Fort Kinnaird – Page 5 – The NEN

Easter activities at Fort Kinnaird

With the Easter holidays upon us, Fort Kinnaird has announced a host of Easter activities to help keep the kids entertained.

From Easter-themed craft workshops at Hobbycraft to meeting small animals at Pets at Home – there’s something for everyone.

Meet small animals at Pets at Home

Pets at Home is running free pet workshops for kids in store from Saturday 1st – Sunday 16th April.

The 30-minute My Pet Pals sessions help to educate kids about responsible pet care and how to keep animals happy and healthy.

Children will have the chance to meet a range of small animals and learn how to look after them through a range of interactive activities, including making a foraging box for little furry friends. Book your free space here.

Get crafty at Hobbycraft

Hobbycraft is hosting a number of Easter-themed workshops throughout the break for kids to enjoy.

This includes clay making, designing Easter bonnets, and making their own Easter bunnies. Each session is hosted by one of Hobbycraft’s experts and has a small cost from £5 for the materials. To book a session, visit Hobbycraft’s website.

Watch the latest blockbusters at Odeon

With seven state-of-the-art screens, Odeon is showing the latest blockbusters this Easter break and adult tickets are priced at £3.25, the same as a child, for selected morning showings.

Top family picks include the highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. Movie which is out on 7th April, as well as Mummies and Little Bear’s Big Trip.

Pick up Easter activities to do at home

Hobbycraft, Wilko, Typo and WH Smith all have an array of crafting materials and ideas to keep the kids occupied at home. From painting Easter eggs and making Easter baskets to designing cards and hosting Easter egg hunts, there’s something for all ages to get stuck into.

Grab a bite to eat

Fort Kinnaird has a wide selection of family-friendly restaurants, so whether the kids want to tuck into Italian staples at Pizza Express or burgers at Bread Meats Bread, there’s something for all taste buds.

And at Fridays kids can eat for free during the Easter holidays, choosing from one of the restaurant’s kids meals when dining with an adult who’s a Rewards Member.

For more information on what’s on at Fort Kinnaird visit:

https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

Community Heroes recognised by Fort Kinnaird

Liz Cann and Colin Arthur have been named as Fort Kinnaird’s Community Heroes after going the extra mile in supporting their communities over the past year.

Fort Kinnaird called for people to nominate their friends, family, and neighbours living and working in the local community who had gone above and beyond in 2022 to receive an extra gift to say thank you. The centre was inundated with entries, but two stories stood out.

Drumbrae resident Liz Cann was nominated by her friend and colleague at Social Bite for her dedication to voluntary work and fundraising. At the homeless charity, Liz supported with collecting and delivering presents to community groups in December, along with helping to host a Christmas Eve lunch at the charity’s main centre in Edinburgh.

Liz also played a vital role at another local charity, Fight Against Cancer Edinburgh (F.A.C.E). After fundraising for more than a year, Liz took a group of more than 40 children and family members affected by cancer to Lapland in December last year to meet Santa and enjoy the magic of Christmas together.

Musselburgh Rugby player Colin Arthur was nominated by the parent of a child who plays at the club.

Colin, who lives in Musselburgh, led the rugby club in supporting the nationwide Rainbow Laces campaign, a symbol of inclusion across sport, and proactively encouraged other local clubs to participate.

In doing so, he’s been instrumental in creating an inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQI+ community not just for people to play rugby, but also be open about struggles with mental health.

As a small way of saying thank you, Fort Kinnaird has given Liz and Colin £250 each to spend at the centre in recognition of all their work in the local community.

Liz Cann said: “It’s a huge surprise to win this award, no one who works with charities or volunteers in their communities ever think of themselves as heroes.

“We’re just doing our bit, but it’s quite moving to be recognised in this way.”

Colin Arthur said: “I’m really grateful to have even been nominated for this competition, let alone be one of those selected to win it.

“It’s brilliant to see what we’re working on at Musselburgh being recognised and promoted in this way, hopefully it will spark more important conversations at sports clubs across our region.”

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, added: “Giving back is so important and, now more than ever, we want to do our bit to recognise the people who are going above and beyond to help those most in need.

“We were so inspired by Liz and Colin’s stories, hearing about everything they do to help and support others. A huge thank you to them, and all the other heroes, charities, and organisations that continue to work tirelessly to support our community.”

An additional ten runners-up were also chosen and received a £50 voucher to spend at the centre.

