leisure – Page 24 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Edinburgh’s Christmas programme launched – and it’s a cracker!

It’s October, so we can start using the ‘C’ word now, right?

Edinburgh’s Christmas programme has been revealed and it promises to be bigger, better and more affordable than ever – especially for families and Edinburgh residents.

The Council has worked with event organisers, Underbelly, to ensure city residents get the best value for money this winter.

If you have an EH postcode, you will receive a 20 per cent discount on all shows, rides and events. There will also be special family prices available for most attractions – which Edinburgh residents can get on top of their 20% discount -plus new family attractions in East Princes Street Gardens for between £1 and £4.

The desire to offer value has been achieved without any compromise on quality – with the Starflyer, Big Wheel and Paradiso Spiegeltent all returning along with an expanded Santa Land and, the community opening event, Light Night on George Street.

You can find out more about the programme and tickets at Underbelly’s Edinburgh’s Christmas website, through Facebook (facebook/edinburghschristmas) and Twitter (@EdXmas).

Programme highlights include:

Light Night on George Street returning on 23 November with 60 school and community groups confirmed to perform on a series of stages up and down George Street to the theme of ‘Christmas Songs and Carols’. Last year, over 26,000 people took to the streets to enjoy this community event
A truly unique ice rink in St Andrew Square around the Melville Monument
The Paradiso Speigletent returns with a programme of world class entertainment including Scotch and Soda, the internationally acclaimed circus show direct from sell out runs at the Sydney and Brisbane Festivals, Stickman, comedy superstar Al Murray for 3 nights only and Edinburgh’s favourite all male burlesque troupe, Briefs
Santa Land in East Princes Street Gardens with the very successful Christmas Tree Maze, Santa Train and Santa’s Grotto, all seen in 2013, joined by a series of affordable family attractions priced between £1 and £4
Other attractions in East Princes Street Gardens include the Big Wheel, the Star Flyer, the Ice Rink on the East Princes Street Gardens terrace and the double decker Carousel

Last year (Christomas 2013/14), over 387,000 tickets were sold for Edinburgh’s Christmas and 73 per cent of people from Edinburgh said that Edinburgh’s Christmas was the sole or an important reason to come to Edinburgh that day.

Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, said: “Edinburgh is always a special city during winter and this year, the Capital is certainly the place to be to celebrate Christmas.

“Our festive programmes are the envy of the world. The line up this winter with Underbelly will be bring back some of the city’s classic attractions such as Santa Land – which will be bigger than ever before – and the spectacular Light Night on George Street which returns for its second year. Not only will the East Princes Street Gardens ice rink make a return, after receiving well over 30,000 visitors last Christmas, but a new bespoke ice rink in St Andrew Square will be opened for the very first time.

“I am especially pleased that after feedback from Edinburgh residents and a concerted decision to tailor the programme to suit even more local people, this year’s programme offers a big range of free events and a selection of great value attractions from as little as £1.

“Our Christmas events provide a great boost to the Edinburgh economy, and this year’s offering is set draw residents and visitors of all ages into the city centre.”

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam of Underbelly said: ”We’re delighted to be presenting Edinburgh’s Christmas for the second year. Last year we re-imagined the event and brought record breaking numbers of people to Edinburgh.

“We’re very excited about this year’s innovations, including the new ice rink in St Andrew Square around the Melville Monument; the expanded Santa Land in Princes Street Gardens with more affordable attractions; and the new family prices and the 20% EH residents’ discount across the board.

“We want this to be a Christmas for all of Edinburgh and we think there’s something for everyone – from Scotch & Soda in the Spiegeltent to our Stained Glass project where 24 Edinburgh primary schools will show off their creations in Princes Street Gardens. Our ambition is to make Edinburgh the best place to spend Christmas, whether you’re a resident or a visitor. It maybe early to say this, but we are wishing Edinburgh a “Happy Christmas”.

On your marks for Festival of Sport

The annual action-packed Festival of Sport kicks off in the Capital next weekend, showcasing a huge variety of sport and physical activity opportunities between 20 September-5 October.

