🍛 Fife Dominates at the Scottish Curry Awards – Who Took Home the Trophies?

Good morning, Fifers! We hope you had a fantastic Easter and got some well-deserved rest. While things may be a bit quieter this week after the holiday buzz, there’s still plenty happening to keep you entertained.

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• 🚶‍♂️ Lochore Walking Festival Programme

• 🛤️ New Directional Signs Unveiled on the Forth Bridges Trail

• 🚨 Major Police Operation at Kirkcaldy Links Market

• 🍛 Fife Wins Big at the Scottish Curry Awards

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

— Duncan

WEATHER

Bit grey this week but staying mild, no surprises, just clouds with a chance of sun. Here's the forecast:

Tuesday: 13 🌡️ 6 | ☁️

Wednseday: 12 🌡️ 6 | ⛅

Thursday: 11 🌡️ 4 | ⛅

Friday: 10 🌡️ 7 | ⛅

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🚨 Major Police Operation Targets Gang Disorder at Kirkcaldy Links Market

A large-scale police operation was launched at Kirkcaldy's historic Links Market on Friday, aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour and gang-related disorder. A team of 20 officers patrolled the market and surrounding streets after intelligence revealed rival teenage gangs planned to meet for a fight. Officers were also monitoring individuals linked to a recent gang incident in Kinghorn.

The operation featured foot patrols, police vehicles, and a Multi-Agency Control Centre with representatives from local agencies. Officers intercepted youths carrying dangerous "pyramid rings" and discovered makeshift weapons hidden nearby. Despite poor weather, the operation successfully prevented major disturbances, ensuring the fair remained safe for attendees.

Inspector Mark Beveridge praised the effort, emphasising the importance of maintaining Links Market as a fun and secure event for the community. [The Courier]

🍛 Fife Wins Big at the Scottish Curry Awards

It was a big night for Fife at the 17th Scottish Curry Awards, hosted in Glasgow on the 14th of April. The prestigious event recognises and celebrates the talents and hard work of individuals and businesses within the Scottish curry industry. Dunfermline’s Dhoom, in particular, performed exceptionally well, scooping 3 awards. Known for its ever-changing tasting menu, Dhoom explores a new region of India every six months, offering guests a fresh and exciting culinary journey.

Big winners from Fife included:

• Indian Restaurant of the Year (Fife): Annapurna Gurkha’s Restaurant (Kirkcaldy)

• Indian Restaurant of the Year (Overall Winner): Annapurna Gurkha’s Restaurant (Kirkcaldy)

• Dining Experience of the Year (Fife): Namaste Indian Restaurant (Dunfermline)

• Curry Restaurant of the Year (Fife): Dhoom (Dunfermline)

• Takeaway of the Year (Fife): Curry Pot Indian Takeaway (Dunfermline)

• Nepalese Restaurant of the Year: Everest Inn (Dunfermline)

• Street Food Restaurant of the Year: Dhoom (Dunfermline)

• Best Chef of the Year (Industry’s Choice): Dhoom (Dunfermline)

Check out the full list of winners here.

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🏗️ Divers are opposing plans to redevelop Prestonhill Quarry into homes and lodges, arguing it would eliminate a vital training site used for over 15 years. Developers say the move is necessary to address ongoing safety concerns at the derelict site.

• 🍕 Luca’s Kitchen in Dunfermline has submitted plans for a single-storey extension that will add new toilets, a private shower, and an emergency exit. The work will also allow for a larger kitchen by repurposing the existing toilet area.

• 🚆 Camdean Primary in Rosyth has partnered with Network Rail as part of a year-long programme to promote STEM learning, safety, and active travel. Pupils will take part in engineering activities, including VR experiences and bridge-building lessons.

• 🤠 The Limekilns Scarecrow Festival returns from April 25 to 27, with residents across several villages creating quirky scarecrows to display in gardens, on rooftops, and in shop windows.

• 🚗 The derelict Esplanade and Thistle Street car parks in Kirkcaldy are to be demolished after a failed attempt to sell them. The sites, considered major eyesores, will be cleared to make way for future retail and housing development.

• 🪨 Campaigners fighting Balmullo Quarry's expansion are in shock after Fife Council redacted large parts of an environmental report, hiding details on local wildlife. The group has sought legal advice, claiming the redactions are unlawful and hinder public scrutiny.

• 🌹 Special long poppies will be placed at war graves in Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly in time for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The initiative is coordinated by Cowdenbeath Rotary Club, the British Legion in Crossgates, and local school pupils.

