Tag: Ocean Terminal

M & S Ocean Terminal store to close

Marks and Spencer is to close it’s food store in Ocean Terminal. The store will close before the end of the year, but the company insists ‘the vast majority’ of Leith staff will be offered new jobs other M & S stores.

Scott Munro, M&S’s regional manager for the east of Scotland, said: “Shopping habits are changing and we’re reshaping our store estate across Scotland and the UK to make sure we’re reflecting the needs of our customers.

“As part of this transformation, we have today announced to colleagues our decision to close the M&S Ocean Terminal store at Ocean Terminal later this year.

“Our priority is to support our colleagues through these changes and we are confident of being able to offer new roles to the vast majority of those affected.

“We are committed to Edinburgh and this decision means there are more opportunities to invest in our eight other stores across the city.”

A spokesperson for Ocean Terminal said:  “Proposals by M&S to downsize its portfolio of stores across the UK have been well known for some time. Owing to the changing direction of M&S’s business needs, they have taken the decision not to renew their lease at Ocean Terminal. We wish them well for the future.  

“But their decision does not impact on our plans. Instead, it has allowed us to actively pursue a range of opportunities for partnership with alternative food retailers as part of ongoing plans to reconfigure Ocean Terminal and shape the ongoing transformation of the centre and its important waterfront location.” 

Responding to news of the closure of the Marks & Spencer store in Ocean Terminal, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “I was shocked to find out today that the M&S store in Ocean Terminal is set for closure with the loss of a number of jobs. This could be the death knell for Ocean Terminal.

“Marks & Spencer is one of Ocean Terminal’s remaining flagship outlets for the area.

“With the tram set to arrive before long, I fear that this is a short-term decision that will damage Leith in the long-term.

“I will be writing to Marks & Spencer to seek a meeting to urgently review this decision.”

Artist J.O.T. and BBC 2 Gardeners’ World

James Owen Thomas’ art exhibition with the Image Collective Gallery at Ocean Terminal, Leith continues until 30th September so there’s only a short time left to see this inspirational artwork created from recycled single use products such as used scratch cards!

James will also be featured on BBC2 Gardeners’ World next Friday (16th September) at 8 pm, where he is interviewed by JJ Chalmers (above).

Artist J.O.T. and Royal Yacht Britannia

Following the successful ‘Meet The Artist’ event that took place earlier this week at the FROM WASTE TO WALL exhibition held at the Image Collective Gallery in Leith, James Owen Thomas (also known by his initials J.O.T.) arranged to meet Laura McCall, marketing manager of The Royal Yacht Britannia & Fingal Hotel Ocean Drive Leith.

The exhibition takes place directly opposite Britannia’s Visitor Centre and James was delighted to present Ms McCall with a framed original collage Emblem for the Royal Yacht Britannia. 

Laura received a personal tour around the art exhibition before inviting James for a tour on board the Britannia.  As a COP26 One Step Greener ambassador and environmental artist, James was very impressed with Britannia’s environmental commitment to eliminate, reduce, reuse and recycle waste and he hopes to collaborate with Britannia and Fingal on future projects. 

These are his thoughts exactly as James describes how the art he creates has all been made from recycled items. 

He said: “If what I can do will encourage and inspire people to re-use and recycle, then hopefully we can look forward to a more environmentally-friendly future.” 

James’ exhibition at the Image Collective Gallery, 2nd Floor, Ocean Terminal continues until 30th September and he can be contacted via his website www.jamesowenthomas.com or by email art@jamesowenthomas.com

St Columba’s Fashion Show at Ocean Terminal

Join us on 21 Aug, 2pm @ The Wee Hub brought to you by The Living Memory Association in @Ocean_Terminal for a fun-raising fashion show in aid of the Hospice!

We’ll be celebrating our volunteers and showcasing a selection of bridal gowns and evening wear.

Entry is free!

Police appeal after woman injured in Ocean Terminal incident

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 30-year-old woman was injured at Ocean Terminal Edinburgh at the weekend.

The incident happened around 5.30pm on Saturday (25 June, 2022) when the woman was struck by a shopping trolley which had been thrown from a higher level of the Red Car Park at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre by a group of youths.

The trolley struck the 30-year-old woman causing minor injury, she did not require hospital treatment but was left extremely shaken by the incident.

Several members of the public came to the aid of the victim and we are asking for them, any other witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to make contact with police on 101 quoting incident number 3433 of Sunday 26 June 2022.

