🧭 A New Train Station for Fife?

Good morning, Fifers! Welcome to the 153 new subscribers who joined us last week.

Here’s what else is coming your way today:

• Recruitment Drive for New Childminders in Fife

• Local Dance School Wins Award

• 38 Events to Check Out This Week

• Campaign for New Train Station Ramps Up

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

👶 Recruitment Drive for New Childminders in Fife

Anyone with kids in Fife will know how tricky it can be to find reliable childcare that fits around work. To help with this, Fife Council is teaming up with the Scottish Childminding Association to launch a recruitment campaign to train and support new childminders as part of the Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future (PSCF).

This initiative aims to build sustainable childminding businesses across 27 local authorities, including Fife, helping meet the growing demand for childcare. New childminders get a £750 start-up grant, tailored training, and one-to-one support from a Workforce Officer. No previous childcare experience is needed, just a passion for working with children.

For more info, visit www.childminding.org/getstarted.

🚉 Campaigners Welcome Transport Secretary’s Visit to Newburgh

With ScotRail already rolling out improvements across the Fife rail network, as mentioned in our last newsletter, it’s timely to see progress on a potential new station in Newburgh reported by Fife Today. Given Fife’s ongoing housing expansion, it’s clear why investment in transport infrastructure is essential.

Campaigners seeking to reopen Newburgh station welcomed Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop’s visit on May 16th. The Minister met with the Newburgh Train Station Campaign and local supporters at Lindores Abbey Distillery, where they highlighted the significant economic and community benefits reopening the station could bring.

SEStran has been working on a transport appraisal for Newburgh, submitted last year and now under review by Transport Scotland. Ms Hyslop praised the campaigners’ commitment and emphasised that proposals must satisfy business case requirements and government priorities before proceeding. There is cautious optimism that a decision to reopen the station will come soon, enhancing connectivity and growth for Newburgh and the surrounding area.

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🍗 Buck’s Bar, the American-style chain famed for its fried chicken and rock ’n’ roll vibe, is set to open in St Andrews later this year. The new venue will take over the Ziggy’s site on Murray Place.

• 🏥 A new gynaecology unit has officially opened at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline. The Fife Gynaecology Unit aims to improve access and reduce waiting times for women across the region.

• 🏚️ Six homes on Dewar Avenue in Kincardine are to be demolished after subsidence left them beyond repair. The Mining Remediation Authority, alongside Fife Council, issued dangerous building notices following structural assessments.

• 🌫️ Residents of Bogside, a village on the Fife-Clackmannanshire border, say their lives have been “totally destroyed” due to silica dust from nearby Burrowine Moor Quarry, run by Patersons Quarries.

• 🚒 A 10% rise in deliberate fires across Fife is being linked to social media trends encouraging antisocial behaviour, according to Area Commander Lee Turnock of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

• ♻️ The £220 million Westfield Energy Recovery Facility, located between Ballingry and Kinglassie, will now become operational in July 2025, rather than May as initially planned.

• 🎺 The County Grand Orange Lodge of the East of Scotland will hold a parade through Kirkcaldy on Saturday, 28 June 2025, with 3,500 marchers expected. Roads on the circular route will close from 12 noon to 4pm, and Beveridge Park car park will be shut from 6am.

• 🐟 A bid has been submitted to demolish the fire-ravaged Pittenweem Fish Bar on High Street, nearly two years after a 2022 blaze gutted the C-listed building.

AROUND FIFE

Each week, we highlight positive news stories, hidden gems, and local experiences to explore.

💃 Zodiac Dance School Celebrates 25 Years with a Big Win

Lochgelly’s very own Zodiac School of Dance hit a major milestone this past weekend, celebrating its 25th birthday with a spectacular show at the Lochgelly Centre, and a well-deserved award win to match, with the school being named Competitive School of the Year at the prestigious Scottish Dance Awards on Sunday.

Founder and principal Stacey Gunn shared her excitement: “This award means the world to us. It’s a reflection of the hard work and passion our dancers bring every day, and the amazing support we receive from our teaching team and families.” [Central Fife Times]

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

✨ Featured Event

Want to add an event? Use the button below. Want a Featured Event like above? Drop us a line at [email protected].

🎶 Live Music & Concerts

📍 Andy Popplestone - Singer, guitar player and sometime banjo player.
📅 Wed, 21st May | 🕢 8:00pm | 📍 The Glen Tavern, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £8

📍 Siobhan Miller Trio - One of Scotland’s most celebrated folk singer-songwriters.
📅 Thu, 22nd May | 🕢 8:00pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall | 🎟️ £17.20

📍 Spring into Summer - Annual event in memory of former Fire Station Creative Director Bob Moir.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.70

📍 The John and Tyra Show - Award Winning Singer-Songwriter John Anaya and Kirkcaldy Rockstar Singer Tyra Power Reekie.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Johnny Lee Memphis as Elvis - Elvis Presley tribute artist.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 9:00pm | 📍 The Duchess, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 Acting Up… Again - Evening of rehearsed readings, featuring the winning one-act play from the Carol Tricker Award.
📅 Wed, 21st May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £12