Last-minute Valentine’s gifts and date night ideas at Fort Kinnaird

Valentine’s Day is just round the corner and whether you’re treating a partner or celebrating Palentine’s with a much-loved friend, Fort Kinnaird has rounded up a selection of ideas to help make the search for the perfect gift or date night easier.

From fashion to jewellery, and restaurants to the cinema, there is something for everyone.

Can’t-go-wrong Valentine’s gifts

Visitors can gift their loved ones a new signature scent with Chanel, Dior and other favourites available at Superdrug, Boots and The Perfume Shop – where you can also find the newly launched Marc Jacobs’ Perfect scent.

For indulgent bathing and pampering hampers, try TK Maxx and Next, while Hotel Chocolat has a new ‘Made with Love’ selection of 30 heart-shaped chocolates – plus their popular ‘Chocolate & Fizz’ collections, which can include a bottle of prosecco.

M&SM&S also has an abundance of bouquets of flowers, including spring tulips and red roses.

Luxury gifts

Fort Kinnaird is home to Beaverbrooks, Goldsmiths, Swarovski, and Pandora, the perfect places to pick up personalised charms, watches and jewellery that will last a lifetime.

Romantic meals at home

For wine and prosecco, delicious sharing menus and decadent desserts, M&S has a huge selection of Valentine’s ideas to plan the perfect night in. With mix and match offers on mains and sides alongside specially created limited edition buys, there’s something for everyone.

And ProCook has all the kitchenware you need to create a romantic meal at home.

Dining out and activities

For a romantic date night with other halves or friends, head to Tony Macaroni for freshly made risotto, Italian wine and dessert, or Wagamama, Pizza Express or Bread Meats Bread for a laidback meal, before heading to the cinema to catch one of the latest releases. This includes M. Night Shyamalan’s new thriller, Knock at the Cabin, or Steven Spielberg’s newest multi-Oscar nominated biopic, The Fabelmans.

And throughout February, Fridays has the sweet Pink Punk Cosmo, the fruity MidWest Martini and the limited-edition Heart Cracker cocktails all for £6 each Monday to Thursday, while Frankie & Benny’s has an exclusive pink ‘My Beloved Burger’ as well as a fun Jammy Dodger ice cream shake to try.

Plan your Valentine’s Day out at Fort Kinnaird and find a full list of gift inspiration by visiting: https://www.fortkinnaird.com/valentines-day

Fort Kinnaird is open 9am – 9pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com.

Last minute Christmas gifts from Fort Kinnaird

Christmas is just round the corner and to help visitors pick up any last-minute gifts they need for the big day, Fort Kinnaird has rounded up a selection of ideas to help make the search easier.

From fashion gifts to jewellery, there is something for everyone in this collection, with some retailers even offering gift wrapping services so any purchases can go straight under the tree.

And late-night shopping continues at Fort Kinnaird for the festive season, with visitors able to take advantage of shopping until 9pm at selected stores on Thursday 22^nd and Friday 23^rd.

Here’s a roundup of the best gifts you can pick up at Fort Kinnaird:

Fashion

Fort Kinnaird is home to an abundance of clothing stores, from M&S to Next and H&M to Primark.

Timeless cashmere jumpers, scarves, hats and gloves from Marks & Spencer and Next are always a welcome surprise on Christmas morning, and Clarks remains the place to visit for men’s footwear. While Ugg’s Classic Ultra Mini Boots are topping the most-wanted lists at schuh along with Veja’s sustainable trainers.

Visitors can discover new looks at Fat Face, or head to Mountain Warehouse and Trespass for weatherproof jackets, walking boots and backpacks ideal taking with you on a long winter walk.  

Jewellery

If you’re thinking of a more luxurious gift, Beaverbrooks and Swarovski are the places to look for gorgeous keepsakes and timeless classics, with their team being on hand to make sure you pick up the most perfect present.

For a tailored gift, visitors can head to the newly opened Pandora for a bracelet filled with carefully chosen charms plus rings, pendants and lab-created diamonds. 

Beauty

With most wish lists this year including fragrances by Chanel and Dior and make-up sets from No 17, Maybelline and Benefit, Boots, Superdrug and The Perfume Shop are the places to go. While the Philips Series 9000 Prestige Beard Trimmer, leather wash bags, and skincare gift sets can also be found in Boots and Superdrug and are this year’s grooming essentials.

