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Top Free Fringe in the 2009 Edinburgh Festival

Friday, July 3rd, 2009Andy Hayes

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Well, it seems tradition that we highlight the free events and activities in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (you can see our 2008 list here). So here’s our recommendations for free stuff in this year’s festival – the links point to the official Edinburgh Fringe website, where you can read more about each suggestion. Some events are first-come, first-served while others require a reservation so be sure to book where it is required in order to avoid disappointment.

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  • The 80s Movie Flashback. Find out what’s happened to your favourite 80s stars. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis.
  • The Absolute Best of Absolute Beginners. What I love about comedy like this is that even if it’s cringeworthy it’s still a right laugh. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis.
  • Absolutely Free Live Music. Not sure what the difference is between absolutely free and just free but love Whistlebinkies and the vibe here during the festival is great. Check it out. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis (but this is a bar, not a venue, so just jump in with the crowd!)
  • The Accidental Dog Detective. A film noir puppet show. Not kid friendly. Not ticketed, first-come first-served basis.
  • Tom and Brody are So Comedy! A hot item from the Laughing Horse Free Comedy Festival.

For more tips about free Edinburgh Fringe things to do, check out the schedule at The Stand Comedy Club, Laughing Horse Free Comedy website, or PBH’s Free Fringe.

Happy Festivalgoing!

Photo courtesy of Dick Penn

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Posted in Festivals, Scotland by Andy Hayes | No Comments »

Restaurant Review: Chillies West End, Glasgow

Friday, July 3rd, 2009Karen Bryan

We visited Chillies West End in Woodlands Road in Glasgow for lunch on a week day at the beginning of July 2009. The restaurant chefs Jansey and Saumitra won the BBC Good Food Scotland award for the best Asian dining chefs in 2008/2009.

Chillies West End, Glasgow

Chillies West End, Glasgow

The restaurant is billed as a contemporary Indian restaurant serving “small portions of exquisite food”. The idea is that you can sample a wide variety of dishes. You should be aware that the restaurant operates a no alcohol policy.

Between 12.00 to 15.00 and 17.00 – 18.30 (tables must be vacated by 19.30), there is the option to select three little dishes from the day menu for £9 to include either nan bread, rice or a tandoori roll. We chose:

1 Machil Nariyal Masalah – mixed seafood

2 Gosht with Mint & Yoghurt – lamb

3 Chooza Goan – chicken with honey

4 Tarka Dall – lentils

5 Saag Paneer – spinach with cheese

6 Gosht Karachi – lamb with peppers


Chillies West End, Glasgow

Chillies West End, Glasgow

Chillies West End did live up to its promise of exquisite food. The dishes were much lighter than you often find in a Indian restaurant, with subtle flavours. The restaurant has a pleasant ambience, with dark wood tables and red chairs to echo the chilli theme. The toilets are very clean and had lovely scented soap.

I’d recommend the restaurant, especially at lunch time or early evening, when it’s excellent value for money.

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Posted in Restaurants, Scotland by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Review of £9 room at Edinburgh West End Travelodge

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009Karen Bryan

I stayed at the Edinburgh West End Travelodge for 2 nights, 22 – 24 June 2009. I paid £9 per room per night for a family room, booked 5 months in advance during a £9 Sale. Travelodge bought this former four star hotel a couple of years ago and have carried out a massive refurbishment, turning the function rooms into bedrooms. There is a cafe/bar which serves breakfast and evening meals.

Edinburgh West End Travelodge

Edinburgh West End Travelodge is located at Belford Bridge, close to the Dean Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The hotel is right on the Water of Leith Walkway so you can be on the tranquil footpath within a minute of leaving the hotel reception. It takes around 10 minutes to walk to Haymarket rail station or Princes Street. The hotel has a free (at the moment) car park but I heard they are going to start charging. It can be hard to find a parking space when the hotel is busy.

I stayed in Room 522, featured in the video. I loved this room as it had views over the Water of Leith and Dean Bridge, yet was far enough away from the road so that traffic didn’t disturb me. My room still had the 4 star fittings, much grander than the usual Travelodge minimalist approach. Many other rooms have been redone in the usual Travelodge style.

