Tag: reopening

Edinburgh Leisure to reopen it’s remaining Swim Centres

Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s largest sports and leisure operator, has announced it will be reopening the rest of its well-loved Victorian pools.  Warrender, Portobello, Dalry and Glenogle Swim Centres will reopen on Monday, 26 October. 

June Peebles, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted that we can finally reopen the rest of our beloved Victorian pools, which we know our customers and communities are so fond of. They’re unique buildings that we are justly proud to be the caretakers of.

“As you can imagine, bringing Edinburgh Leisure’s diverse range of venues and services ‘back to life’ in a COVID-19 environment is a big and complex task.  

And the additional restrictions that the First Minister announced last week, which meant the stopping of group fitness classes and a number of group activities for adults (although working out individually in the gym and swimming can still happen), has posed further challenges. These restrictions will hopefully have been lifted by the time our third round of venues reopen on Monday, 26th October.”

To allow our venues to re-open, Edinburgh Leisure needs to comply with the Scottish Government and sportscotland’s extensive guidance – which ensures venues are safe for customers and employees.

Initially it will be the Victorian pools (lane swimming, club swimming and Family Swim sessions), the fitness classes at three of the four venues and the gyms at Portobello and Glenogle that will be reopening.

Unfortunately, the gyms at Warrender and Dalry will remain closed, due to no ventilation systems installed and not complying with the new minimum requirements (as detailed by the Scottish Government).

Other services that will continue to remain closed are the Turkish Baths, steam room, rest area and Aerotone – the forerunner to the modern jacuzzi – at Portobello Swim Centre; the fitness class programme, free weights room (although this will be housed in the fitness studio) and sauna and steam room at Glenogle; and the sauna at Dalry.

June Peebles explained:  “As a charity and operating as a not-for-profit organisation, we need to balance the books and weigh up the viability of reopening various services in a COVID-19 compliant way.  Our number one goal is to provide our customers with a clean, safe, and enjoyable Edinburgh Leisure experience.”

The reopening of these four Victorian pools follows on from the reopening of seven other Edinburgh Leisure venues, which opened on 14 September and 21 September.  These include Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre, Drumbrae Leisure Centre, The Royal Commonwealth Pool, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, Gracemount Leisure Centre, and the EICA: Ratho.

Edinburgh Leisure’s six golf courses have been open since 4 June, and there has been a big upturn in demand for tee times.  The outdoor tennis courts at the Meadows have also been open since the end of May.

The Edinburgh Leisure experience will be different from before but customers will still receive the warm, Edinburgh Leisure welcome.

The main changes that customers will see are:

  • All activities must be pre booked via the Edinburgh Leisure app or website.
  • They will be operating in a cashless environment, accepting contactless payments.
  • Safety guidance will be on display throughout the venues.
  • Additional sanitisation stations have been installed throughout the venues for use before and after each visit.
  • All activities are timetabled with staggered session start times to reduce congestion.
  • It will be necessary for customers to wear face coverings in communal areas, (unless exempt) but not for their activities.

Edinburgh Leisure has produced a series of videos and guidelines to virtually help customers through their first visit, and have a new ‘Ask Us’ section, which is available on the website, advising and supporting customers to make a booking and answer any questions they may have.

Edinburgh Leisure, like every leisure trust in Scotland, is facing huge financial challenges.  They continue to lobby the Government for financial support for the sector to ensure the sector survives and can continue to contribute to the country’s health and wellbeing.

Edinburgh Leisure is joining an industry wide initiative led by ukactive.  The #FitTogether campaign aims to ensure a united front on behalf of the wider sector, which utilises key statistics that evidence the extremely low rates of COVID-19 transmission across the sector and demonstrates the vital role of the sector in the nation’s health and wellbeing.

The purpose of the campaign is to message that the sector is safe and essential and to influence customers and policy makers accordingly.