Holland & Barrett also have a range of special gift sets from CBD to self-care and sustainable heroes featuring calming tea bags, vegan snacks and naturally soothing beauty.

Gifts for children

With Smyths Toys, Hobbycraft and TK Maxx filled with great ideas for children’s presents, Christmas shopping for little ones is made easy at Fort Kinnaird.

This year’s most wanted gifts include V-Tech designs, Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse, Jurassic World Real FX Baby Blue, Little Live Pets Mama Surprise, Sylvanian Families, Squishmallows, Funko dolls and a big soft Bluey. 

Or if you’re looking for gift ideas for new parent and babies, Mamas & Papas has everything you need from Jellycat toys to soft, comforting clothes, blankets and accessories.

Foodie gifts

This season’s must-buy recipe and food writing books, including Jamie Oliver’s One, Stanley Tucci’s Taste and Nadiya’s Everyday Baking are all available at Waterstones.

Fort Kinnaird is also a great place to find other special gifts for foodie lovers including chocolate boxes and panettone from Marks & Spencer, barista-grade hot chocolate and Velvetiser from Hotel Chocolat and the latest kitchen gadgets from ProCook.

Locally made gifts

Fort Kinnaird is home to independent stores including Born in Scotland which specialises in Scottish cards, gifts and crafts – perfect for Christmas. For sustainable and thoughtful gifts, The Leith Collective has beautiful clothes, homewares and gifts recycled, remade and repurposed by local crafts people.

Fort Kinnaird is open 9am – 9pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com.

Coca-Cola truck brings Christmas spirit to Fort Kinnaird

Shoppers at Fort Kinnaird were treated to a very special visit from the Coca-Cola Christmas truck on Sunday as part of its tour of the UK.

The festive experience offered a whole host of fun for all the family, including ‘elfie selfie’ photo opportunities, food huts serving delicious seasonal tastes and the chance to get a personalised Coca-Cola drink.

Visitors were also able to get their all-important photo in front of the famous truck, with the iconic image of Father Christmas on the side.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “For many, the festive truck signals that ‘the holidays are coming’. With only a few days left to go until the big day, we hope families and friends enjoyed the experience and it helped them get into the festive spirit!”

Find out more about Christmas at Fort Kinnaird here:

www.fortkinnaird.com/christmas.

School children to get a ‘smart start’ to the New Year thanks to the Leith Collective’s free uniform exchange

With the cost of living crisis weighing heavily upon people’s minds and the expense of Christmas adding up, many people are understandably worried about how they will afford to pay for even basic essentials in January. And so, one local Community Interest Company is acting now to alleviate that anxiety with the launch of their free unform exchange.

Taking place at The Leith Collective stores in Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird as well as the Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre, the ‘Smart Start’ initiative will see locals donate good quality school uniforms to those in need. Items will be available for anyone to collect completely free of charge, no questions asked.

Speaking ahead of the launch, The Leith Collective founder, Sara Thomson said; “Kids grow so quickly. Parents tend to buy a whole new uniform at the start of the school year in August and often find their child has already outgrown it by the Christmas break.

“Yet these uniforms are often still in perfectly good condition and could easily do another child a turn. Our Smart Start initiative aims to make it as easy as possible for people to donate their unwanted uniforms, so that someone in need can make use of them.”

The unform exchange is not only a practical response to the cost of living crisis, but also to the climate crisis – a cause which lies at the heart of The Leith Collective. As Sara Thomson explains; “Smart Start is a sustainable solution that aims to keep quality clothes out of landfill and in use for longer, thus promoting a circular economy and helping to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry.”

The Smart Start uniform exchange comes just a few months after the launch of The Leith Collective’s winter coat exchange which has received an overwhelming response, with over 1,000 coats donated and collected by locals so far.

People can donate and collect garments at The Leith Collective in Ocean Terminal, Fort Kinnaird, and the St Enoch Centre during opening hours. No tights or socks can be accepted but all other good quality uniform items are welcome.

Fort Kinnaird launches Christmas Jumper Exchange

Fort Kinnaird has partnered with one of its independent retailers, the Leith Collective, to launch a free Christmas jumper exchange to support the local community this festive season.

Visitors are being invited to hand in clean, pre-loved festive knitwear of all sizes to the retailer, located next to Boots, from this week up until Christmas. The jumpers will be available for anyone to take home for free.