Alternatively, anyone with any information can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org

Upcycled piano sculptures hit perfect note at The Wee Hub

An enormous six-meter-high sculpture of three elephant tusks made entirely of upcycled pianos goes on display as part of a new exhibition marking the official launch of The Wee Hub at Ocean Terminal this Sunday (19 June 2022).

The sculpture, ‘The Elephant in the Room’, is a tripod of elephant tusks topped with more than 50 ‘ivories’ and is one of ten that can be seen in and around the Wee Hub’s community space, which has taken over the former Debenhams store at the waterfront centre in Leith.

Also on display is ‘Half of a Piano Cube’, a pyramid of three playable pianos, ‘Power to the People’, two grand pianos each boasting a large gramophone-like pentagonal horn made from lids and soundboards and ‘Piano Meant-A-Lot’, an allotment shed made entirely from old pianos and piano parts which houses a beautiful old playable upright piano. 

Legless grand piano planter boxes will be filled with vegetables and flowers to complete the bucolic idyll of this particular exhibit.

Each interactive sculpture, conceived and created in Leith by the Pianodrome Community Interest Company, uses locally sourced pianos and the exhibition is their first appearance in Scotland.

As part of The Wee Hub’s official launch, which includes a parade around the centre, circus performances and a series of free events, Tim Vincent -Smith, the artist who designed the sculptures, and Matthew Wright, the Pianodrome producer, will be there from 3pm – 4pm along with Danny McGeever, Edinburgh-based singer songwriter, and Nikki Hill of Dripping Tap Theatre, to give a tour of the sculptures, animating them with music and movement.

Expect music, clowning and a rendition of Sunshine on Leith from Danny.Sean Logan of Full Spectrum, will be there playing the sculptures all day.

Miles Tubb of the Living Memory Association which with the support of Ocean Terminal’s owners created The Wee Hub as a free collaborative space for local community groups in the heart of Leith, said: “Pianodrome’s sculptures are simply fantastic and opening their exhibition as part of our official launch day hits the perfect note.

“They are a community-led organisation, just as all the groups here at The Wee Hub, bringing people together to enjoy the arts, music and our heritage. The day will be a colourful and lively display of local people’s creativity and talents from dance through to circus performance.”

Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright who are also both musicians from the band S!nk set up Pianodrome in 2017 to build the world’s first amphitheatre made entirely from upcycled pianos. Tim said:

“The sculptures were commissioned by the Leeds International Piano Competition and formed a piano trail around the city which was enjoyed by tens of thousands of people – many made the journey specifically to see them. Having set up in Leith and collecting and working with old pianos from the area, however, exhibiting our sculptures at Ocean Terminal could not be more perfect – it is a bit of a homecoming.

“Working with The Wee Hub also presents us with many opportunities for further collaborations. Here we are at the heart of a lively and creative community and with the likes of Tinderbox, who are also based at OT, we hope to bring piano-inspired workshops and events in the months ahead.”

The Wee Hub Launch also includes a laser sculpture workshop with the artist Jonathon Elder, a fencing demonstration from Salle Holyrood Fencing, Circus workshops from Think Circus, music workshops from Tinderbox, a model railway exhibit, and heritage exhibitions.

There is also a dance programme beginning at 11am with a children’s disco, jazz, a parade and a show from the International Dancers of the Edinburgh Festival Carnival.

The Wee Hub Launch Day Programme:

  • 11am Children’s disco
  • 1pm – Nouvelle Jukebox.  Edinburgh based duo. Jazzy vocals and swinging guitar.
  • 2pm – Cutting of ribbon and parade round the Centre
  • 2.30  – International Dancers from Edinburgh Festival Carnival
  • 3pm – Pianodrome tour with music and movement.
  • 3.15pm – Think Circus performance

Projekt 42 to close in June

A STATEMENT from PROJEKT 42:

Projekt 42 will close on 10th June 2022.

Projekt 42 launched in 2017. Our main objective was to build a self-sustaining charity that used the income from the sale of fitness and yoga classes to fund a free and low-cost mental health service.

However, since November 2020, we have not been able to find a suitable venue in Edinburgh that could work to bring all of our services together.

As a result, without income-generating activities, such as the sale of gym memberships, yoga classes and personal training, we can no longer continue to fund the mental health services.

While we had hoped to secure funding that could be used to fund the operational costs of the mental health services, unfortunately, there are not enough funding opportunities available to support the demand for the much needed mental health services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Projekt 42’s model aims to generate the income necessary to support free and low-cost counselling, and our objective is to work to create sustainable changes in the community. Relying on funding opportunities to achieve this is not possible and does not allow us to build a strong team or sustainable service.