June Peebles, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure said:  “Edinburgh Leisure is committed to ‘building back better’ to a sustainable Edinburgh Leisure and to continue making a positive impact to the citizens of Edinburgh’s health and wellbeing – as we have done for the last 22 years.

“Never before has health and wellbeing been so important. And Edinburgh Leisure remain committed to supporting the people of Edinburgh to be active and enjoy good health.”

Edinburgh Leisure is a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active, healthy lives.  They do this by running over 30+ sports and leisure facilities across the city and deliver their Active Communities programme, which helps improve the lives of people affected by health conditions, poverty, inequalities, and disabilities. 

For more information:   www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

Stockbridge and McDonald Road among libraries to reopen today

The first phase of reopening Edinburgh’s libraries will see six branches opening today (Tuesday 6 October).

The six branches are:

•  Central Library

•  Kirkliston Library

•  McDonald Road Library

•  Fountainbridge Library

•  Stockbridge Library

•  Newington Library

Initially at least, services will be restricted. As you might expect, numbers within buildings will be limited and social distancing measures will be in place. Face coverings are mandatory in Libraries.

From Tuesday 6 October you can:

  • return your books
  • pick up Hey Girls sanitary products

You will have to book a slot to:

  • browse and borrow books
  • use a public computer
  • apply for a National Entitlement Card (bus pass)
  • collect hearing aid batteries

You can make your booking online here.

Or by phoning one of the six branches above.

Read our reopening frequently asked questions for further details of how services will work in our reopened libraries.

We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back!

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Donald Wilson said: “It’s a really positive step forward that these six libraries are opening to the public ahead of schedule as they are invaluable resources for our local communities.

“This phased reopening, which will also see community access to sports facilities in secondary schools start up again next month, is an important step in our plans for a phased reopening of community assets across the city.

“Libraries are a vital requirement in any democratic society, giving access to knowledge and literature, helping to bridge the digital divide and also centres for strengthening local communities.”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan said: “We really appreciate everyone’s support and patience as we gradually reopen our libraries, welcoming people back into their local spaces.

“Although services will be limited initially due to current restrictions, with an online booking service for some such as browsing and borrowing, I’m sure everyone will fully appreciate that our top priority remains the health of our residents and library colleagues.

“This cautious approach demonstrates our commitment and recognition of the importance of public libraries in this, the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature.”

Building Back Better: Edinburgh Leisure reopens venues

Edinburgh Leisure reopens six of its leisure venues

Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s largest sports and leisure operator, will be reopening its doors at six of its venues, today, Monday, 14 September 2020.

The venues reopening on 14 September are:  Ainslie Park Leisure Centre (badminton, fitness, gym, swim), Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre (badminton, fitness, gym and indoor and outdoor tennis and squash), Drumbrae Leisure Centre (badminton, fitness, gym, swim), The Royal Commonwealth Pool (fitness, gym, swim) Leith Victoria (fitness, gym, swim), and Gracemount Leisure Centre (badminton, fitness, gym, swim).

They will initially be reopening their gyms, fitness classes, tennis, badminton and squash courts, and lane swimming in these centres. Bookings went live for members at 9pm on Thursday, 10 September and for non-members on Friday, 11 September.

Their six golf courses have been open since 4 June, and there has been a big upturn in demand for tee times.  Their outdoor tennis courts have also been open since June and have been free to play.

Whilst First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon brought forward the date that indoor leisure venues could reopen to 31 August 2020, Edinburgh Leisure has always been working towards the original date that was indicated of 14 September.

An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson explained:  “We’re delighted to be re-opening the doors at six of our venues on 14 September and have been busy preparing for our customers return. We’ve missed them, as I know, many of them us.

“As you can imagine, bringing Edinburgh Leisure’s diverse range of venues and services ‘back to life’ in a COVID-19 environment is a big and complex task.  We had over 900 staff on furlough, and it’s been necessary to check and refresh/update relevant compliance training before we could reopen, for example. Our number one goal is to provide our customers with a clean, safe and enjoyable Edinburgh Leisure experience.”