I’d rate the Edinburgh West End Travelodge very highly, mainly due to its location and low price, if you can find a room at the £29, £19 0r £9 saver rate. You have to be realistic, you’ll only get the cheap rate if you book in advance, avoiding weekends and peak season. However it’s always worth checking out the price at the Edinburgh West End Travelodge for your stay in Edinburgh and doing a search on the HotelsCombined metasearch for your dates to compare rates available at similar hotels in Edinburgh.

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Posted in Acccomodation review, Accommodation, Budget options, Scotland, United Kingdom, Videos by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Review of £9 room at Edinburgh Learmonth Travelodge

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009Karen Bryan

We stayed at the Edinburgh Learmonth Travelodge for one night on 21 June 2009. Travelodge bought the hotel around a year ago and have carried out a refurbishment. The hotel is located in a beautiful terrace, parallel to Queensferry Road. It’s around a 11 minute walk to Princes Street.

Edinburgh Learmonth Travelodge

There is pay and display parking right outside the hotel however if you go down the hill, it’s a cheaper parking zone priced at 70 pence per hour for a maximum of 4 hours, Monday to Friday 8.30 – 17.30. The Edinburgh Learmonth Travelodge has a cafe/bar which serves breakfast and evening meals. It’s cheaper to book breakfast online in advance.

It’s hard for me to rate the hotel objectively as I paid for £9 for our room, booked in December 2008 during one of Travelodge’s £9 promotions. At this price it’s an absolute steal. You can find rooms at the saver rates of £19 and £29 for much of the year, except weekends, if you book in advance but at short notice, weekends or peak season rooms will cost a lot more.

We requested a room at the back of the hotel which is quieter. We were allocated room 110 on the first floor which was spacious and airy.

I’d rate the Edinburgh Learmonth Travelodge very highly if you can find a room at the £29, £19 0r £9 saver rate. If the price is higher, you should do a search on the HotelsCombined metasearch for your dates to make a comparison with similar hotels in Edinburgh.

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Posted in Acccomodation review, Accommodation, Budget options, Scotland, United Kingdom by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Boutique Charity Shop & Youth Centre proposals for Edinburgh

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009Karen Bryan

The future of our cities lies with young, creative minds. I was fascinated by the projects on display by students of the Edinburgh College of Art to transform existing buildings at the 2009 Degree Show. I focused on two Edinburgh projects.

The first is the proposal by Elizabeth Keenan for a boutique charity shop and cafe bar in Stockbridge to be called Pink Ribbon. Elizabeth wants to lose the dowdy, dull atmosphere of the traditional charity shop and launch an airy, trendy environment. There are already many charity shops in Stockbridge but I think that Pink Ribbon would be real crowd puller, greatly benefitting the Breast Cancer Charity coffers.

The next project by Naomi Farrell,  involves the refurbishment of the upper floors above shops in Princes Street into a Centre for Scottish Youth. At present there is a shortage of places for young people aged 11 – 17 to hang out, they’re too young for bars or pubs and looking for something more than a youth club session in a local community centre. You can contact Naomi by email, naomifarrel |(at) hotmail.co.uk.

Here’s to some innovative uses of existing buildings to make Edinburgh an even better place.

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Posted in Scotland, Videos by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Glass exhibition at the Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show June 2009

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009Karen Bryan

This afternoon I visited the Degree Show at the Edinburgh College of Art. I just made it to the final day of the Art and Design Show. The Architecture and Architectural Landscape Show runs until 2 July 2009.

I must confess that I have a penchant for glass art, so I was happy that there was a Glass Exhibition. There were many lovely pieces on display but I concentrated on the work of a couple of students in the video. Firstly the botanical panels and glass tree by Roz McKenzie and the agricultural scenes and farmyard animals by Emma McGarvie.

You’ll notice some views of Edinburgh Castle in the background, quite a grand backdrop to the exhibition.

I have to thank the Wandering Educators for alerting me to the Degree Show. It certainly is a multi national world.