• 🔋 The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has raised concerns about the safety of large-scale battery energy storage systems, describing them as an "emerging risk." A proposed facility in Cardenden is among several planned in the region, with fears around overheating and the release of toxic gases.

• 👮 Police have made an arrest in connection with a serious assault on four young people in Kinghorn on April 10, as investigations continue. Increased patrols remain in place in the area as officers gather further evidence.

• 🛎️ Pittormie House in Dairsie has unveiled plans to add seven holiday lets, a staff lodge, and new access to its estate. The owners, who have operated the estate as a private members club since 2005, aim to further develop the property while maintaining its heritage and supporting the local economy.

AROUND FIFE

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

🚶‍♂️ Lochore Walking Festival - May 12th to 18th, 2025

The Lochore Walking Festival is back from May 12th to 18th, 2025, offering a variety of guided walks across Fife for all abilities. From Lochore Meadows to coastal paths, there's something for everyone!

Walks are completely free to join, with no booking required for most (except for specific events like the Beach of Dreams and Outdoor Education walks). Whether you're looking to improve your fitness, meet new people, or simply enjoy the outdoors, these walks are a great way to enhance your well-being and mental health.

Check out the full programme here.

🛤️ New Directional Signs Unveiled on the Forth Bridges Trail

New directional signs have been introduced along the Forth Bridges Trail to mark World Heritage Day on April 18, 2025. The trail, which highlights Scotland’s iconic Forth Bridges and the historic communities of North and South Queensferry, now features clearer signage to guide visitors along the five-mile circular route and showcases 24 points of interest.

Designed to reflect the iconic red steelwork of the Forth Bridge, the signs also support Scotland’s goals for sustainable tourism by encouraging exploration via foot, bike, or public transport. The initiative is aimed at boosting year-round tourism and supporting local businesses in the area. [Fife Council]

@THEFIFEINSIDER

📍 Picture by Daniel Giza | Location: Elie

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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

📍 John Jorgenson & The Webb Sisters – Experience the sublime harmonies of The Webb Sisters and John Jorgenson.
📅 Tue, 22nd April | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Backstage at The Green Hotel, Kinross | 🎟️ £28.60

📍 Fife Youth Sinfonia & Fife Youth Concert Band – A vibrant evening of music showcasing talented young performers from Fife schools.
📅 Wed, 23rd April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre, Lochgelly | 🎟️ £6

📍 The Stars of The Commitments – The original cast members and musicians bring The Great Dublin Soul Revival Tour, performing the unforgettable hits from The Commitments,
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £29

📍 The Class of '55 – Experience an electrifying tribute to Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis with vibrant visuals, live band energy, and unforgettable classic hits.
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £28

📍 Bookfest – Enjoy a night of live music with Fife folk and rock acts including The Long Road, The Coaltown Daisies, Got Got Need & Dave Wood.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 The King’s, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

📍 The Twistettes + Sophie De Rose + The Urban – A night of live rock music presented by RIOT ROCK at P.J. Molloys.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 P.J. Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £11

📍 Soul Station – Groove to the best soul and Motown tracks at this monthly event.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £8.30

📍 The Petty Heartbreakers – A tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, bringing you all the hits and more!
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Backstage at The Green Hotel, Kinross | 🎟️ £27.50

📍 The Catch 22's – Ska punk storytelling with influences from Blondie, No Doubt, and more.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 Macbeth: Starring David Tennant & Cush Jumbo – Experience Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy like never before, filmed live from London’s Donmar Warehouse.
📅 Wed, 23rd April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

🎬 Entertainment

📍 Game ON at Kirkcaldy Galleries – Join the casual gaming club for a fun, friendly atmosphere with a variety of games, from quick rounds to epic sessions. No booking required, just drop in and enjoy!
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕔 5:00pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Scottish Colourists with Guy Peploe – Discover the stories and friendships behind Scotland’s most iconic painters with Guy Peploe, grandson of S.J. Peploe.
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕕 6:00pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldu | 🎟️ £10

📍 Carnegie and Scotland – Join Professor Ewen Cameron for an insightful lecture on Andrew Carnegie's history and impact in Scotland.
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕡 6:30pm | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £5

📍 Chippendale on the Links – David Jones explores the connections between celebrated 18th-century cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale and the local area of North East Fife, revealing surprising relationships with golf.
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10

📍 This Much I Know… – A conversation with renowned music supervisor Kathleen Wallfisch, exploring her journey from cellist to contracting musicians for major film productions like Napoleon and Gladiator 2.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕒 3:00pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

📍 No Other Land – A powerful Oscar-winning documentary following Palestinian and Israeli activist-journalists as they document the struggle against forced displacement in Masafer Yatta.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕓 4:00pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £12