The Edinburgh Leisure experience will be different from before but customers will still receive the warm, Edinburgh Leisure welcome.

The main changes that customers will see are:

  • All activities must be pre booked via the Edinburgh Leisure app or website;
  • They will be operating in a cashless environment, accepting contactless payments;
  • Safety guidance will be on display throughout the venues;
  • Additional sanitisation stations have been installed throughout the venues for use before and after each visit;
  • All activities are timetabled with staggered session start times to reduce congestion;
  • Customers will be encouraged to wear face coverings in communal areas, but not for their activities.

Edinburgh Leisure has produced a series of videos and guidelines to virtually help customers through their first visit, and have a new ‘Ask Us’ section, which is available on their website, advising and supporting customers to make a booking and answering any questions they may have.

Edinburgh Leisure, like every leisure trust in Scotland, is facing huge financial challenges.  They continue to lobby the Government for financial support for the sector to ensure the sector survives and can continue to contribute to the country’s health and wellbeing.

June Peebles, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure said:  “Edinburgh Leisure is committed to ‘building back better’ to a sustainable Edinburgh Leisure and to continue making a positive impact to the citizens of Edinburgh’s health and wellbeing – as we have done for the last 22 years.

“Never before has health and wellbeing been so important. And Edinburgh Leisure remain committed to supporting the people of Edinburgh to be active and enjoy good health.”

Edinburgh Leisure is a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active, healthy lives.  They do this by running over 30+ sports and leisure facilities across the city and deliver their Active Communities programme, which helps improve the lives of people affected by health conditions, poverty, inequalities and disabilities. 

For more information:   www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

Phased reopening planned as museums and galleries look forward to welcoming back visitors

Collective statement from Scotland’s museums and galleries:

We warmly welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement that museums and galleries can reopen our doors as part of the third phase of lockdown easing and we are looking forward to greeting our visitors once again.

While we are collaborating as a sector to support and share knowledge of how to best welcome back visitors, we will be reopening at varying times starting this summer and will make our individual announcements as soon as we are each able to do so.

Reopening involves individual logistical challenges which we are approaching with a focus on protecting the health and safety of our visitors and employees whilst ensuring a quality visitor experience.

We are all becoming more familiar with physical distancing and additional hygiene measures in our public spaces, and museums and galleries are similarly preparing in line with Government guidelines. 

Training will enable our dedicated teams to continue to provide excellent customer support before and during visits. We support the introduction of the UK-wide ‘We’re Good to Go’ certification in reassuring all our visitors, staff and volunteers that they can be confident of their safety.

We know that our visitors are eager to visit as soon as possible so we will be encouraging them to check our opening details online before they visit.

In many cases, temporary ticketing systems will allow the booking of timed slots to enjoy our sites and our collections.

Some museums and galleries may operate on different days or times and some may open partially so checking in advance will help visitors to prepare for any temporary experiential changes.

Some museums and galleries, including those operating seasonally or reliant on the support of volunteers, may delay reopening until they are financially and operationally able to do so. We will continue to connect digitally with our communities.   

Scotland’s museums and galleries and the collections they care for and display play a vital economic, educational and placemaking role in our rural and urban communities.

The pandemic has been challenging for all, and collectively, we would like to express our gratitude to the public for their ongoing engagement and support.  

We look forward to doing all we can to support Scotland’s recovery as soon as is safely possible, through spaces and collections that bring us together, comfort, educate, spark conversations and inspire creativity.

Museums Galleries Scotland

National Museums Scotland

The National Galleries of Scotland

Glasgow Life

V&A Dundee

Industrial Museums Scotland

Brand new brasserie back from the brink

AN AMBITIOUS new restaurant that launched just weeks before lockdown has come back from the brink – after its owner was told it was too new to qualify for grants and the furlough scheme.

