🧭 Are These Fife's Best Bakeries?

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• Are These Fife's Best Bakeries?

• Fife Attractions Opening Up

• 42 Events to See This Week

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

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🏥 A world-leading robotic surgeon, Professor Vipul Patel, visited Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy to observe NHS Fife’s advanced robotic surgery programme. The visit highlighted how cutting-edge techniques are improving patient outcomes locally, with procedures like robotic prostate surgery now available in Fife.

• 🛡️ Ravenscraig Castle in Kirkcaldy will reopen to visitors on April 1st, marking the start of Historic Environment Scotland’s spring/summer season. The castle reopened last season following a three-year closure for conservation work.

• 🎨 A new Creative Cities Living Heritage Residency Programme is launching across Scotland, bringing together artists from UNESCO Creative Cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Perth with iconic heritage sites. Applications are open until 12pm on April 13th, with residencies taking place between May and June. More details here.

• ⚽ NHS Fife staff will receive an additional bank holiday on June 15th to mark Scotland’s participation in the FIFA World Cup. Essential services will continue to operate, with staff working the day entitled to public holiday pay rates and conditions.

• 🚌 Stagecoach has confirmed that bus services in Fife will run as normal over the Easter weekend.

• ❤️ Cowdenbeath Rotary Club is set to install three new defibrillators across central Fife in the coming weeks, following strong community fundraising and support from the Mossmorran Windfarm Community Fund.

• 🏰 Inchcolm Abbey, one of Scotland’s best-preserved medieval monastic sites, will reopen to visitors from April 1st until September 30th. For anyone who’s not visited before, there are a couple of companies from South Queensferry that offer boat rides out: Maid of the Forth and Forth Boat Tours.

• 🏘️ Buckhaven and Methil are set to benefit from a £20 million Pride In Place investment, with a new neighbourhood board being formed to shape community-led priorities. A “passionate” chairperson with strong local links is being sought to lead the board and help create a lasting legacy for the area.

• 🎭 The Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline has been praised in a Scottish Parliament motion by Alex Rowley MSP, recognising its cultural and economic impact. Since reopening in 2007, the historic venue has hosted over 3,000 shows for more than 2.6 million customers, attracting major acts from comedy, music, and theatre, while supporting local performers and stage school pupils.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🍞 Are These Fife's Best Bakeries?

I'm sure everyone has a favourite place to get their baked goods, whether that's at the Lidl bakery section or your local artisan baker. Now, the Scottish Bakers competition is looking to name the best in Scotland through a thorough judging process, with five Fife bakeries making the shortlist of over 60 bakeries across Scotland:

• Cukie Swedish Bakery (Dunfermline)

• Fisher & Donaldson (Cupar)

• Barnett’s Bakery (Anstruther)

• Maria's Baking Stories (Dunfermline)

• Stephens Bakery (Rosyth)

The competition reached its judging stage at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline, where over 50 industry experts and media personalities assessed 500 products across 11 categories, from biscuits and bread to scones, doughnuts, cakes, and innovative new treats. The new format for 2026 places special emphasis on celebrating both "Local Heroes" and "Icons" of Scottish baking, recognising the different ways bakeries contribute to the industry.

To compete for the overall Scottish Baker of the Year title, bakeries must also enter The Baker's Den, the business-focused stage of the awards. Judges will first select one Local Hero of the Year and one Icon of the Year, then choose the overall champion from those two finalists. Lesley Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers, said they want to "celebrate what makes each bakery across Scotland special."

See the full shortlist here.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

Tuesday, 31st March

The Sorcerer - Follows several plotlines of a classic romance gone too far.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📁 Art | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

The Exam by Andy Hamilton - A striking and thought-provoking interpretation of Andy Hamilton's The Exam.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Theatre, Fife College, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

Wednesday, 1st April

Lambing Experience - Step into the magic of the lambing season and enjoy a personal, small group experience up close on our family farm.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Dalachy Farm, Burntisland | 🎟️ £65.71

Make a Tote Bag - Join Soo to make some simple tote bags using a sewing machine. All materials are provided.
📁 Art | 🕢 11am | 📍 Mercat Shopping Centre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Author Event: Sara Cullen - Local author Sara Cullen on her debut novel, Blood Red Sky, set here in Kirkcaldy.
📁 Talk | 🕢 5:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ £1.50+

Introduction to Film + TV - Join Cameron for an interactive and informative media session.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Overton Community Centre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Wednesday Night Slides - 1/10th scale Electric RWD Drift cars only, and must be running Buzz Break or DS Racing LF4 tyres.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ £5+

The Sorcerer - Follows several plotlines of a classic romance gone too far.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

The ELO Show - The World’s Greatest tribute to Jeff Lynne and E.L.O.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

The Shoregate Session - Everything from traditional tunes through to songs ancient and modern.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 The Shoregate, Crail | 🎟️ Free

