🧭 New Plans for Fife's £20M?

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• New Plans for Fife's £20M?

• A New Spa Coming to Fife?

• 41 Events to See This Week

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

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🎓 Fife College’s Student Health and Wellbeing team has been shortlisted for a national award at The Herald Education Awards in recognition of its on-campus support initiatives that have boosted student engagement by 60%. The programme offers counselling hubs, free fitness access, and tailored support, helping more than 200 students access vital wellbeing services earlier.

• 🏛️ Fife Council has officially opened the new £15 million Templehall Community Hub in Kirkcaldy, bringing together services including a library, customer service centre, learning spaces and community facilities under one modern roof. The building will also host a week of free taster sessions from April 27th to May 2nd to help residents explore the new space and activities on offer.

• 🌍 Fife Council and local tourism businesses showcased the region to global buyers at VisitScotland Connect in Glasgow, holding over 70 meetings to promote Fife as a year-round destination with nearly 300 industry organisations attending.

• ⛳ St Andrews Links Trust is hosting free ‘Give it a Go’ sessions for golfers with disabilities on April 29th, offering coaching, accessible equipment like the Paragolfer, and opportunities to build confidence ahead of the PING Scottish Open for Golfers with a Disability. You can sign up here.

• 🌳 ScotRail has partnered with Thatchers Cider to plant new community orchards at stations, including Aberdour, to help create greener and more welcoming spaces that support biodiversity and local wildlife.

• 🥃 Eden Mill Distillery has appointed Steven Kersley as its new CEO, marking a “new chapter” for the Fife spirits brand as it looks to expand production and grow internationally following its acquisition from administration.

• 🚶‍♀️ Fife Council has launched the Active Fife May Walking Challenge with people encouraging residents to complete at least one mile a day throughout May as part of a wider initiative linked to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Join the challenge here.

• 🌿 Fife Council has granted planning permission in principle for a major eco-wellness and leisure park at the former St Ninians opencast site near Kelty, paving the way for lodges, a hotel and spa facilities.

• 🚦 Fife Council has considered new Traffic Regulation Orders across North East Fife, including reduced speed limits in villages such as St Monans, Pittenweem, Balmullo and Leuchars in an attempt to improve road safety and ease congestion. The proposals will now go out to public consultation, giving residents the chance to comment before any changes are introduced.

• ⚓ The NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) completed a major training exercise at Rosyth, testing rapid deployment procedures designed to rescue submariners from the seabed anywhere in the world. The system, owned jointly by the UK, France and Norway, will now continue further drills in Scandinavia as part of its ongoing readiness programme.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🏗️ New Plans for Fife's £20M?

Fife Council has provided more detail on how it plans to spend the £20 million Growth Mission Fund secured for Kirkcaldy, with three interconnected strands of work now emerging: developing greenspace along the Esplanade into a park with food kiosks and active travel routes; remodelling the town centre through demolitions, land assembly, and repurposing buildings; and creating a vibrant community facility to connect the High Street and waterfront, featuring a destination café/restaurant plus exhibition, creative, and event space.

This latest update follows a very mixed response to their original proposals, which saw MPs, residents, and local businesses all weighing in. The criticism seemed to focus mostly on a new multi-use hub that would be built on the site of the demolished multi-storey car parks, with little detail on how the waterfront would be improved, something residents had indicated as a priority in a survey conducted by local MP Melanie Ward.

The council is now planning another community event at the end of May to showcase the projects and proposals in more detail. Current work already underway includes a major housing development on the old Postings site, exploration of "a unique seafront visitor attraction with a team of award-winning creators," and support for the community-led bid for Kirkcaldy to become a UK Town of Culture. The community facility building will see local people help shape how indoor and outdoor space is used, as well as deciding on the final name.

Whether this £20 million will be enough to deliver meaningful change remains to be seen, but at least there's now more clarity on how the council is thinking about spending the money and what appears to be more alignment with the views of locals. You can read more about the original proposals 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, 28th April

Taste of Thailand - Discover the magic of Thai cooking in this vibrant, hands-on workshop.
📁 Food | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Greener Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £47

Come From Away - This stirring production brings to life the incredible true story of a small town’s generosity and courage in the wake of global tragedy.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18+

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience - The longest-running Fawlty Towers show of any kind worldwide!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Forgan's St Andrews | 🎟️ £41.50

Wednesday, 29th April

Moulin Rouge - 25 Year Anniversary Screening!
📁 Movie | 🕢 11am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5

Relaxed Drawing - Find a place in the galleries and take inspiration from great artworks.
📁 Art | 🕢 3pm | 📍 Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ 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+

Come From Away - This stirring production brings to life the incredible true story of a small town’s generosity and courage in the wake of global tragedy.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18+