Pier Brasserie, the £100K transformation of the former Prezzo site, within Newhaven’s prime former Fishmarket building, launched with much excitement and anticipation in February.

Within weeks it became clear that the spread of Covid-19 was set to devastate the sector along with the dreams of owner Mark Patonyi, one of city’s most esteemed restaurant managers, previously front of house at Martin Wishart’s The Honours, Manager of Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond and general manager of Steak Restaurant at Picardy Place.

Now, Mark, 36, alongside head chef and friend Vladimir Garcik and a team of two, has opened a take away offering, enabling foodies to sample high-quality bistro dishes while taking in the views of Newhaven lighthouse and the bridges, from the harbour.

The father of one, who moved to the UK from Hungary in 2007, said: “It may sound cliché, but 2020 has been an unbelievable rollercoaster of emotions.

“From the highs of our amazing opening – and those initial few weeks which saw us packed out – everything came crashing down.

“It looked like we would never be able to recover – and it has been heart-breaking that we can’t even offer our team the small comfort of furlough, as we’re so new we didn’t receive our PAYE reference number until after the 19 March cut-off date.

“We’re still doing everything we can to appeal that, as it just feels so unfair. As a new business we’ve not had any chance of building up cash reserves.

“Up until a few weeks ago it didn’t seem feasible that we could launch a take-away offering, but it got to the point I couldn’t sit around and wait for my fate any longer.”

He has subsequently launched a carefully selected menu utilising the best local and Scottish produce, including seafood landed in the harbour and meat from Donald Russell butchers. Included in the menu will be ciabattas, fish and chips, burgers, salads and desserts – as well as few options available each day for children.

Mark added: “The menu is an honest reflection of the food we were serving in the restaurant prior to lockdown – and easily enjoyed outside or at home.

“We’ve put in place all safety precautions too and had the team practice everything rigorously to ensure we can do this in the safest possible way. It gives us a chance to safely gear up to a potential part-opening in weeks, depending on how guidelines change.

“I also want to give a huge thanks to those that have offered kind messages during lockdown, knowing the situation we’re in.”

Ahead of the February launch Mark had been at the heart of the £100,000+ transformation of the site, project managing each process to ensure they meet his exceptionally high standards – as well as hand-picking a 15-strong team.

For more information about Pier Brasserie or to get first sight of the new menu when it launches, visit: https://www.pierbrasserie.com/ or follow us on Facebook @pierbrasserie and Instagram @pierbrasserie

Arusha Gallery to reopen tomorrow

Virtual Exhibition becomes real as staff prepare to open Ilona Szalay’s Some Are Born to Sweet Delight, Some Are Born to Endless Night at Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh

Exhibition Dates: 12 June 2020 until 12 July 2020

Arusha Gallery Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm.

After a little over 3 months since it closed its doors in March Arusha Gallery is set to reopen to the public. The gallery in Edinburgh’s New Town has measures in place to ensure social distancing is maintained, that staff are protected and a high level of hygiene is maintained.

Arusha runs a yearly programme of exhibitions, events and fairs, both nationally and internationally, with regular collaborations with guest artists, curators, festivals and institutions.

The Gallery has continued its exhibition programme throughout lockdown using online viewing rooms where its current exhibition Ilona Szalay’s Some Are Born to Sweet Delight, Some Are Born to Endless Night is on display.

It will remain there for those who are not yet able or comfortable with a gallery visit but last week the staff ensured that it now also hangs on the gallery’s walls ready for people to enjoy in person from Monday through until 12 July 2020.

Agnieszka Prendota, Creative Director at Arusha Gallery said: “We feel a huge sense of relief and release being able to open up the Gallery and share the wonderful work that our artists create with people in person again.

“It is a huge step forward. Our wonderful audiences and customers have been very supportive throughout this period but I know that we will all feel more joy for being able to come together albeit within restrictions to experience our artists’ work first hand and to reawaken parts of our souls that have remained locked up in recent months.

