💰 Council Tax Update + 23 Must-Attend Events Before the Weekend

Good morning, Fifers! While Fife Council's newly announced budget brings its challenges, there's plenty of exciting news and events ahead to keep us looking forward. Let’s dive in!

Here’s what’s coming your way:

• 📊 Big council tax rise from the latest Fife Council budget

• 🌿 Work begins on a new trail at Lochore Meadows

• 🎶 23 events to check out before the weekend

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

— Duncan

WEATHER

Expect rainy days ahead with temperatures averaging around 10°C. Here's the forecast:

Tuesday: 8 🌡️ 1 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 6 🌡️ 1 | 🌧️

Thursday: 8 🌡️ 1 | 🌤️

Friday: 8 🌡️ 3 | 🌤️

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

📊 Fife Council Sets Budget with Major Investments and 8.2% Council Tax Rise

Fife Council has approved its 2025/26 budget, committing nearly £10 million to health and social care and £9 million to road repairs over the next three years. To fund these investments and bridge a £5 million budget gap, council tax will rise by 8.2%, with a Band D property seeing an annual increase of £113.58.

Council Leader David Ross emphasized the need for balancing savings, tax increases, and essential services. Investments include:

• Education: A £22.6 million boost brings the total budget to £457 million, ensuring teacher numbers remain stable and expanding digital learning.

• Fleet: £10.5 million will replace essential council vehicles over three years.

• Flooding: £19.5 million is earmarked for flood protection schemes.

• Leisure: Over £13 million is allocated for new pools and leisure facilities in West Fife.

Despite financial pressures, the council will continue investing in local infrastructure, with a £870 million capital plan spanning the next decade.

🌿 New Nature Trail to Improve Safety and Experience at Lochore Meadows

Work has begun on a new pathway at Lochore Meadows Country Park, connecting the “Round the Loch” path and improving accessibility. The new route will eliminate safety concerns by removing the need for walkers and cyclists to share a section of Pit Road with vehicles. Funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Fife Council and Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, the trail will offer a safer, more immersive experience in the nature reserve. The project is expected to finish by April, with additional upgrades to existing paths and the Pit Road car park.

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• ⚡ Inverkeithing ranked UK’s most EV-friendly commuter town. A Zenith study shows Inverkeithing leads with 12 chargers per 5,000 people, 42% of which are rapid or ultra-rapid. The town’s train station also offers EV charging.

• 🚉 Fife station ticket office hours cut. ScotRail reduces hours at Aberdour and Cowdenbeath stations from March 31, focusing on online and machine ticket sales. Dunfermline hours remain unchanged. No closures planned.

• 🏰 Blair Castle listed on Rightmove for offers over £825,000. Originally a miners’ convalescent home, this Category A-listed 19th-century mansion offers 28 ensuite bedrooms and stunning views over the Firth of Forth.

• 🚗 Road Safety Scotland launches distraction campaign. A new campaign urges drivers to stay focused, as a survey reveals 78% of Fife drivers experience distractions. Common causes include stress, fatigue, and mobile phones.

• 🍽️ Cupar Food Station gains momentum. Cupar’s Development Trust secures over 50% funding for a feasibility study to expand the foodbank and create a space for local producers. The study will assess viability and engage the community.

• 🏠 Fife Council approves 6% rent increase. A £5.19 weekly rise for council tenants starting April 2025, to fund £450 million in housing maintenance and expansion. A £1.3 million Tenant Support Fund will help those struggling, especially with fuel costs.

• 🩺 New GP contractors for Levenmouth. Denny Cross Medical Centre will take over Kennoway and Methilhaven surgeries, ensuring continued medical services for local patients by autumn 2025.

• 📱 Fife to provide iPads for 35,000 pupils. Fife Council’s £50m plan for one-to-one devices sparks debate over cost and priorities, with Labour supporting it and SNP questioning its affordability.

• 🚤 RNLI training equips Anstruther businesses with lifesaving skills. Local seafront businesses learned water rescue techniques at Anstruther Lifeboat Station through the RNLI’s Waterside Responder Scheme.

• 🍿 Cinema returns to Kirkcaldy! Adam Smith Theatre will screen blockbusters just weeks after release, thanks to a new deal with distributors, no more pricey trips out of town for movie fans!

AROUND FIFE

Each week, we highlight interesting places, hidden gems, and local experiences to explore.

🥕 Ardross Farm Shop Shortlisted for Prestigious Award

Ardross Farm Shop, located near Elie, has been nominated as a finalist in the Small Farm Shop of the Year category at the Farm Retail Association Awards. The shop is known for its high-quality, locally sourced produce and strong community spirit. Owner Nikki Storrar expressed excitement at the recognition, noting how the shop’s growth has been shaped by the support and standards of the Farm Retail Association.

🍴 The Seafood Ristorante Celebrates 20 Years with Special ‘Icons’ Menu

The Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special ‘Icons’ menu, showcasing the dishes that have defined the restaurant. Owner Stefano Pieraccini emphasized the importance of honouring the past while embracing the future. The celebrations, running from February 20 to mid-April, will feature exclusive events and dining experiences.

@THEFIFEINSIDER

📍 Picture by jvoisey | Location: Pitenweem

📸 Share your photos of Fife with us! Tag @thefifeinsider and you could be featured in the next edition.

WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

✨ Spotlight Event

📍 Laurence Jones – Catch the multi-award-winning guitarist live on his 'Bad Luck & The Blues' tour, with an unforgettable night of blues-rock music.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:00pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £20

📍 The Skids – Punk legends The Skids are back for a huge hometown show, joined by The Armoury Show, The Filthy Tongues, and Sunstinger.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:00pm | 📍 Pittencreiff Park, Dunfermline | 🎟️ 35.75

📍 POJO Live Music! Harbour Bar Re-opening Weekend – Father-son duo with an acoustic twist on your favourite hits.
📅 Frid, 28th February | 🕒 7:00pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Just Beatles: A Tribute to The Beatles – A spectacular tribute concert recreating the sounds of The Beatles, from the Cavern Club to the Apple Rooftop show.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £24

📍 Christine Bovill: Piaf to Pop – A celebration of the Golden Age of French song and its evolution during the Swinging Sixties, featuring classics from Piaf, Brel, Gainsbourg, and more.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 Bloodletting by Ami Melville – Drama set in a post-apocalyptic countryside, where dark family histories unravel.
📅 Tue, 25th & Wed, 26th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £12 / £10 / £8

📍 Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through Menopause – Join the cast as they navigate life, love, and loss on the high seas.
📅 Wed, 26th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £29.50

📍 The Testament of Gideon Mack – An exploration of grief, faith, and the supernatural through the story of a Presbyterian minister who meets the Devil.
📅 Thu, 27th February | 🕒 6:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17 / £14 / £12

📍 The Testament of Gideon Mack – An exploration of grief, faith, and the supernatural through the story of a Presbyterian minister who meets the Devil.
📅 28th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £20 / £18

🎬 Entertainment

📍 The Critic (15) – Suspenseful thriller starring Sir Ian McKellen as a London theatre critic who entangles a struggling actress in a deadly blackmail scheme.
📅 Tue, 26th February | 🕒 11:00am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5

📍 Carnegie Lectures: Carnegie and Empire – Join Dr Fabian Hilfrich from Edinburgh University as he explores Andrew Carnegie’s anti-imperialist views.
📅 Wed, 26th February 2025 | 🕒 6:30pm | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, Canmore Room | 🎟️ £5

📍 Film Club: Vertigo – Watch Hitchcock's iconic thriller starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, filled with suspense and illusion.
📅 Wed, 26th February | 🕡 6:30pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £8.30

📍 Good & Evil Storytellers – An evening of dark tales and live music, featuring storyteller Peter Chand, Skids' Richard Jobson, opera singer Frances McCafferty, and more.
📅 Thu, 27th February | 🕖 7:30pm | 📍 Pittencrieff House, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £11.55

📍 Why Not Scotland? A Story of Nature Recovery Across Europe – A journey around Europe, discovering inspiring stories of nature making a comeback.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:00pm | 📍 The Institute, 9 Shore Road, Aberdour | 🎟️ Free

📍 Gary Meikle: Neurospicy – Join Scottish comedy award winner Gary Meikle for a hilarious, insightful show about his neurodivergent journey.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £22.50

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Gaelic Nature Walk – A relaxing stroll through Riverside Park, discovering the beauty of nature while exploring Gaelic and Scots traditions.
📅 Tue, 25th February | 🕒 2:00pm | 📍 Riverside Park, Glenrothes | 🎟️ Free

📍 Teasses Estate Snowdrop Walk – Wander through candlelit gardens blanketed in snowdrops for a serene and magical evening.
📅 Fri, 21st February to Fri, 28th February | 🕒 4:00pm | 📍 Teasses Estate, Leven | 🎟️ £30 per car

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Artisan Fridays Market – A vibrant weekly market featuring hot and cold food, bringing energy to Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 9am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street | 🎟️ Free

📍 Fife Whisky Festival – Enjoy the opening dinner at Lindores Abbey Distillery, the main festival at the Corn Exchange, Cupar, and Sunday events in Glenrothes and Dalgety Bay.
📅 Fri, 28th February - Sun, 2nd March | 📍 Various Locations Across Fife | 🎟️ £27.50

📍 Saltire Whisky Tasting – Explore Scotland's finest whiskies with five drams to taste, plus a welcome drink on arrival.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 7:30pm | 📍 Clansman Bar, Leslie | 🎟️ £30

🎨 Art

📍 New Evening Classes with Gilli B – A fun and insightful 4-week art class, experimenting with mixed media or improving your skills in your preferred medium.
📅 Tue, 25th February | 🕡 6:30pm | 📍 Glenrothes Art Club | 🎟️ £45

📍 Life Drawing Anstruther – A friendly, untutored life drawing group for artists of all levels.
📅 Fri, 28th February | 🕒 6:45pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £7

SPORTS

Fixtures

⚽ Dunfermline Athletic vs Hamilton Academical
📅 Tue, 25 February | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Arbroath vs Kelty Hearts
📅 Tue, 25 February | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 League 1

⚽ Airdrieonians vs Raith Rovers
📅 Tue, 25 February | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 Championship

Results

🏉 Kirkcaldy RFC 32-19 Howe of Fife - Kirkaldy came out on top in this Fife derby and progressed to the next round.
📅 Sat, 22 February | 🕒 14:00 | 🏆 National League Cup

🏒 Manchester Storm 6-2 Fife Flyers - a difficult night away for the Fife Flyers with Manchester Story cruising to victory.
📅 Sat, 22 February | 🕒 19:00 | 🏆 Elite Ice Hockey League

⚽ East Fife 0-0 Peterhead - top of the table clash ended in a disappointing goalless draw.
📅 Sat, 22 February | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 2

⚽ Dunfermline Athletic 0-0 Queens Park - The Pars could not capitalise on their home advantage and had to settle for a goalless draw.
📅 Sat, 22 February | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Kelty Hearts 0-1 Inverness CT - a second-half goal from Bavidge sealed the deal, marking a disappointing trip for Kelty Hearts.
📅 Sat, 22 February | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 1

⚽ Raith Rovers 2-0 Hamilton Academical - Raith Rovers eased to victory and brought to within touching distance of a playoff spot.
📅 Sat, 22 February | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 Championship

🏒 Fife Flyers 3-2 Glasgow Clan - tight game on the ice with the Fife Flyers taking the win after a shootout.
📅 Sun, 23 February | 🕒 17:15 | 🏆 Elite Ice Hockey League

THANKS FOR READING

Hope you enjoyed this week's update! If you have anything you'd like to see covered next week, just let me know.

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!