The demand for meeting everyday business goals mixed with much-needed social outcomes can sometimes seem impossible. To avoid becoming reliant on grant funding, as of 10th June 2022, Projekt 42’s services will close to redesign the model.

We want to thank all our members, volunteers and the wider Projekt 42 community for your support and encouragement over the last five years.

– The Projekt 42 Team

Edinburgh Remakery celebrates outstanding achievement with Queen’s Award for Enterprise success

A vibrant social enterprise based in Leith’s Ocean Terminal has won one of the UK’S most prestigious business accolades, recognising outstanding achievement in social and environmental sustainability, coupled with significant and responsible business growth.

The Edinburgh Remakery, an environmental social enterprise based in Scotland’s capital, has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, recognised for its excellence in Sustainable Development. 

The Edinburgh Remakery teaches and adopts sustainable practices around repair and reuse to prevent valuable materials and resources, such as electronic devices, from going to waste, and reducing pollution and carbon emissions. In this way, the social enterprise aids the urgent need to change the UK’s economy to one that is more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.

Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery said:“Receiving the Queens Award for Enterprise is an amazing achievement for us. We’re delighted to receive this recognition for our work in sustainability, and it is a great testament to the role of social enterprises in creating positive change in our communities.

“Putting people and planet first is at the heart of our operations, and this award is a triumph for the circular economy and its vital role in helping Edinburgh and the UK hit their ambitious net zero targets, ending waste and pollution, and helping people to Waste Less, Live More.” 

In 2021, the Edinburgh Remakery collected 39 tonnes of electronic waste collected from businesses and individuals across the UK, 352 people were taught repair and reuse skills to help them mend and extend the life of their belongings, and 412 free electronic devices were gifted to people in need across Edinburgh to tackle digital poverty and social isolation.

Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. The Edinburgh Remakery is one of 31 organisations across the UK to be awarded recognition in Sustainable Development. 

The Edinburgh Remakery team will head to Buckingham Palace next month to formally receive their Queens Award for Enterprise.

This year, 232 businesses representing every part of the United Kingdom and a range of sectors have been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen on her birthday as among the best in the country.

Awards have been won in the categories of:

  • International Trade (141 winners)
  • Innovation (51)
  • Sustainable Development (31)
  • Promoting Opportunity (9)  

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: “This country is renowned for its entrepreneurial achievements and there is no greater showcase for it than The Queen’s Awards. It’s vital we celebrate the success of our businesses and recognise the contributions they make to communities across the country.

“I congratulate this year’s winners for their hard work and commitment over the last year and I wish them every success for the future.”

New Community Hub launches at former Debenhams in Ocean Terminal

The former Debenhams store at Ocean Terminal has temporarily re-opened its doors to welcome community groups across Leith and the capital, as a new social enterprise delivered under the umbrella of the Living Memory Association.

The Wee Hub brings life to the empty unit while its future is decided.

For the next few months, The Wee Hub will occupy the ground and first floor of the old department store. As well as bringing in a variety of arts, drama and sports organisations to make use of the space, the Living Memory Association has constructed areas dedicated to dance and theatre, children’s play, crafts, a library and a ‘wee sit and knit’ (amongst many others) to bring people of all ages together.

It will also be the base for several community projects including the Wee Crowd of Folk, where anyone can dress or decorate one of the many available mannequins, the Wee Reekie, which invites people to paint where they live and the Wee Heritage Centre.

Whilst the wider shopping centre at Ocean Terminal is going through planning consents to revitalise the centre and introduce a mixed use offering in the longer term, this empty space of over 90,000 sq ft has been made available by the centre owners for community groups to use and enjoy free of charge.

Some of the community groups to take advantage of the new Hub space include:

  • Sikh Sanjog – local charity will host a mural project offering insight into the Sikh Community and a powerful response to the global pandemic along-with a celebration event
  • Salle Holyrood Fencing Club – intend to introduce schools and other groups to the sport and have three Team GB members in the team that will deliver group and individual lessons
  • Citadel Youth Centre – offers a wide range of social, recreational, and educational activities for children and young people in Leith and plans to use space as a separate breakout area to its main location on Commercial Street
  • Thistle Model Makers – a group of railway modellers based in Edinburgh will use part of the ground floor to display some of their exhibition layouts set in Britain, Europe and the US
  • Street Soccer – already located within OT its facilities will extend to use the hub to continue its mission to inspire and empower young people through football starting with an Easter event bringing their Hexagol to the centre, a fully-inclusive mobile sports arena, allowing players of all ages to practice and play in a safe environment
  • Think Circus – their talented team of performers and creators will hold a variety of engaging and entertaining workshops and performances to bring people together
  • Tinderbox – will use the space to continue to support young people to gain new skills, confidence and a sense of possibility through music and arts.
  • Edinburgh Festival Carnival – will display the vibrant carnival costumes for 2022 as well as use the hub as a making space for artists and community participants
  • Giraffes About Town – The Wee Hub provides studio space for artists painting their giraffe sculptures for Edinburgh Zoo’s sculpture trail due to hit the streets of Edinburgh this summer.