“We are in full mode preparing for the reopening, with a supply of masks, gloves and sanitiser to be accessible at the entrance to the gallery. We will have an A board outlining the social distancing measure within the gallery where they will move clockwise around the exhibition space.

“We have worked out that 6 people can be in the gallery at any one time. With all of these measures in place though the atmosphere in the gallery can remain relaxed and open. It’s certainly easier than navigating a supermarket!”

 Some Are Born to Sweet Delight, Some Are Born to Endless Night shows a new body of work by Beirut-born Szalay on aluminium, glass and paper.

Szalay, a graduate of Central St Martins describes her work: “In the paintings we see statues petrified and bound on their pedestals. Disembodied arms which encircle with dependence and dominance.

“Broken mythological figures seemingly stunned by their own constraint and ineptitude. Gloriously ambivalent gods and goddesses remain coolly indifferent to what seethes below. And of course ‘the cage’ – the Blakian cage for the robin – the frame itself that holds the image, frozen in postures of pleasure, sensuality, pain, confusion, titillation and torture.”

Through a range of media from canvas to tracing paper, LED light to glass, Szalay engages the multitudinous dichotomies that make up both collective and individual subjective experience in her own restrained, poetic visual language.  

Agnieszka Prendota added: “We are thrilled to be opening the gallery with Ilona Szalay’s show; her works are so tactile and enthralling.

“It feels right that, now again, it is possible for Edinburghs’ public to experience them in their full impact.”

www.arushagallery.com/

Instagram, Arusha Gallery:  www.instagram.com/arushagallery

Recycling Centres to reopen on Monday – but it’s appointment only

Edinburgh’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will reopen from Monday (1 June), with changes in place to ensure the safety of staff and the public. To minimise crowding and help staff and customers to maintain physical distancing, centres will reopen on an appointment-only basis.

HWRCs are expected to be extremely busy at the beginning so we’re encouraging the public only to visit if necessary and if waste can’t be stored safely at home.

Time slots can be booked online from this afternoon (Thursday, 28 May) though will be limited to one per household for the first two weeks of reopening.

Anyone without an appointment will not be permitted to enter recycling centres. Full details of restrictions at each of the city’s three sites will be available online.

Special uplifts will also resume on Monday, 1 June, and the council will be accepting online bookings for the collection of bulky items from today (Thursday, 28 May), with a maximum of five items per household.

Both services were suspended in March due to staff shortages and physical distancing guidance, as well as Scottish Government advice against non-essential journeys.

However, in light of changes to guidance from the Scottish Government, HWRCs at Seafield, Sighthill and Craigmillar will reopen. With enough crew members now in place the council is now able to resume special uplifts too.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We’ve been working extremely hard to deliver services as close to normally as possible and, as of Monday, HWRCs will be reopening, on an appointment-only basis.

“However, it’s likely recycling centres will be extremely busy at the beginning, so please only visit if you are unable to continue storing your waste safely at home and ensure you book an arrival slot if you are coming.

“It’s essential that we look after the health of all those who work in and visit our HWRCs, and there will be changes to the way they operate for the foreseeable future to allow us to do this.

“I’m grateful to residents for their patience as we have adjusted to this unprecedented situation, and I’d like to thank them for holding on to any bulky items, and those who continue to do so during the initial busy period.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m pleased that, following Scottish Government guidance and as changes to allow crews to maintain physical distancing have bedded in, we’ve been able to reintroduce these services while ensuring the safety of our staff.

“It’s thanks to the efforts of our waste team that we have been able to resume this service, albeit on a reduced basis, and I hope that residents join me in recognising the commitment they’ve made to keeping the city moving during this difficult time.

“Please help us to protect workers’ safety, and your own, by following our guidance and only visiting HWRCs if it is absolutely necessary.”

