Come along on Monday to our breakfast cafe, 9 – 10:30am – a great way to get the kids out and start off the summer holidays, with plenty of breakfast options for everyone!
We have beautiful gardens here that the young ones can play in afterwards, including the football/basketball dome, and there’s plenty of space for you to relax and take in all the beautiful flowers blooming.
We also have a lovely summery lunch planned, from 11:30am – 12:30pm. Italian Sausage Stew with Garlicky Mash, followed by Apple Pie for dessert!
The Monday Cafe is open to everyone, and all meals are free; a small donation is appreciated if you are able.
Please share to spread the word and help keep the centre busy this summer!
The Old Chain Pier, one of Edinburgh’s most iconic pubs, is celebrating a historic milestone following the implementation of the new Scottish Pubs Code. The landmark legislation, which gives pub owners the right to request a rent-only agreement without being tied to a pub-owning business for stock supply, has empowered the venue to break free from restrictive purchasing obligations.
This newfound independence means the historic pub can stock a wider, more exciting range of beers and permanently slash the price of its house lager to just £5 a pint, as well as reduce the price of all its beers.
To mark the occasion, The Old Chain Pier is hosting a massive, week-long celebration from Monday, 29th June to Sunday, 5th July. Throughout the entire week, all pints poured at the pub will be reduced to just £5. As part of the celebration The Old Chain Pier will also hand over its beer garden to three of Edinburgh’s finest local breweries, with free pints up for grabs.
The victory arrives at a critical time for the local hospitality sector. Edinburgh’s pubs and restaurants are currently navigating unprecedented financial pressures including high VAT, soaring business rates, road closures, rising Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC), and the highest local authority charges in Europe for outdoor tables and chairs.
Against this challenging backdrop, the Scottish Pubs Code provides a much-needed lifeline, finally allowing venues like The Old Chain Pier to operate fairly and pass those savings directly to customers and sell pints at true market prices.
January Watson, Area Manager for Malt Group, said: “The Scottish Pubs Code has been a massive relief for us. Operating in Edinburgh’s hospitality sector is incredibly tough right now with mounting taxes, rates, and the highest table and chair charges in Europe.
“Being able to step away from tied stock means we finally have the freedom to curate our own beer selection, support brilliant local breweries, and pass those savings directly on to our loyal customers with £5 pints.”
The week-long party promises fun for the whole family, two-legged and four-legged alike. Guests who book a table to dine from Monday, 29th June through Thursday, 2nd July will receive 20% off their food bill.
All week long, the pub’s famous beer garden will be transformed into a playground featuring giant Jenga, hopscotch, quoits, and cornhole. Additional festivities running throughout the week include live music performances, free face painting for all ages, and a pet fancy dress competition.
As the week progresses, Stewart Brewing Beer (Friday 3rd July), Newbarns Brewery (Saturday 4th July) and Campervan Brewery (Sunday 5th July) will take over the beer garden with free pints for the first 20 customers, complete with a garden BBQ serving up hot dogs, chicken kebabs, and more from 6:00 pm each evening.
More events and surprises for the week are still to be confirmed. Customers are encouraged to keep an eye on the pub’s website and social media channels for the latest updates.
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you tomorrow. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and a delicious pudding.
What’s on the menu today:
Broccoli soup
Mexican beef stew with rice
Veggie haggis curry with rice
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens.
And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out!
Scotland’s next World Cup clash is set to deliver a major boost to pubs across the country, with an estimated 520,000 extra pints expected to be sold for Friday night’s match against Morocco – worth around £2.6 million to the trade, analysis by the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA).
The forecast follows a strong showing for Scotland’s opening match against Haiti, which is estimated by the SBPA and Oxford Partnership to have driven sales of at least 380,000 extra pints, worth around £1.9 million to pubs and bars across Scotland.
While Scotland’s opening game against Haiti kicked off at 2am BST on Sunday morning, Friday’s match against Morocco starts at a far more pub-friendly 11pm BST, giving licensees a significantly better opportunity to benefit from the occasion.
Paul Togneri, from the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said: “Scotland’s return to the World Cup has given pubs a much-needed welcome boost, with early indications suggesting at least 380,000 extra pints were sold for the Haiti game despite the 2am kick-off.
“It’s an incredible result following an incredible match.
“With Friday night’s clash against Morocco starting at a much more pub-friendly 11pm we expect an even bigger boost, with over half a million extra pints to be poured in pubs and bars across the country.