Beach volleyball is heading for Porty!

A host of free events will run during the two week festival across Edinburgh, including taster sessions, demonstrations and competitions to encourage people of all ages to discover the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Now in its sixth year, the 2014 programme has been designed to embrace the summer buzz of the Commonwealth Games and appeal to all age groups, activity levels and abilities.

Launching on the first day of the Beach Volleyball Continental Cup on Portobello Beach – the Festival will kick off with a selection of free activities on the beach to celebrate Portobello paving the path to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games! (But wrap up warm, people, it’s Porty not the Copacabana!)

Building on the success of previous years, the Council is working to drive interest and membership of local clubs. A Club and Coach Development Workshop Series will also be delivered as part of this year’s Festival, featuring workshops designed to support club volunteers and coaches.

Coaching highlights include a one-of-a-kind seminar with Werner Kern, world renowned coach for Germany’s Bayern Munich Football Club. Kern will address a host of football industry professionals – including representatives from Edinburgh’s Hibernian and Hearts of Midlothian Football Clubs – about nurturing young sporting talent.

This event is being held in partnership with the Scottish Football Association and forms part of Edinburgh’s 60th anniversary celebrations of being ‘Twinned’ with Munich.

The City’s Festival and Events Champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, expects the excitement of this summer’s Commonwealth Games to create an extra buzz around the Festival. He said: “I fully expect this year’s festival to prove the excitement of the Commonwealth Games has really boosted interest and participation in sport and physical activity in Edinburgh.

“The Festival of Sport is an important part of the Council’s legacy programme, and this year’s programme looks set to be another great year with so many free local opportunities on offer for everyone to take part.

“It is especially exciting to be marking the launch by supporting a world sporting debut for Portobello Beach, as it plays host to the qualifying rounds for the upcoming Beach Volleyball event as part of the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.”

As an integral part of the Activcity year-round programme, the 2014 Festival encourages residents and visitors to have a more active and healthy lifestyle. The key partners in delivering the event include Edinburgh Leisure, ClubSportEdinburgh and sportscotland.

How to get involved:

For further information and to register, visit Festival of Sport.

To find out more about the Beach Volleyball Continental Cup taking place at Portobello Beach, visit the Scottish Volleyball Association website.

To see what coaching and club workshops are taking place, and attend an event, visit the Coaching Edinburgh website.

Enjoy your sport!

Eagle Lodge fun day tomorrow

Spoilt for choice?

There are lots of fun events happening in North Edinburgh tomorrow – see previous posts about West Pilton Play Day, new open air exhibition space at North Edinburgh Arts, Granton gardeners community BBQ, afternoon tea at Holy Cross in D’Mains – and now there’s another to add …

The Salvation Amy’s Eagle Lodge on Ferry Road is holding a Fair from 2 – 4pm: all welcome!

Spoilt for choice – and then there’s the small matter of a wee Edinburgh derby on Sunday too …!

West Pilton prepares for play day

North Edinburgh’s very own Family Play Day is taking place at West Pilton Park on Saturday 16 August from 11am – 3pm.

Lots of fun for everyone – bring a packed lunch!

Visit North Edinburgh Family Play Days on Facebook for more info

Leith birthday celebration to make a splash

Fishkeeper to celebrate their successful second year in Edinburgh

Fishkeeper Scotland by Maidenhead Aquatics are celebrating the second anniversary of their popular Edinburgh store with a weekend of activities, giveaways, competitions, prizes and unrepeatable special offers on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August. There will also be a raffle draw in aid of charity, and the birthday event is sure to appeal to fishkeepers in the region.

Maidenhead Aquatics is the UK’s leading specialist aquatics retailer offering everything for the fishkeeper. Established in 1984 with over 100 outlets across the UK they opened their first Scottish store Fishkeeper Glasgow in 2010, which has already netted several awards including “Best Aquatics Shop in Scotland”. More recently this was followed by the opening of Fishkeeper Edinburgh in August 2012 and Fishkeeper
Inverness in July 2013.

Fishkeeper Edinburgh have also gained their own accolades including “Runner up
Discus Retailer of the Year” and “Runner up Best Aquatics Shop in Scotland” ( only surpassed by their sister shop in Glasgow !)

Fishkeeper Edinburgh stocks everything for the Scottish fishkeeper with a particular focus on tropical freshwater and marine aquariums and livestock, as well as equipment for the pond and watergarden.

Maidenhead Aquatics partner Colin Christian said “We are excited to celebrate our second birthday and want to give something back to the customers that have supported us so strongly over the past year whilst raising well needed funds for charity at the same time. As well as some great special offers and giveaways, as always there will be activities for junior fishkeepers and plenty of cake and balloons to take away!”

Fishkeeper Edinburgh is open seven days a week and located within Leith Mills (James Pringle Clearance Outlet) on Bangor Road, Leith, in Edinburgh.

Go on, dive in!
www.fishkeeper.co.uk

Schools out – summer fun without breaking the bank

‘Mum, I’m bored!’ With the school holidays now underway, parents are planning how to keep their children entertained the next six weeks. Well, help is at hand – the city council has created a ‘best of’ list to help families stay occupied on a budget.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “The summer break is a chance for families to get together and try something different but it is also a challenge to keep the kids entertained without breaking budgets. Whatever the weather, there will be a host of activities and events taking place across Edinburgh this summer, many of which are free.

“With the Commonwealth Games taking place in Scotland, there is the added excitement of trying new sports and learning about our fellow Commonwealth countries, and highlights to look out for this summer are the Active City sporting exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh and the many one off sport classes at Edinburgh Leisure venues.”

WHAT’S ON AT MUSEUMS

First on the list of things to do is a visit to the Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile. Housed in the beautifully restored 16th Century buildings on the Canongate, it is the city’s principal museum of local history and from 5 July, will be home to a brand new exhibition looking at sport throughout the ages in Edinburgh.

With special activities for children, and a focus on the Commonwealth Games, the Active City – Celebrating Edinburgh’s Sporting Heritage exhibition is ideal for kids who are excited for Glasgow 2014, and to coincide with the exhibition there will be a special come and try sports challenge in the museum courtyard for children on 10 July.

Also on the Royal Mile, the Museum of Childhood hosts a treasure trove of toys the whole family will love. Children can learn what it was like to grow up in other eras and gaze at a range of toys and games, while adults can enjoy a trip down memory lane.

The latest exhibition to open at the Museum is a display of posters created by children for the annual Fringe Festival Children’s Posters Competition. This competition has been an annual event for the Fringe Festival since 1980 and this year’s competition received 3,453 entries from 144 schools across Scotland. The winning designs and runners up can be viewed at the Museum until 31 August 2014.

EDINBURGH’S LIBRARIES

As always, it will a busy summer across Edinburgh’s 28 libraries, with lots of free events.

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday. The theme for the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge taking place in all libraries across the city will be Mythical Maze created by top illustrator Sarah McIntyre.Children can read whatever they like – fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books – just as long as they are borrowed from the library.

Every time children finish a book they get stickers and rewards and there’s a certificate for everyone who finishes. Mythical Maze challenges children aged four to eleven to find their way around a labyrinth that introduces them to fantastical creatures from the world of legend and mythology, collecting stickers of each character along the way.

Central Library has a brand new dedicated Children’s space with lots of new books, cubby holes to read them in, an under 5’s room and an arts and crafts area. Budding musicians can practice in the new music Library’s acoustic pod or on the digital piano.

South West Edinburgh Libraries are celebrating the Commonwealth Games with their Summer of Sport Programme which will host sport themed activities for local children including the chance to have Good Luck cards delivered to the athletes in the Commonwealth Village.

Need holiday reading but want to keep your suitcase light? Edinburgh Libraries provides free to use ebooks, audiobooks and downloadable magazines for children and adults.

