🚨 Is Fife's Rural College Campus About to Close?

Good morning, Fifers! The Kingdom’s politicians have been active this week with several big interventions in local issues.

Here’s what’s coming your way:

• 🚨 Fears for future of SRUC’s Elmwood Campus

• 🔨 MP pushes for new powers to revamp Kirkcaldy

• 🥩 St Andrews butcher named best in Scotland

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

— Duncan

WEATHER

Whilst it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting the sunshine we expected, it’s continuing to stay warm. Here's the forecast:

Tuesday: 13 🌡️ 3 | ☁️

Wednesday: 11 🌡️ 7 | ☁️

Thursday: 9 🌡️ 5 | 🌧️

Friday: 9 🌡️ 2 | ⛅

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🚨 Fears for Future of SRUC’s Elmwood Campus

North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie has warned that SRUC’s Elmwood campus in Cupar could face closure if its animal care unit shuts down. The course, which makes up half of the student roll, is set to be scrapped at the end of the academic year, with a consultation closing this week.

Rennie has written to SRUC’s board chair and the Further Education Minister, arguing that without enough students, the campus will become unsustainable. He has also proposed an alternative site near Cupar to save the course. SRUC insists it remains committed to keeping a presence in Cupar, with plans to move courses to Elmwood House and the Horticulture buildings, but students and staff feel misled over previous assurances.

🔨 MP Pushes for New Powers to Revamp Kirkcaldy

Kirkcaldy’s High Street has been in decline, but MP Melanie Ward says she is fighting for change. Ward has called for demolishing the “ugly sisters” car parks, which block waterfront views and make the area feel rundown.

She has pressed Fife Council and the Scottish Government for investment, pushed for modern housing and green spaces, and is campaigning for new powers to reclaim vacant shops, similar to England’s High Street Rental Auctions.

Local businesses, Fife Chamber of Commerce, Love Oor Lang Toun, and Kirkcaldy Collective are backing the revitalization efforts, with initiatives like the Kirkcaldy Lottery funding public art. Ward says progress won’t happen overnight but is committed to turning things around.

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🏫 New South West Fife School Milestone: A ‘topping out’ ceremony marked progress on the £88m school replacing Inverkeithing High. Set to open next year, it will accommodate 1,700+ pupils.

• 📡 Fife Greens oppose Starlink in schools, arguing public funds shouldn’t support Musk-linked firms over ethical and environmental concerns, as MSP Mark Ruskell pushes for a parliamentary review.

• 🗣️ Over 3,500 Fife pupils speak other languages, with Polish, Romanian, and Urdu most common. Councillor Kathleen Leslie praises schools for supporting refugee and displaced children.

• 🚗 Fife Council to spend £27k repairing potholes in the overflow car park at Rosyth's Parkgate Centre. The work aims to ease parking issues for local residents and visitors to the community hub.

• 🍽️ Louie Brown's in Dalgety Bay has been taken over by the owners of nearby Hugo’s pub. Martyn Stewart and Roddy Jobson, also behind Foxton bar and grill, promise fresh ideas while retaining current staff and honouring all bookings.

• 🚦 Fife Council faces criticism for reducing speed limits to 20mph in Rosyth without consulting locals. Tory councillor Dave Dempsey claims the council breached its policy, while Fife Council defends the consultation with local members and community council.

• 💼 Pension surplus call with former coal workers are urging the return of their pension surpluses before it's too late. MP Melanie Ward supports their campaign for fairness, following the government's £1.5 billion pledge to mineworkers.

• 🚸 Playpark revamps: Cowdenbeath and Kelty playparks are set for improvements with consultations coming soon. Fife Council's £2.3m funding from the SNP Scottish Government will enhance facilities for local children.

• 🚨 Former Miss Scotland, Lucy Thomson, found guilty of biting security guards and using racist language at rugby event. Thomson, 26, assaulted two officers while being ejected from the Edinburgh City 7s tournament, and was fined £790 after denying the charges.

• 🔬 140 S3 pupils from Fife enjoyed a STEM Day at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, featuring interactive challenges, coding, and talks from Police Scotland and local universities. Sponsored by CGI, the event encouraged future tech careers and was backed by charity Digital Xtra.

AROUND FIFE

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

🐶 Fife Chippy’s Doggy Menu Raises £1500 for Charity – and Expands!

Award-winning St Andrews chippy Cromars has served over 2,000 doggy suppers, raising £1,500 for the Scottish SPCA since launching Scotland’s first dog-friendly menu last year. Now, the Market Street chippy is expanding its offerings with a 2025 refresh, adding nutritious sardines and homemade dog biscuits to the £2 menu, which already includes sausages and puppuccinos.

Cromars continues to donate 50% of all doggy menu sales to the SSPCA. Owner Wendy Napthine-Frame says she’s thrilled by the support, while the Scottish SPCA has praised Cromars for making a real difference to Scotland’s animals.

🥩 St Andrews Butcher Named Best in Scotland

Balgove Larder in St Andrews has been crowned Champion Butcher at the Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards, recognizing top rural businesses across the UK. The farm shop’s butchery offers a range of pork, lamb, beef, and game, with a focus on Scottish sourcing and quality. Co-founder Will Docker credited their customers and hardworking butchers for the win.

Winners were decided by public vote and announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh. Balgove Larder now heads to the House of Lords grand final on June 18. Celebrating its 15th year, Balgove Larder has expanded to include The Farm Shop, The Steak Barn, and The Butchery, offering ready meals, online shopping, and butchery masterclasses.