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience - The longest-running Fawlty Towers show of any kind worldwide!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Forgan's St Andrews | 🎟️ £41.50

Thursday, 30th April

Origami Club - A once-a-month creative space for origami enthusiasts of all levels.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Abbot House, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

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

The Changing Face of Dunfermline - This hour-long film by Talisman Films Scotland shows how Dunfermline has changed over the past one hundred years.
📁 Movie | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ £8.50

Scottish Parliament Election Hustings 2026 - Meet the candidates vying for your vote.
📁 Talk | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Spring Evening Nature Walk and Campfire - Celebrate the arrival of Summer with a guided walk in the River Park, led by staff from the Ecology Centre.
📁 Tour | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Poplar Road & Kirkland Walk | 🎟️ Free

The Sailor Swift Tour: 400 Years of Song - Enjoy an unruly mix of singing, storytelling and comedy with Pete Morton.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Aurrie, Lower Largo | 🎟️ £12

Come From Away - This stirring production brings to life the incredible true story of a small town’s generosity and courage in the wake of global tragedy.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18+

James Shearer RSA and the Shearers of Dunfermline - A personal look at our architect James Shearer RSA to complement the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship to the RSA exhibition.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £7.21

Celebrity Concert by the Fitzwilliam String Quartet - Traditional concert at the opening of the Strings in Spring course.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

Gary Meikle: Yer Maw - Come along and join us for a night full of laughter!!
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Cupar Corn Exchange | 🎟️ £29.95

Stuart Mitchell & Friends: On The Road - Get ready for a night of sharp one-liners, rapid-fire wit, and non-stop laughs.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £24

Friday, 1st May

Paper Making with Seaweed Workshop - Discover the wonders of seaweed and how to make your own unique sea-themed craft papers.
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Limekilns Parish Church | 🎟️ £45

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

Grass to Grill Tour - A showcase of our organic farming landscape and produce from Balcaskie.
📁 Food | 🕢 4pm | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £76.47

Copper Lungs - Indie rock band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.20

The Beautiful Trainwreck Show - Plus support from Sauze Kings and Craig Harley Brown.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

Friday Night Stock Car Action - Featuring U-Pull-It 1400 Stock Cars, Ministox, and ProStocks.
📁 Sport | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Lochgelly Raceway | 🎟️ £16

The Audience - Returning to cinemas for the first time in over a decade, Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15+

Fife College 5km - Open to Fife College staff, students and members of the public, the route is a local favourite and suitable for all abilities.
📁 Sport | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £3.96

Come From Away - This stirring production brings to life the incredible true story of a small town’s generosity and courage in the wake of global tragedy.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18+

Susie McCabe: Best Behaviour - The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award winner Susie McCabe is back!
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

New Town Stompers - Dynamic traditional jazz septet, mainly from Edinburgh, and inspired by the ragtime, jazz and blues which dominated American music.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £14

No Alibi - High‑energy mix of classic hits and modern favourites.
📁 Music | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £6.13

Multi-Day Festivals & Events

Bluebell Flower & Fairy Trail - A stunning carpet of bluebells is set to transform the grounds of Hill of Tarvit Mansion House & Garden this spring.
📅 Thu, 23rd April - Sun, 17th May | 🕢 All day | 📍 Hill of Tarvit Mansion and Gardens | 🎟️ Free

Building No.3 Dock Exhibition - An exhibition curated by the Methil Heritage Friends showcasing a huge part of the history of the local area.
📅 Wed, 8th April - Sat, 30th May | 🕢 11am-4pm | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Hayley Matthews Art Exhibition: Wild! - A vibrant new collection of original paintings and prints by self-taught artist Hayley Matthews.
📅 Tue, 7th April - Thu, 25th June | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ Free

Pins and Needles Exhibition - The exhibition showcases previously unseen or rarely-seen items from the museum’s textile collection.
📅 Thu, 9th April - Sun, 23rd August | 🕢 10am-4pm (Mon-Sat) & 11am-4pm (Sun) | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Admission

Living Colour: Celebrating 200 Years of the Royal Scottish Academy - Experience the incredible range of RSA artists represented in this specially curated show from OnFife’s collections.
📅 Sat, 28th March - Sat, 5th September | 🕢 10:30am-4pm (Mon-Sat) | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

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

The Wemyss Ware Cat Trail - Trail of 17 large-scale Wemyss Cat sculptures, each standing over 1.7 metres tall.
📅 Sat, 25th April - Sun, 6th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ 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

Carnegie and the RSA: A Celebration of the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship - This exhibition celebrates the wide-ranging impact of the Royal Scottish Academy’s Carnegie Travelling Scholarship as part of RSA 200: Celebrating Together.
📅 Mon, 23rd March - Sun, 13th December | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum | 🎟️ 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