A dedicated online booking system for HWRCs will be available on the Council website from this afternoon – it won’t be possible to book visits over the phone as the contact centre continues to focus on emergency calls.

During the initial period only cars will be permitted on-site, no vans or trailers, and staff will not be able to help unload vehicles so please only bring what you can carry.

Queueing is expected at each HWRC upon reopening and there will be traffic management in place, including at Seafield, where we will be temporarily reverting to the old entrance on Fillyside Road for the first three weeks.

The special uplift service is expected to be busy during the first weeks, so there may be a wait for collections – check the council website for updates.

Residents can book an uplift on the Council website – though not currently over the phone while phone lines are kept free so contact centre staff can deal with emergency calls. Special uplifts are charged at £5 per item and details of what we can and can’t collect are available online.

Garden waste collections were reintroduced from 12 May after they were suspended in April, and glass recycling collections, which were suspended in March, recommenced from 28 April.

Further information on changes to bin collections and other services can be found on the Council website.

Celebrations as LOVE Gorgie Farm opens its doors

LOVE Gorgie Farm, formerly Gorgie City Farm, opened its doors yesterday with a huge celebration and range of family-friendly activities.

Depute Lord Provost, Cllr Joan Griffiths, joined with a number of local celebrities including radio presenter Grant Stott, Hearts CEO Ann Budge and Hibs footballer Ryan Porteous, as well as Edinburgh and Scotland rugby players, politicians and council representatives.

Children (and adults too!) got the chance to feed the animals on the farm, which included pigs, sheep and goats, and took some newly arrived alpacas for a stroll.

There was also face-painting and a henna tattooist on hand, as well as entertainment for all, including tombola, music, a photo booth and much more.

Education and social care charity, LOVE Learning, took over the site of the former Gorgie City Farm in January after it went into liquidation in November last year.

LOVE Learning also organised a community consultation event, where visitors had the opportunity to tell the new operators about their hopes for the future of the urban farm.

The farm had been opened earlier than expected thanks to the assistance of hundreds of volunteers who assisted in the two weeks running up to the reopening.

The farm remains open seven days a week and will be free for visitors. LOVE Learning will keep using the site as an urban farm as part of its portfolio of environmental projects.

In addition, LOVE Gorgie Farm provides educational services to children through animal and forest therapy. It also provides a range of professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority awarded qualifications, as well as looking to be involved in organising social prescribing and wellbeing therapies in partnership with the NHS in the future.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning said: “We are incredibly excited to be opening LOVE Gorgie Farm much earlier than we anticipated, would like to thank those who came today and look forward to welcoming many more visitors through our doors.

“I would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who have given up their valuable time to help get the farm up and running earlier than anticipated. We could not have done it without their crucial role.

“Not only will the farm remain open seven days a week and remain free, but we will provide a range of exciting education, environmental and social care programmes supporting vulnerable individuals.”

Depute Lord Provost, Cllr Joan Griffiths, said: “I was delighted to attend the opening and see the fantastic work that is going on, including a range of environmental and educational programmes.

“As a Council we look forward to working in partnership with LOVE Gorgie Farm going forward.”

Ann Budge, owner of Heart of Midlothian Football Club which has worked closely with the farm over the years said: “We are delighted to see the farm reopening as LOVE Gorgie Farm and look forward to establishing a positive relationship with LOVE Learning as the new operators.

“Like Hearts, the farm is at the very heart of the local community and we look forward to working with them.”

Sandy McCall Smith, author of the No. 1 Detective Agency and 44 Scotland Street books, among others, said: “I am aware of the major role that Gorgie City Farm, now LOVE Gorgie Farm, plays in the local community.

“It is wonderful news that it has been rescued. It brings animals and the countryside into the lives of so many children, young people and adults, who might otherwise feel cut off from such things. Put simply, LOVE Gorgie Farm does a great deal of good.”