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Posted in Culture, Events, Scotland, free events by Karen Bryan | 2 Comments »

Aids and HIV remembrance site, Water of Leith Walkway, Edinburgh

Monday, June 22nd, 2009Karen Bryan

The Aids and HIV Remembrance Site is located beside a weir on the Water of Leith Walkway in Edinburgh.  It’s between the exits for Dean Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art on the Walkway.

The site was created on World Aids Day in 2004.  There are three plaques and a bench  with three red Aids awareness ribbons intertwinned into the iron work.  It’s a spot in which to reflect about everyone affected by Aids and HIV.

Do you think it’s an appropriate remembrance?

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Posted in Scotland, Videos by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Glasgow Mela 2009: Free multi cultural festival

Monday, June 22nd, 2009Karen Bryan

On Sunday 21 June we visited the Glasgow Mela 2009 held in Kelvingrove Park.  It’s an annual, free, multi cultural event. It was a warm, dry afternoon so there was a good turnout.  I thought there was a great variety of performances and activites for everyone.

Were you at the Mela in Glasgow?  What did you most enjoy?

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Posted in Culture, Events, Festivals, Scotland, Videos, free events by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Three Great Reasons for a Trip to Glasgow

Friday, June 12th, 2009Andy Hayes

We’ve briefly discussed before the merits (or lack thereof) of a trip to Glasgow back in October when Glasgow was in Lonely Planet’s Top Ten Cities and then again it made the list as one of the Guardian’s Top Five UK Cities. It will never top Edinburgh, where I call home, but here are three great reasons for a trip to Glasgow.

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow by elsie

Music

Glasgow is the first UNESCO City of Music. Indeed every night of the week there are literally hundreds of live music acts on in small pubs, clubs, and larger music venues. The Arches is always an interesting stop ,as well as Garage Glasgow (although be forewarned, it can get very crowded).

Art

Glasgow has an excellent choice of art museums. My two favourites without question are the beautifully restored Kelvingrove Art Gallery where the building itself is just as much on display as its contents. I also find the modern pieces a refreshing contrast at the Gallery of Modern Art just off George Square.

Food

Scottish cuisine hasn’t really made it on the map but you’ll get the best of that in addition to an international selection in many parts of Glasgow. For the best experience, head over to Ashton Lane where you just can’t go wrong.

What’s your favourite stop in Glasgow?


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Posted in Scotland by Andy Hayes | No Comments »

Camera Obscura Edinburgh: Hands on fun for the family

Thursday, June 11th, 2009Karen Bryan

Since Andy wrote about Camera Obscura around Europe for the Europe a la Carte blog earlier this year, I’ve thought that I really must visit the Camera Obscura in Edinburgh. Well, finally five months later, I visited with our son Gary.

We climbed up to the roof top terrance first to admire the views as we had a few minutes to wait before the next Camera Obscura presentation. There are several free telescopes you can use there.

View from Camera Obscura roof top terrace over Edinburgh

Gary on the roof top terrace at the Camera Obscura, Edinburgh

During the Camera Obscura presentation you see a revolving panoramic view of Edinburgh. At the end of the show you can have some fun by using pieces of paper to lift up pedestrians and build paper bridges for vehicles to cross over on the projection screen.

I’ve only visited one other camera obscura in Kirriemuir, north of Dundee in the county of Angus, I have to say that the images at the Kirriemuir camera were more magical to me. Perhaps it was mainly that the images in Kirriemuir were predominatly of countryside whereas in Edinburgh they were mainly of rather dark looking buildings.

Although you’d imagine that the main attraction would be camera obscura itself, I’d say that the interactive exhibits were more fun and we spent a lot more time on them. You can see some of the exhibits and hands-on activities in the videos below.

Admission to the Edinburgh Camera Obscura costs £8.50 for adults, £6.75 for seniors and students, £5.75 for kids aged 5 – 15, free for under 5s. Therefore admission for 2 adults and 2 kids aged 5 – 15 would be just over £30. I reckon that you could probably spend around 2 hours there.

In summary I’ve say that the Camera Obscura in Edinburgh is ideal for an indoor family activity morning or afternoon and is priced at around the going rate for paid attractions. However if you visit on a dull day then the Camera Obscura images will be even greyer.

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Posted in Children, Scotland, Videos by Karen Bryan | 2 Comments »

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