The initiative follows Leith Collective’s successful winter coat exchange that has seen hundreds of people donating and picking up coats across its Edinburgh stores.

Fort Kinnaird has also committed to give £1 for every donated jumper to its Edinburgh-based charity partner, Thistle Foundation.

The charity provides local and national support to people living with long-term health conditions or challenging life situations. Through one-to-one wellbeing coaching, group-based wellbeing courses and peer-led activities, Thistle Foundation supports people to lead good lives and achieve what matters most to them.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know many people will have festive jumpers sitting unused in their homes.

By donating them to our appeal they will not only free up some much-needed cupboard space, but they’ll also be directly supporting people in their community at what is likely to be a very difficult time, and helping the environment by not throwing the clothing away.

“We’re proud to have Thistle as our charity partner and thank the Leith Collective for helping us support them further this Christmas. The team does incredible work, providing vital support to those who need it most in our local community.”

William Oviatt, Head of Fundraising at Thistle Foundation adds: “We are delighted to be Fort Kinnaird’s charity partner.

“At Thistle Foundation we believe in a world of inclusion, free of isolation and loneliness, where a health crisis shouldn’t mean a life crisis. This support will help us to ensure that people who are living with long-term health conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, the effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic, or mental health conditions, have the support they need to live well.”

Fort Kinnaird announced its partnership with Thistle in February and has since been raising money for the Edinburgh charity through the centre’s Giving Box.

Fort Kinnaird is open 9am – 9pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com.

Recycle Week at Fort Kinnaird

5 WAYS YOU CAN RECYCLE AT FORT KINNAIRD

This week (Monday 17^th – Sunday 23^rd October) is Recycle Week – an annual event that celebrates recycling across the nation with the aim to get more people recycling more of the right things, more often.

To mark it, Fort Kinnaird is sharing five different ways you can recycle at the centre, from clothes and shoes to pet food and beauty packaging – sometimes with the chance to receive vouchers in return.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Supporting the community is extremely important to us at Fort Kinnaird, and doing our bit for the environment is a huge part of that.

“As a centre, we are committed to working towards a more sustainable future and we want to encourage our visitors to do the same. We hope by highlighting these great initiatives offered by our retailers we help to make recycling even easier for local shoppers – not just during this week, but beyond that too.”

Here are five recycling schemes you can make the most of at Fort Kinnaird this Recycle Week:

H&M

Through H&M’s Garment Collecting programme, you can take any unwanted clothes or textiles – from any brand and in any condition – to their store at Fort Kinnaird and receive a £5 digital voucher to use on your next purchase, as well as earn 20 ‘Conscious Points’ as part of its loyalty scheme.

Old garments are either marketed as second-hand clothing or recycled into something new entirely.

schuh

Schuh’s ‘Sell Your Soles’ scheme offers customers £5 towards a new pair of shoes when they bring their old, worn pairs into store. The schuh Kids store at Fort Kinnaird also offers the same discount as part of its ‘Too Big For Your Boots’ initiative when taking in an old pair of shoes that no longer fit.

Pets at Home

At the Pets at Home store at Fort Kinnaird, pet owners can recycle old, rinsed food pouches from any brand that are made from a flexible plastic. These can be a struggle to recycle at home but, with the Pets at Home scheme, the pouches go through a specially designed process which heats the plastic, turning it back into an oil and separating the aluminium – which can then be made back into new products.

M&S

The ‘Plastic Recycling Scheme’ from M&S helps customers to recycle plastic from any product in-store, regardless of whether it is an M&S product.

Carrier bags, food wrappers and packaging from clothing multipacks are just some of the items which can be recycled at the Fort Kinnaird store and are difficult to do so at home.

Boots

The ‘Recycle at Boots’ scheme is aimed at hard-to-recycle beauty, healthcare and wellness products that cannot be put in recycling bins at home. Usually this is because they are too small (travel minis, mascaras), made of composite materials (make-up palettes, lipsticks) or made from non-recyclable materials (toothpaste tubes, lotion pumps).

Shoppers at Fort Kinnaird can gain up to 500 Boots Advantage Card points when they participate, which is equivalent to £5 to spend in store.

The Leith Collective

The recently opened Leith Collective store at Fort Kinnaird is running a ‘coat exchange’ where you can donate your old winter and waterproof coats. These will then be made available for collection at no cost for those who need them this winter.