Thursday, 2nd April

Lambing Experience - Step into the magic of the lambing season and enjoy a personal, small group experience up close on our family farm.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Dalachy Farm, Burntisland | 🎟️ £65.71

A Streetcar Named Desire - Indulge in the original film production of Tennessee Williams’ much-loved and oft-quoted classic.
📁 Movie | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £6.50+

Draw With Yer MAW - Explore charcoal drawings in a ‘Masters At Work’ (yer MAW) drawing class – where you can become the master.
📁 Art | 🕢 11:30am | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

Wellbeing Book Circle: Read, Reflect, Rise - Mindful book circle with guided reflection, journalling & discussion.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:15pm | 📍 Larick Centre, Tayport | 🎟️ £10.46

The Sorcerer - Follows several plotlines of a classic romance gone too far.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

SCDA One Act Play Festival Eastern Divisional Final - Come and see the best in Scottish Community Drama from the East of Scotland!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Leslie Town Hall | 🎟️ £15.18

The Exam by Andy Hamilton - A striking and thought-provoking interpretation of Andy Hamilton's The Exam.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Theatre, Fife College, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

Many Good Men - Join us for a spectacular digitally immersive show with Dunfermline Athletic East End Park as the stage.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Dunfermline Athletic Football Club | 🎟️ £5+

Allman’s Project By Safehouse - An appreciation to the Allman Brothers Band, a trip to remember!
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £28.60

Friday, 3rd April

Easter Egg Hunt and Garden Party - Follow the clues, explore the garden paths, and collect your Easter treats.
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Teasses Estate | 🎟️ £6+

Easter Egg Trail at Culross Palace - Combine a lovely spring walk with your puzzle-solving skills to earn a delicious Easter treat.
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Culross Palace | 🎟️ £5 & Admission

Easter Egg Trail at Falkland Palace - Combine a lovely spring walk with your puzzle-solving skills to earn a delicious Easter treat.
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £5

Easter Egg Trail at Hill Of Tarvit Mansion - Combine a lovely spring walk with your puzzle-solving skills to earn a delicious Easter treat.
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Hill Of Tarvit Mansion | 🎟️ £5

Easter Egg Trail at Kellie Castle - Combine a lovely spring walk with your puzzle-solving skills to earn a delicious Easter treat.
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kellie Castle | 🎟️ £5

Lambs on the Loose! The Easter Trail - Easter Trail at Aberdour Castle and Gardens!
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Aberdour Castle | 🎟️ Admission

Lambs on the Loose! The Easter Trail - Easter Trail at St Andrews Castle.
📁 Family | 🕢 Varies | 📍 St Andrews Castle | 🎟️ Admission

Spring Visits 2026 - Meet our friendly animals at Hillview Animal Park.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £11.55

Easter Chick Hunt - Some naughty little chicks have escaped the nest and are roaming the museum galleries! Help us track them down in this free, fun trail over the school holidays.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Admission

The Little Mermaid: Easter Panto - Take a deep dive under the sea as Enchanted Entertainment presents a fin-tastic Easter pantomime version of The Little Mermaid.
📁 Panto | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23+

Easter Crafternoon - A chance for families to get creative in a relaxed and informal way.
📁 Children | 🕢 2pm | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Many Good Men - Join us for a spectacular digitally immersive show with Dunfermline Athletic East End Park as the stage.
📁 Stage | 🕢 2:30pm & 7pm | 📍 Dunfermline Athletic Football Club | 🎟️ £5+

Coffee Afternoon & Sketchbook Club - Take some time for yourself to sketch, doodle, chat, or simply enjoy the calm, inspiring atmosphere of the space.
📁 Art | 🕢 2:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

SCDA One Act Play Festival Eastern Divisional Final - Come and see the best in Scottish Community Drama from the East of Scotland!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Leslie Town Hall | 🎟️ £15.18

Radio Chip Pan - Kingdom Come Events presents Radio Chip Pan plus Trumpton Riot and Frauds.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8

Acari Comedy Hypnotist - Great talent and showmanship in a hilarious and outrageous show that dazzles his audiences.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10+

Jamie Adamson and John Muir Jr - Performing originals and covers.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

Lambing Experience - Meet our shepherd, see newborn lambs, and discover life on a working farm.
📅 Sat, 14th February - Tue, 31st March | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Ring Farm, Cupar | 🎟️ £13+

Unearthed - Step back in time to where it all began in our latest family-friendly exhibition.
📅 Sat, 21st March - Sun, 6th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Dear Earth - An exhibition exploring how artists are responding to the increased fragility of the world around us.
📅 Sat, 21st March - Sun, 13th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Kirkcaldy Boot & Mart - Indoor and outdoor market held every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
📅 Sat, 10th January - Wed, 16th December | 🕢 9am (Wed, Sat, & Sun) | 📍 6 Michelson Drive, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan