Mary, of Mary’s Milk Bar in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, graduated from ice-cream university. Naturally, Italy tops the University league tables when it comes to making ice-cream and Mary Hillard, originally from Yorkshire, studied at the prestigious Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna. However, childhood visits to milk bars in Scarborough and Whitby – both of which are still open today – provided the inspiration for the Edinburgh store. Mary has introduced
Ricky de Marco is a regular at the Sundial Cafe in Limekilns, Fife. The Edinburgh art impresario is not the only fan; locals in the scenic waterfront village keep coming back for the homebaking. Mike (pictured below) and Sandra Graham opened the cafe in September 2012 after careful restoration of the 400 year-old building. Clearly a labour of love, the restoration has revealed the beautiful stonework, complementing the dark slate
In November 2013, The BRuery, a new microbrewery and bar opened in the centre of Dunfermline, Fife. Owner David Austin, along with brewer, Douglas Ross developed de Brus beer, the town’s own blond ale, named after King Robert the Bruce. The BRuery has provide a home for the microbrewery and a bar serving the beer on draft. This is David’s second venture in Dunfermline – he already owns Reuben’s Cafe and
Things have moved fast at The Walled Garden, Kincardine in Fife. Within months of Avocado Sweet first featuring the garden, owners Keith Laing and Anne Crawford have built a 70 seater cafe and decamped from the tiny potting shed cafe opposite. The first event to be held since the new cafe opened in mid-July is a summer fete on Sunday 21 July. To raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Research there
‘Between 92 and 96 degrees is the perfect water temperature to make coffee’ – so says barista-trained Derek Rankin who opened Rankin’s cafe/deli in his home village, North Queensferry, Fife. The barista classes were run by his coffee supplier, Mathew Algie, one of the few companies to have a coffee roasting plant in Scotland. Barista classes are open to the general public/ non-customers of Mathew Algie at a cost of
Little did Niall Campbell realise when he was travelling from Glasgow to Culross every week for the pottery classes that he would later take over the Biscuit Gallery Cafe from his tutor, Camilla Garrett Jones. Two years after taking over from Camilla, and Niall is making some changes to the cafe and gallery. Upstairs the cafe has expanded into the gallery space and the ceramics and art are now displayed
Charles Lowther and the rest of the team behind the excellent George and Dragon in Clifton have this month opened the gardens and cafe at Askham Hall in Penrith, Cumbria. This the first stage of a project that will next year see the beautiful Grade 1 listed house offer rooms, restaurant and spa. For now you can visit the gardens with their colourful terraces, herbaceous borders, formal lawns, kitchen gardens
There may be no such thing as a free lunch but if you mention ‘Avocado Sweet’ at The Harbour Cafe Tayport this weekend, you can claim a free coffee or tea on us! The Harbour Cafe is a delightful little place serving homemade soup, sandwiches and cakes – all most welcome after a bracing walk on the vast, windswept expanse of nearby Tentsmuir Beach. The Cafe, which overlooks Tayport Harbour,
by John Cairney The rain in Crieff stays mainly right in your face and the night I was there, it was particularly on form. It was the elegance of the place that first caught my eye, even in a storm and the gracious, charcoal grey warmth of The Lounge drew me in. There was music in the French voice that greeted me. When I asked, ‘Do you by any chance
Trends in lifestyle and interiors come and go; each season heralds the next big thing whether its neon, folk or yet another outing for tartan. But some brands have transcended (or ignored) fashion to stand the test of time without Madonna-style reinventions. The three establishments featured here, all, coincidentally with a hippy vibe in common, are doing something they believe in without taking themselves too seriously. They offer cosy, relaxed interiors and all