ProCook Store celebrates Warehouse Sale with Bumper Giveaway

It’s that time of year again when we all start thinking about getting our bake on and cooking up some warming winter one-pot meals.

To help their customers cook up a storm, ProCook have launched their bumper autumn Warehouse Sale, offering up to 70% off essential cookware, bakeware, tableware and kitchen accessories.

To celebrate the launch of the sale, ProCook is giving away a goody bag worth £50 to the first 20 customers through the door at 10am who visit the Fort Kinnaird Retail Park store in Edinburgh on Saturday 1^st October, and one lucky customer per store will receive a special £100 gift voucher to spend in store, hidden in one of the bags.

For those who miss out, customers who visit the store this weekend will still be able to bag a bargain with up to 70% off typical price on hundreds of products.

In addition to the main Warehouse Sale, each week ProCook will be offering three extra special offers with a saving of up to £200 on the typical price. This week, ending on Sunday, the offers include a 3-piece Nihon X50 knife set, an 8-piece Professional Stainless-Steel cookware set and a stunning 32-piece Coastal Tableware Set.

Fort Kinnaird Retail Park store features ProCook’s full range of high-quality products, from essential bakeware and stunning tableware to colourful Cast Iron pieces and cutting-edge knife ranges.

ProCook’s friendly team are always on hand with friendly advice to make sure customers get just what they need can try items before they buy, and build bespoke cookware, knife and tableware sets to suit their needs.

ProCook can be found at Unit 30A, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, Edinburgh, EH15 3RD. The store is open from 10am-8pm Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Exclusive offers ending October 2^nd 2022:

Nihon X50 3 Piece Knife Set with Magnetic Block
Typical Price £169
SALE PRICE £69

Coastal Grey Stoneware Dinner Set 32 piece
Typical Price £159
SALE PRICE £69

Professional Stainless Steel 8 piece Cookware Set
Typical Price £449
SALE PRICE £249

About ProCook:

ProCook is the UK’s leading specialist kitchenware brand. The business offers a direct-to-consumer proposition, designing, developing and retailing a high-quality range of cookware, kitchenware and tableware which provides customers with significant value for money.

The brand sells directly through its website, procook.co.uk, and via over 56 own-brand retail stores, located across the UK. ProCook products are also available on Amazon in Germany and France with delivery options extending to Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Poland.

Founded over 25 years ago as a family business, selling cookware sets by direct mail in the UK, ProCook has grown into a market leading, multi-channel specialist kitchenware and tableware company, employing 700 colleagues and operating from its Head Office in Gloucester.

Fort Kinnaird supports Young Readers Programme storytelling events

More than 250 school children from three schools in Edinburgh have taken part in storytelling sessions organised by Fort Kinnaird, aimed at helping them fall in love with reading.

The events involved children hearing stories from professional storyteller, Amanda Edmiston, and were part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Fort Kinnaird’s co-owner British Land and run-in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.

During the literary-focussed events, pupils from Castleview Primary School, Niddrie Mill Primary School and Brunstane Primary School also learnt how to choose books they will enjoy and were able to take home a book of their choice.

British Land and the National Literacy Trust are celebrating 11 years in partnership this year and, since the programme launched at Fort Kinnaird, it has supported almost 2,300 school children and seen more than 6,800 books donated across the Edinburgh.

Research by the National Literacy Trust has shown that owning a book means children are more likely to say they enjoy reading and are more inclined to read in their free time. However, almost 6% of children in the UK do not own a book, which equates to almost 415,000 children across the country*.

With reading for enjoyment proven to have a positive effect on children’s reading skill* as well as their wellbeing and mental health, the Young Readers Programme initiative aims to give support and help with the development of children in under privileged areas by giving them access to books.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Supporting local children and their families is so important to us and the Young Readers Programme is an integral part of this.

“We look forward to this brilliant initiative every year and have loved seeing children from across our community enjoy their storytelling sessions.”

Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Reading for enjoyment is proven to support mental wellbeing, literacy skills, and future success. Encouraging children to enjoy reading from a young age can have a measurable impact on the rest of their lives.

“But the sad reality is that 6% of children across the country don’t have their own book to read at home, and many don’t find reading enjoyable.

“Through the Young Readers Programme and the support of British Land, we are able to help so many more children have fun whilst reading outside the classroom, give them access to inspiring books and access to many benefits that they may otherwise be missing out on.”