“That would be worth upwards of £2.6 million to the trade, which is hugely welcome for venues still battling high costs.
“If you can’t be in Boston, there’s no better place than the pub. We’d urge supporters to get down to their local, back the team and cheer Scotland on together.”
From horse and cart deliveries in Bridge of Allan to a twenty-first century tram in Scotland’s capital, Graham’s Family Dairy is celebrating more than 80 years of family heritage with the launch of a newly wrapped Edinburgh tram ahead of this year’s Royal Highland Show.
The tram, which is now running across the capital in Graham’s Family Dairy branding, will transport passengers directly to the Royal Highland Show and other big events this summer. It marks the latest chapter in the story of the family dairy business that began with just 12 cows and doorstep milk deliveries in the 1930s.
Today, Graham’s Family Dairy has grown into Scotland’s largest independent dairy, producing more than 70 different products and flavours across its range and delivering dairy products from Shetland to the Isle of Wight, as well as exporting to destinations like Dubai, Hong Kong and the Bahamas.
While the business has evolved dramatically over the decades, the new tram campaign celebrates the same family values and farming heritage that remain at the core of the company today.
At the heart of the campaign is Graham’s Family Dairy’s Chairman, Dr Robert Graham – who at 85 years old has built an unlikely following and string of viral videos on TikTok by educating a younger audience on all things agriculture.
Carol, Dr Robert, Jean and Robert Graham in front of the Grahams Family Dairy farm house in Bridge of Allen, Stirling.
Dr Robert Graham, Chairman at Graham’s Family Dairy said: “When I was growing up, the business was built around local milk rounds and knowing every customer personally.
“Everything was done by hand, and deliveries went out by horse and cart from Bridge of Allan. To now see Graham’s Family Dairy travelling through Scotland’s capital on a tram really shows how far the business has come over the generations – what I’m even prouder of though is that we’ve kept that family feel engrained in everything we do.
“Back then we were simply producing milk from a small herd of cows. Today, we make everything from milk and cream to cottage cheese, kefir, butter, yoghurt and protein products. Every one of those products represents another step in the journey of the business and another example of how we’ve adapted to what customers are looking for while staying true to our farming heritage.
“What makes this year’s Royal Highland Show that bit more exciting for us is the opportunity to showcase the whole Graham’s Family Dairy range in one place. From the milk and cream that built the business to newer products like cottage cheese and our protein range, it tells the story of how we’ve grown from a small family dairy into the business we are today.”
Carol, Robert and Dr Robert Graham on the Grahams Family Dairy farm in Bridge of Allen, Stirling.
Starting with just 12 cows, Graham’s Family Dairy now has approximately 170 vehicles at its disposal supplying retailers, cafes and customers across the UK, while continuing to invest in Scottish producers, innovation and traditional dairy farming.
Graham’s Family Dairy has grown through three generations and today 70% of households in Scotland and 30% of the UK’s households buy Graham’s Family Dairy products, making them Scotland’s No.1 dairy brand.
To find out more about Graham’s Family Dairy, please visit:
Strachan House care home resident Betty Hardie had always wanted to learn how to pull a pint, so staff at the home made her wish come true. The amazing staff at the Scottish Engineer were more than happy to welcome Betty and teach her everything she needed to know to get the perfect pour!
Betty is at Strachan House on a respite stay and couldn’t believe that we had made her wish come true. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making Betty’s dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to her.
Staff first found out about Betty’s dream after having a chat with her on her admission, ever since then, they have been dedicated to helping Betty achieve it. Christine, a fellow resident and Betty’s friend was also there to offer moral support and enjoy a beautiful pub lunch.
In response to this wonderful surprise, Betty, said: “It was such a wonderful day, I can’t believe that the home were able to make this happen!”
Fran Fisher General Manager at the home, said: “We believe that every moment is worth cherishing.
“We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here even if their stay is short It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team here in making our residents’ dreams come true and we couldn’t have done it without Lisa, Connor and the amazing team at the Scottish Engineer; we will be forever grateful”.
Strachan House 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. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
The award-winning Amber Restaurant at The Scotch Whisky Experience has announced a series of food and drink offerings to celebrate its 25th anniversary. To mark the milestone, the restaurant has launched two retrospective menus featuring some of Amber’s most memorable dishes from the past 25 years, alongside a specially created anniversary cocktail, the Amber ’25.