ART IN THE CITY

This summer, families can also get stuck into crafts through the Edinburgh Art Festival. Launching on 31 July, a host of children’s workshops will be held in the City Art Centre.

The Centre also has a busy programme of Street Magic Master Classes up until 4 July as part of Edinburgh’s International Magic Festival. Classes range in price and places can be booked through the festival websites.

STAYING ACTIVE

To help keep kids active, Edinburgh Leisure is offering a host of activities to enjoy throughout the holidays, including fantastic free Multi-Sport sessions. Youngsters aged 5-16 are invited to try football, gymnastics, tennis, boccia, athletics and much more at the Meadows every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 2 July – 8 August. Kids will benefit from support by qualified coaches and local sports clubs. There’s no need to book, visitors can just drop into The Pavillion Cafe, Jawbone Walk in Edinburgh’s Meadows.

Edinburgh Leisure is also offering free swimming all day to all primary school children at Dalry, Gracemount and Ainslie Park Leisure Centres until 12 August. There will also be free swimming available between 12:00pm-3:00pm at Wester Hailes Education Centre. Following a successful Easter initiative, this year marks the first time the free summer sessions will be open to any public swim session at participating pools.

In good weather, the beautiful grounds of Lauriston Castle, laid out by William Henry Playfair in the 1840s, hold over 300 trees and are worth a wander – especially on 29 July when children are invited to visit and learn how to identify each one. Entry is £5 per person. Guided tours of the Castle take place every day at 2:00pm except Friday and the Castle has a huge programme of family activities throughout the summer which can be booked through the Usher Hall.

After taking in the city, where better to enjoy the breathtaking views of Edinburgh than by climbing to the top of the tallest tribute to a writer in the world, the Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens? Equally impressive is the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.

And don’t forget there are loads of fun activities right on your doorstep through the local Summer Programme. See below for details:

Tonight’s the night for get2gether

New dates have been announced for a special club night in Edinburgh for local adults living with a disability, following the success of the first event earlier this year.

The next club night takes place tonight (Thursday 10 April, followed by June 12, August 14, October 16 and December 11.

The charity get2gether organises the club nights, which take place at the Cav nightclub. The event is an opportunity for people from Edinburgh and the Lothians living with a disability to meet up and make new friends.

get2gether is an Edinburgh-based organisation that arranges ordinary social activities in ordinary places for disabled people. The charity – which currently has over 70 local members – believes that everyone deserves the same opportunities for love and friendship.

Marion Smith, Project Co-ordintor, said: “Our launch night was a fantastic success with around 150 people coming along. There was a great atmosphere with people still dancing at 12.30pm! We’re delighted to release the rest of the club night dates for this year as we’re sure there are lots more people who will want to come once word spreads about how great they are.”

She added: “The nights are a great way for people, who are maybe not sure about going to a mainstream club night, to meet new people in a fun and safe place. After attending our events we hope that they will gain more confidence about going out and meeting new people. “

One member said: “It’s given me opportunities to do things I wouldn’t otherwise get to do.”

The club nights are free to members and £5 for non-members. The night runs from 8pm – 1am. To book a ticket or to find out more, email info@dates-n-mates-lothian.co.uk or phone Marion or Ellie on 07970 000454.

To find out more about the group – and the other events they run – visit http://get2gether.org.uk/

Edinburgh’s egg-citing for kids this Easter!

‘Mum, I’m bored!’ Don’t despair – help is at hand!

With the school holidays well underway, parents are planning how to keep their youngsters ones entertained for the next fortnight.

The City of Edinburgh Council, which offers a wide variety of entertaining and educational activities for children and young people, has created a ‘best of’ list to help families stay occupied on a budget.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture & Sport Convener, said: “The Easter break is a chance for families to try something different and experience Edinburgh’s great selection of museums and school break activities. The challenge of balancing budgets and keeping the kids entertained is no easy task for any parent, and I encourage those of all ages and interests to take in the wealth of attractions in the city centre, many of which are free.”