📍 Mickey 17 – Sci-fi thriller starring Robert Pattinson as a disposable clone sent on perilous space missions, where one death isn’t the end… until it is.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 The Ballad of Wallis Island – A heartwarming new comedy-drama where a lottery winner hires his favourite folk duo to reunite for a private concert on his remote island.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £16

📍 Museum Talk on Suffragette Movement – Join a fascinating talk on the suffragette movement and how Theresa Billington and her colleagues took their cause to Fife.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Crail Museum and Heritage Centre, Crail | 🎟️ £5

📍 Meadowfest – Relax around the campfire with live music, games, and stargazing at St Andrews Botanic Garden.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 St Andrews Botanic Garden, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Bookbug at Rothes Halls – Enjoy free, fun, and friendly sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers! Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 23rd April | 🕑 10:30am | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bookbug at Burntisland Library – Enjoy free, fun, and friendly sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers! Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 23rd April | 🕑 10:30am | 📍 Burntisland Library, Burntisland | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bookbug at Leslie Library – Enjoy free, fun, and friendly sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers! Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Wed, 23rd April | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Leslie Library, Leslie | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bookbug at Kirkcaldy Galleries – Enjoy free, fun, and friendly sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers! Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕑 10:30am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Kids' Dens: LEGO Club – Join the LEGO Club to create masterpieces, learn new skills, and have fun building with a new theme each week.
📅 Thu, 24th April | 🕒 3:15pm | 📍 Kennoway Library, Kennoway | 🎟️ £2

📍 Abbey Kids: A Creative Space for Children – A free, creative group for children and their carers, featuring hands-on fun and themed activities.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕓 4:00pm | 📍 Dunfermline Abbey Church Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Dunfermline Cocktail Week – Enjoy £5 cocktails and exclusive deals at 25 venues across Dunfermline!
📅 Fri, 25th April - Sun, 4th May | 🕖 9:00am - 11:45pm | 📍 Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.95

🛒 Markets

📍 Artisan Fridays Market – A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕘 9:00am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

🎨 Exhibitions

📍 Unearthed – Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed, explore prehistoric creatures, and uncover treasures from Fife’s past.
📅 Sat, 8th February – Sat, 27th September | 🕒 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

📍 Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 – A stunning collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces, at Affordable Arts!
📅 Tue, 4th March – Tue, 28th October | 🕙 10:00am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

📍 Hag: Knowledge, Power & Alchemy through Craft – An inspiring exhibition celebrating the creativity, strength, and mastery of 13 Scottish women craft artists.
📅 Sat, 8th March – Sun, 8th June | 🕙 Various times | 📍 Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Lynne Muir: Photography Exhibition – Discover stunning images of the natural world from local photographer Lynne Muir, featuring scenes from her recent trip to Antarctica and beautiful shoreline moments captured near the East Neuk.
📅 Tue, 1st – Sun, 27th April | 🕙 10am | 📍 The Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther |🎟️ Free event

📍 Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre – Explore Cupar’s rich history with exhibitions celebrating 250 years of Cupar Curling Club, a newly restored portrait of Charles Lees, famous creative locals, and the story of an 1870s dress that made its way to New Zealand.
📅 Wed, 16th April – Fri, 31st October | 🕒 2pm (Wed, Fri & Sun) | 📍 Cupar Railway Station, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

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

📍 St Andrews Art Club Spring Exhibition & Sale – Explore and purchase a wide range of original artwork, from paintings to sketches, at this spring exhibition.
📅 Sat, 19th – Sun, 27th April | 🕒 Mon-Sat: 10am, Sun: 12pm | 📍 St Andrews Art Club, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

🧶 Arts & Crafts

📍 Dreel Crafters – Grab a cuppa and get crafting with friendly faces. All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📅 Tue, 22nd & Thu, 24th April | 🕑 7pm (Tue) & 2pm (Thu) | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

📍 Life Drawing Anstruther – Join a friendly life drawing group at Dreel Hall, perfect for artists of all levels.
📅 Fri, 25th April | 🕡 6:45pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £7

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SPORTS

Fixtures

No fixtures in the next few days.

Results

⚽ Falkirk 1-3 Raith Rovers
📅 Sat, 19 April | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Dunfermline Athletic 0-0 Partick Thistle
📅 Sat, 19 April | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Kelty Hearts 3-1 Queen of the South
📅 Sat, 19 April | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 1

⚽ East Fife 2-0 Stirling Albion
📅 Sat, 12 April | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 2

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!