Miles Tubb, project co-ordinator of The Living Memory Association said: “Our new community hub provides a much-needed lifeline to groups on the back of Covid that require additional and flexible space to support their needs.

“Whilst this is a temporary facility for us to use and enjoy, it is fantastic that Ocean Terminal has had the drive and determination to repurpose the unit for the community, rather than leaving it to stand empty.”

Michelle Macleod, Centre Manager at Ocean Terminal, added: “As a team we are excited to welcome this incredibly varied mix of sports and arts community groups to the centre.

“As our community opens up again post COVID, these organisations will bring new energy to the centre and create more reasons beyond our current retail and leisure offering for new and existing audiences to come to OT.”

A dedicated website for The Wee Hub will be launched shortly detailing the activity schedule for the groups, as well as upcoming special performances.

The Hub is keen to hear from organisations across the city who may want to use the space for one-off events and would welcome contact to comhist@googlemail.com

Proposals for major new residential serviced living development next to Ocean Terminal to go on display

The public is to be given the opportunity to view proposals by Crosslane Residential Developments (Crosslane) for an exciting new residential serviced living development at Ocean Point 2, next to Leith’s Ocean Terminal. 

Residential serviced living is a new type of fully furnished accommodation, with shared social spaces focused on creating a vibrant sense of community and all-inclusive rents, covering utilities and other living costs.

The scheme will comprise 293 units providing a mix of studio, 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments, with 74 of these offered at affordable intermediate rent levels.

The proposed high-quality, new development will be entirely different to other residential accommodation. The entire building is designed to be a living environment. The principle is that residents sleep in their room but ‘live’ in the building by taking advantage of the wide range of shared communal space and facilities available, generating a real sense of community within the development.

A development such as this responds to market demand for quality rental homes. This is fuelled by a lack of new housing supply coming to the market, an increasing proportion of young professionals looking for more flexibility in how they live and work, and challenges in affordability with many young people being priced out of an expensive and highly competitive apartment-based rental marketplace.

Research from letting portal Citylets reveals the average monthly rent in Edinburgh’s private rental sector rose by 9.8% to £1,191 in the last three months of 2021. This is rent cost alone and does not include utilities and other normal living costs.

93% of one and two-bedroom properties in the Capital found new tenants within one month, with average rents reaching £813 (up 4.9%) for a one-bed apartment, while two-bed apartments achieved average rentals of £1,111, up 9.8%.

The proposal from Crosslane will provide a new residential serviced living development that is affordable and hassle-free,  in a convenient, accessible location, inclusive of utilities and bills. Target customers include local residents, young professionals, key workers and nomadic professionals drawn to Edinburgh by project led employment.

A Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) has been submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council, and two consultation events will be held. 

Due to the ongoing pandemic and issues surrounding the COVID-19 virus, the Scottish Government has issued guidance encouraging developers to use online or digital engagement methods whilst public gatherings are prohibited. 

On Thursday, 10 February 2022, between 3 pm and 7 pm, the development team will be available at www.oceanpoint2.com to answer your questions through a dedicated chat system as part of the digital consultation.  

This will enable visitors to communicate directly with the design and advisory team and for them to answer any questions. 

Details of the proposals will go live on the website from 9am. A second event is planned for March.

Visitors who do not have online access to exhibition materials can request hard copies from hello@oceanpoint2.com or contact Orbit Communications on 0131 202 3259 or at 4 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE.  

Mark Hughes, Managing Director at Crosslane Residential Developments, said: “Crosslane and its advisory team are looking forward to be giving the local public the chance to view and comment on exciting proposals for our Ocean Point 2 development in Leith.

“This is an incredibly appealing prospect for both Leith and Edinburgh as a whole. Residential serviced living represents an innovative affordable housing solution at a time when rental accommodation prices in the capital are soaring, and there are serious demands on housing supply.

“Our proposals will significantly assist in the regeneration and expansion of this part of the city. We are consulting extensively to ensure that people from across the local area have an opportunity to input their views and shape our ambitious proposals.  

“We encourage all interested parties to speak to the team on 10 February and to put any questions you have to them.”