The City Art Centre has been transformed into a science playground as the Edinburgh International Science Festival launches with a full programme of events, exhibitions and experiments until 19 April. Children can visit the Market Street centre for six floors of science lessons including classes on potion making and monster hunts . Day passes are £7 for adults, £9 for children over 7 and £6.50 for children aged six and under.

The Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile hosts a treasure trove of toys the whole family will love. Children can learn what it was like to grow up in other eras and gaze at a range of toys and games, while adults can enjoy a trip down memory lane. The latest exhibition to open at the Museum is a celebration of the classic children’s gift, the Annual. Entry is free.

Also on the Royal Mile is the Museum of Edinburgh. Housed in the beautifully restored 16th Century buildings on the Canongate, it is the city’s principle museum of local history where children can dress up in replica costumes from Georgian and Victorian times and follow an activity trail around the Museum to learn about Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns.

Adults and older children can enjoy the museum’s newest attraction, Historic Edinburgh From Above, an aerial photography exhibition exploring the dramatic changes to the Edinburgh skyline over the 20th Century. Entry is free with spotlight guided tours taking place at 1:00pm and 3:00pm on Thursdays and Saturdays.

The beautiful grounds of Lauriston Castle, laid out by William Henry Playfair in the 1840s, are worth a wander – especially on Saturday 19 April from 10:00am when the Castle staff host their annual Easter egg hunt. Entry is £7 per person. Afterwards, why not stay for afternoon tea and a game of croquet? Further details and other workshops are available from the website. Guided tours of the Castle take place every day at 2:00pm except Friday.

For when the weather makes a turn, the City’s 28 community libraries will be open for borrowing – and much more besides. Visit the libraries’ website for further details or contact your local library for details of special holiday events.

For active kids, Edinburgh Leisure has a range of dedicated holiday activities for ages 3-13 years running throughout the fortnight, from free tennis tasters at Leith Links to trampolining at Meadowbank. Until the 21 April, Edinburgh Leisure is also offering free swimming to all primary school children at Dalry, Gracemount and Ainslie Park Leisure Centres. This year marks the first time the free sessions will be open to any public swim session at participating pools. Visit the website for further details.

After taking in the city, where better to enjoy the breathtaking views of Edinburgh than by climbing to the top of the tallest tribute to a writer in the world, the Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens. Equally impressive is the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.

At night, take the scenic route home passing through the spectacular Field of Light which will remain in St Andrew’s Square until 27 April. Entry is free.

There’s got to be something among that lot to keep the little dears happy?

Sorry, folks: council set to pull the plug on Leith Waterworld

The city council looks set to accept a £1m bid to convert Leith Waterworld into a soft play area, only months after agreeing to work with local campaigners to reopen the leisure pool as a community enterprise.

The decision will be formally made at tomorrow’s full council meeting, but speaking earlier today Culture and Leisure convener Councillor Richard Lewis said the “difficult decision” to support a proposal by Glasgow-based A&G Property Group to create a soft play and leisure centre at Waterworld had been taken.

Leith Waterworld closed in January last year, but supporters have campaigned to have the popular facility reopened ever since. Campaign group Splashback have worked tirelessly to get the facility reopened as a community asset – and felt they might be on the verge of success when councillors voted to support a feasibility study earlier this year – council officers have even been working alongside the Splashback group to firm up proposals.

However campaigners were concerned when news of the A&G bid emerged last week and Councillor Lewis’ comments today has confirmed their worst fears.

Councillor Lewis said: “This has been a very difficult decision and one that this Council does not take lightly. Firstly I’d like to thank Splashback for the work and commitment they have demonstrated in progressing the community bid. However this coalition feels that the potential purchaser will create a high quality leisure facility that will greatly benefit the community in Leith and the wider Edinburgh area.

“In recognition of Splashback’s commitment to creating affordable and accessible swimming opportunities for young people in the community, we’re proposing to commit £125,000 towards free swimming for primary aged children in Edinburgh.