Since opening in 2001, Amber has helped champion whisky pairing and whisky-led cooking within Scotland’s dining scene, pairing dishes with whiskies from all five whisky producing regions.
At the heart of the celebrations is the limited-edition ‘Taste of Scotland’ menu, running across two periods, 20th – 24th May and 23rd – 30th November. Curated by Executive Chef David Neave, who has led the kitchen since the restaurant opened, the menu revisits a selection of standout dishes from the past 25 years. Each course reflects the evolution of Scottish seasonal ingredients and Amber’s distinctive approach to whisky-infused cuisine.
David Neave, Executive Chef at Amber Restaurant, said: “Reaching 25 years at Amber Restaurant is a hugely proud moment for all of us. This anniversary menu, created by our team of chefs, is an opportunity to celebrate the very best of Scottish produce and revisit the dishes that have helped define who we are, as a restaurant, over the years.
“Whisky has always been central to our cooking, not only as a pairing, but also as an ingredient that can bring real depth and character to a dish. Looking back at these menus has been incredibly special and reflects the journey Amber has been on over the past 25 years.”
Amber was also the restaurant that introduced the concept of Scottish tapas, creating small plates designed to give visitors from around the world the opportunity to experience a broad taste of Scotland in one sitting. A quarter of a century on, the concept remains at the heart of the restaurant, with a celebratory Scottish tapas offering running throughout the anniversary year and featuring guest favourites from across the decades.
Wendy Neave, Head of Events and daughter of Executive Chef David Neave, said: “Amber Restaurant is extremely special to our family. My father, David, has led the kitchen with real passion since the beginning, and my brother Michael has also played an important role in the kitchen over the years, following in his father’s footsteps, so it’s something we’ve all been closely connected to.
“Our team have always been passionate about showcasing the very best of Scotland to our guests, and that’s what led to the creation of our Scottish tapas concept. We wanted visitors to have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of Scottish dishes and flavours in a small plate format.”
To find out more about The Scotch Whisky Experience’s Amber Restaurant please visit Amber Restaurant.
Ice Cream is now Sipped! Pepsi® has unveiled its new Ice Cream Zero Sugar Flavour range, with three new delicious cola flavours, made to refresh you with a smooth taste and zero-sugar sweetness—perfect for a summer treat. Should you lick it, bite it, scoop it? No, you sip it!
The new flavours are set to launch exclusively in Tesco from 18th May, with Cherry & Vanilla Ice Cream Flavour and Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Flavour rolling out nationwide from 14th July onwards.
This trio has been meticulously crafted for a generation that has mastered the art of intentional treating. In an era defined by constant hustle, Pepsi is reframing the ‘Treat’ moment.
Pepsi’s unique new flavours double up as the ultimate sweet treat to cool the summer heat. Cold, bold and surreal, the new flavours reimagine and remix the ice cream and Pepsi combination, bringing a whole new vibe to treating yourself – with zero sugar. With a classic Pepsi base, the new flavours add a creamy, sweet kick to the iconic cola recipe, twisting your senses.
Life today is lived in micro-moments, those blink and you’ll miss it victories – like finally hitting “send” on an email, replying to those messages that have been on read for weeks, or simply making it through a long Monday. These quiet wins are the real status symbols of Gen Z culture, and Pepsi is here to make sure they don’t go unnoticed, by redefining the treat moment for a new generation.
The new trio of delectable new zero sugar flavours include:
Cherry & Vanilla Ice Cream Flavour: A smooth, sweet, and totally indulgent taste sensation
Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Flavour: A tangy, creamy, nostalgic dream – in a can.
Salted Caramel Ice Cream Flavour: The ultimate flavour flex. Sweet meets salty in a fizzy, treaty collision!
Natalia Fillipociants, SVP and General Manager Europe International Beverages, PepsiCo , said: ‘’At Pepsi, we know it’s the small moments that can feel like a win and deserve something refreshing.
“Our new ice cream-inspired flavours are made to be a fun, zero-sugar summer treat that’s a little unexpected in the best way. We hope people enjoy cracking one open, trying something different, and making it their go-to refreshment this summer’’.
The new Ice Cream flavours come as an expansion of Pepsi’s Treats range, following the craze surrounding the launch of Strawberries & Cream and Cream Soda flavours last year.
The irresistible new range will be available to buy in four different formats – individual 330ml cans, an 8 can multipack, plus 500ml and 1.5 litre bottles.
For more information on the new flavours and brand news, visit Pepsi UK on Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and X.