@THEFIFEINSIDER

📍 Picture by Ollie Craig | Location: St Andrews

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

WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

✨ Featured Event

🎶 Live Music & Concerts

📍 Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Schumann & Schubert – Violin virtuoso Isabelle van Keulen joins the SCO to perform Schumann’s lyrical Violin Concerto and Schubert’s youthful Third Symphony.
📅 Wed, 26th March | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews | 🎟️ £25

📍 Crail Folk Club - Anthony John Clarke – Enjoy a night of humour and heartfelt music with AJ, originally from Belfast, whose songs range from sentimental to hilarious, covering everything from car boot sales to camping.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall, Crail | 🎟️ £12

📍 Malvina Guitar Duo - Crail: Experience an evening of beautiful music with the Malvina Guitar Duo at Crail Parish Church.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Crail Parish Church, Crail | 🎟️ £12.50

📍 DOWALLY: Award Winning Live Scottish Folk! – Edinburgh's acoustic folk ensemble, winners of the Celtic Connections "Danny Kyle" Award, brings lively traditional Scottish tunes with beautiful vocals and foot-tapping reels and jigs.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 Mermaids presents Arcadia – A tragicomic mystery set across two timelines, following the story of a brilliant student, a tutor, and a search for the truth surrounding a secret letter and fatal shootout.
📅 Tue, 25th - Wed, 26th March | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £12

📍 Little Shop of Horrors – Seymour Krelborn discovers a plant that promises fame and fortune, but at a deadly cost.
📅 Wed, 26th March - Sat, 29th March | 🕖 7:15pm (Wed-Sat) & 🕑 2:00pm (Sat) | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18

📍 King Lear – A one-man adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, presented from the Fool’s perspective, blending humour and poignancy.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕡 6:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17

🎬 Entertainment

📍 Unseen Monsters Shaping Our Universe – Explore the mysterious forces of dark matter and black holes with Dr Steph Campbell from Newcastle University.
📅 Tue, 25th March | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Kabin, Dalgety Bay | 🎟️ £2

📍 Conclave – A thriller about Cardinal Lawrence leading the secretive process of selecting a new Pope, amidst conspiracies that could shake the Catholic Church.
📅 Wed, 26th - Thu, 27th March | 🕚 11:00am & 7:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 We Live in Time – A romantic drama about a chef and a recently divorced woman who build a life together, only for a painful truth to challenge their love.
📅 Wed, 26th March | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 Film: The Critic (15) – A thrilling dark comedy set in 1930s London with an all-star cast.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕥 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £8

📍 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy – Bridget navigates life as a widow and single mum, balancing family, friends, and love interests.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.50

📍 Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands (15) – A documentary uncovering Scotland’s girl bands from the 1960s onward, featuring iconic groups like Strawberry Switchblade and more.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕡 6:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10

📍 Bearfoot Academy Showcase – A night of comedy featuring students from Bearfoot Comedy Academy, hosted by Viv Gee and headlined by Jay Miles.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 The King's, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ TBC

📍 An Evening with Celtic Legends – Join football stars Tom Boyd, Frank McAvennie, and Jackie McNamara as they share stories and anecdotes from their careers at Celtic FC.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

📍 Connor Burns: 1994 – Edinburgh's emerging comedy star brings his third solo hour, filled with sharp wit, self-deprecation, and a relaxed yet intelligent style.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £17

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Logie Farming Lambing Experience 2025 – Join the Morris family for an authentic lambing tour at Logie Farm. Experience everything from holding a lamb to witnessing live births (nature permitting).
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕐 1:30pm & 4:00pm | 📍 Logie Farm, Newburgh | 🎟️ £15

📍 Abbey Kids: A Creative Space for Children: Join us for a FREE arts & crafts group for families, offering creative and messy fun every Friday afternoon in Dunfermline Abbey Church Halls.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕓 4:00pm | 📍 Dunfermline Abbey Church Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Farm to Barn - Spring Supper Club with Ardross – Celebrate local Fife produce and sustainable farming at a seasonal dining experience featuring Ardross Farm’s exceptional ingredients, hosted at the rustic Pratis Barns.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Pratis Barns, Leven | 🎟️ £75

📍 Artisan Fridays Market – A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕘 9:00am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

🎨 Art

📍 Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 – A stunning collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces, at Affordable Arts!
📅 Tue, 4th Mar - 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 2025 | 🕙 Various times | 📍 Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Draw a Labrador Nose – Join Pam Thompson for a step-by-step workshop to draw a Labrador's nose using white pencil on black paper.
📅 Thu, 27th March | 🕐 1:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8.33

📍 Life Drawing Anstruther – Join a friendly, untutored life drawing group at Dreel Hall, open to artists of all levels.
📅 Fri, 28th March | 🕡 6:45pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £7

SPORTS

Fixtures

⚽ Greenock Morton vs Raith Rovers
📅 Tue, 25 March | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 Championship

Results

⚽ Partick Thistle 0-0 Raith Rovers
📅 Fri, 21 March | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Kelty Hearts 1-1 Arbroath
📅 Sat, 22 March | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 1

⚽ Edinburgh City 5-2 East Fife
📅 Sat, 22 March | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 2

🏉 Newton Stewart 65-49 Kirkcaldy
📅 Sat, 22 March | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 National League 2

🏒 Fife Flyers 2-7 Guildford Flames
📅 Sat, 22 March | 🕒 19:15 | 🏆 Elite Ice Hockey League

🏒 Coventry Blaze 7-2 Fife Flyers
📅 Sun, 23 March | 🕒 17:30 | 🏆 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!