“Ultimately this option ensures that the community in Leith has an accessible leisure facility for many years to come, that swimming opportunities are available and also that the Council gets best value for the taxpayers of Edinburgh.”

In a statement on their Facebook page, Splashback campaigners told friends and supporters: “Outraged to report to all our wonderful supporters that Coalition Motion for tomorrow’s Full Council meeting is to pull the plug on Waterworld and accept the other bid. We have, however, been working frantically behind the scenes in the last 24 hours to salvage SOMETHING for the city’s families.

“Consequently, the motion includes a commitment to ring-fence the £125,000 they promised us in the first year for a Council-led ‘programme of free swimming opportunities for primary aged children in Edinburgh, and other free swimming initiatives; and that the impact of these programmes will be monitored and assessed.’ SORRY FOLKS, that’s the best we could do …”

Commenting on the council’s decision to sell Leith Waterworld, Lothian Green MSP Alison Johnstone said: “This decision sends the worst possible message to communities trying to come together to protect services and improve facilities in their area. Despite all the warm words we hear on community empowerment and people power, when a developer comes along with a wad of cash, community efforts seem to count for little.”

She went on: “Families in Leith and right across the city made it very clear that they valued Waterworld as a unique leisure pool, and just five months after giving everyone hope that it would reopen, the Council have pulled the plug and campaigners will be feeling totally gutted.”

Spa in the City’s back next month

Capital Beauty Bonanza is Back

Spa in the City Returns with fresh new format and top beauty names

Beauty fans can look forward to a bumper weekend as Spa in the City – Edinburgh’s popular free beauty event – returns on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May for a sixth consecutive year.

Heading once again to St Andrew Square, the Essential Edinburgh extravaganza will feature a new ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ theme which will be accompanied by a fresh new format, with six of the city’s most prestigious beauty retailers – John Lewis, Jenners, Harvey Nichols, Boots, Debenhams and the Roxburghe Hotel – each taking over their own marquee.

The weekend will offer city centre shoppers the chance to ‘freshen up their look’ with a menu of free treatments, with brands for this year including Shu Uemura from Harvey Nichols, Liz Earle from John Lewis and Clarins which will be in the Jenners marquee. Luxurious treatments courtesy of the spa team at the city’s Roxburghe Hotel will also be available, alongside Superdrug and Lush Spa.

The event is organised and funded by Essential Edinburgh, the city’s Central Business Improvement District and aims to promote the wealth of beauty and lifestyle retailers on offer in Edinburgh city centre and encourage shoppers into the area.

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Spa in the City back once again for its sixth year. This has proven to be a really popular event with beauty lovers in Edinburgh and we are confident that this year’s line-up will not disappoint.

“This year, the move to have major retailers hosting their own marquee shows just how far this event has come and how important it has become in the Edinburgh retail calendar. By having this level of involvement in the event, retailers have a prime opportunity to showcase their offerings and brands to thousands of Edinburgh shoppers.

“The Spa in the City event is a great success, driving footfall in the centre and generating valuable follow up business for retailers throughout the city. As we near our renewal ballot, we would like to thank those who have been fantastic supporters of this event and we hope that local retailers will support Essential Edinburgh’s bid so that we can continue providing this key event in the years to come.”

As well as the large marquees, a selection of smaller marquees around the Melville Monument will house brands such as Molton Brown and Kiehls, as well as jazz band Swing Supreme who will be providing entertainment.

Marcello Ventisei, General Manager at Roxburghe Hotel, said: “Spa in the City is a fantastic event for us and having our own marquee this year is great in terms of driving our brand’s presence to the thousands of people passing through the event and the hundreds checking in for their complimentary treatments. The Roxburghe is rebranding to become a Crowne Plaza and this is an amazing opportunity to showcase our spa to the people of Edinburgh”

Spaces for treatments, which are limited to one per person, are secured at the registration desk on the event days from 9.30am until 4pm on a first come first served basis. Some pre-booking will be available through facebook and will be announced at a later date.

For more information visit www.essentialedinburgh.co.uk or www.facebook.com/edsitc