📍 Shrek the Musical - Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure!
📅 Wed, 21st May - Sat, 24th May | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £19

📍 National Theatre Live: Dr Strangelove - Steve Coogan plays four roles in the stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece.
📅 Thu, 22nd May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.50

📍 Blinded By The Light - A story of survival, of beliefs tested, of spirit and endurance, growing up, and finding the light.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17

📍 Karen Dunbar - Chewin' The Fat star Karen Dunbar is back with her brand new 2025 Scottish Tour.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 9:30pm | 📍 Markinch Town Hall | 🎟️ £25

🎬 Entertainment

📍 Beach of Dreams - Coastal arts festival activating and exploring the unique heritage, cultures and futures of our coastlines.
📅 Wed, 14th - Sat, 24th May | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Fife | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Pint Of Science 2025 - Three nights of fascinating science talks, demos, and live experiments in a relaxed pub setting.
📅 Mon, 19th - Wed, 21st May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Sandy’s Bar @ The Union, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

📍 Rock Pool BioBlitz Battle - Explore and compete to find the coolest marine creatures in the tide pools.
📅 Tue, 20th May | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 East Sands Leisure Centre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

📍 An Evening with Gareth Brown - To celebrate the paperback release of his best-selling novel 'The Book of Doors'.
📅 Tue, 20th May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Waterstones, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Wilding - Story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their 400 year old estate.
📅 Thu, 22nd May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £8

📍 Sh*tty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities - Award winning travel writer and journalist Ben Aitken talking about his new book.
📅 Thu, 22nd May | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Fife VegFest Quiz Night - Fundraiser event at Betty Nicols, including quiz and raffle!
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 6:00pm | 📍 Betty Nicols, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5

📍 The Man Who Fell to Earth - An alien lands on Earth to find the one scientist who can save his species.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £3

📍 Charity Quiz Night - Entertaining family-friendly quiz night to raise funds for Guide Dogs Scotland.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Pathhead Parish Church, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £12

📍 Disco for Grown Ups - Dance the night away to all the 70s, 80s and 90s classics you love.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 8:00pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £17.50

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
📅 Tue, 20th May | 🕢 3:15pm | 📍 Cadham Library, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £2

📍 Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 21st May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 21st May | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Burntisland Library | 🎟️ Free

📍 Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
📅 Wed, 21st May | 🕢 3:30pm | 📍 Kincardine Library | 🎟️ £2

📍 Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
📅 Thu, 22nd May | 🕢 3:30pm | 📍 Kelty Library | 🎟️ £2

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Woodmill Supper Club - Chef-hosted dining experience set in a cosy countryside cottage just outside Lindores.
📅 Fri, 23rd - Sat, 24th May | 🕢 7:00pm | 📍 Clare Cottage, Woodmill Farm | 🎟️ £65

🛒 Markets

📍 Artisan Fridays Market - A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 23rd May | 🕢 9:00am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street | 🎟️ Free

🎨 Exhibitions

📍 Unearthed - Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed and explore prehistoric creatures.
📅 Sat, 8th February - Sat, 27th September | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

📍 Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
📅 Tue, 4th March - Tue, 28th October | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

📍 Hag: Knowledge, Power & Alchemy through Craft - Exhibition celebrating the creativity, strength, and mastery of 13 Scottish women craft artists.
📅 Sat, 8th March - Sun, 8th June | 🕢 10:00am (Mon-Sat) & 12:00pm (Sun) | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre – Explore Cupar’s rich history with locally focused exhibitions.
📅 Wed, 16th April – Fri, 31st October | 🕒 2pm (Wed, Fri & Sun) | 📍 Cupar Railway Station, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March 2026 | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

📍 Yolandé Kenny: Watercolours of Our Beautiful Fife Coast - Watercolours capturing the charm of Fife's coastline, from local wildlife to the ebb and flow of coastal life.
📅 Tue, 29th Apr - Wed, 28th May | 🕢 10am (Mon - Sat) & 11am (Sun) | 📍 The Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Free

📍 Fife Flyers British Championship 40th Anniversary Exhibition - Relive the dramatic victory of the 1985 British Champions.
📅 Wed, 30th April - Sun, 8th June | 🕢 10am (Mon-Sat) & 12pm (Sun) | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Wonder Store - Exhibition showcasing artworks by various renowned artists.
📅 Fri, 2nd May - Sat, 27th Jun | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

📍 Treasures from the Forth - Showcasing unique mosaics made with wonderful sea glass and ancient sea pottery washed ashore.
📅 Thu, 5th - Sun, 29th Jun | 🕢 10:00am (Thu-Mon) | 📍 The Ecology Centre, Kinghorn | 🎟️ Free

🧶 Arts & Crafts

📍 Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📅 Tue, 20th & Thu, 22nd May | 🕢 7pm (Tue) & 2pm (Thu) | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

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Cheers,

Duncan

Got an event or news you want to feature? Or perhaps you’d like to promote your business to readers in Fife? Get in touch with us at [email protected] - let’s make it happen!