, St James Quarter, Edinburgh on Tuesday 25th June 2024.

The rooftop bar is set to offer a range of drinks, including some exciting and exclusive Chambord cocktails and promises breath-taking vistas towards Edinburgh’s historic Calton Hill. 

Skyline Sips will also be offering customers hot food and snacks, in partnership with the neighbouring Everyman Cinema.

Situated between Everyman Cinema and Roomzzz Aparthotels, Skyline Sips will be open every day until 8th September 2024.

Michael Donovan, Managing Director, Sips said: “This is our second time up on the roof at St James Quarter. We were here back in 2022 and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. We’re delighted to be back and look forward to a busy summer. 

“The feedback we received in 2022 was very positive and we can’t wait to be part of Edinburgh’s bar scene once again. Whether it’s after-work drinks, groups of friends getting together or a romantic date night, we hope that Skyline Sips will become a firm favourite this summer.”

Established in 2016, Sips is an Edinburgh based pop-up bar company that has operated bars at festivals and events including the Royal Highland Show, Fly Festival, Musselburgh Racecourse and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Aldi to distribute two tonnes of samples at this year’s Royal Highland Show

Visitors to the Aldi marquee can try a range of products this weekend, from Scotch Sirloin Steak to Specially Selected Scottish Tablet

Aldi is set to distribute almost two tonnes of food samples at this year’s Royal Highland Show as it showcases the very best of its Scottish suppliers.

The retailer’s giant marquee will return to Avenue O (30) with 23 suppliers from around the country including Angus Soft Fruits, Brownings the Bakers, and Aldomak.

Aldi has predicted it will give away:

  • 216 litres of ice cream, with flavours such as Belgian chocolate and creamy Madagascan vanilla.
  • Over 35,000 strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
  • Over a tonne of beef products, including Scotch 30-day sirloin steak and Scotch quarter pounders
  • Over 500kg of sweet treats, including handmade Scottish fudge and caramel shortcake.
  • 80kgs of haggis.

There will also be beer samples from Fierce Beer and Williams Brothers Brewing, giving visitors a sneak peek of what to expect at the retailer’s upcoming Summer Beer Festival, which launches on Thursday 27 June.

Now in its 202nd year, the Royal Highland Show (20-23 June) is a celebration of the country’s best food, farming and rural life, with crowds of 200,000 expected.

Aldi will be returning to Scotland’s biggest outdoor event as it celebrates its 30th year in Scotland, having opened its first store in Kilmarnock in 1994.

Graham Nicolson, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “We are very proud of the strong relationships that we have built with our Scottish suppliers. Thanks to these relationships, we will have one of our biggest sampling years yet at the Royal Highland Show, the ideal event to showcase the fantastic quality of produce available right here in Scotland.

“I am very grateful to our network of suppliers who are supporting us at this year’s event.  I encourage everyone attending the show to visit our marquee and try our Scottish range for themselves; I guarantee they won’t be disappointed.”

You can find your nearest Aldi store here.