🚨 Pavement Parking Crackdown Coming Soon

Good morning, Fifers! As the days get longer, Fife is buzzing with exciting news and events, and we've got another packed edition for you.

Here’s what’s coming your way:

• 🚗 Pavement parking ban set to impact local streets

• 💰 Fife's £19.5M flood prevention investment

• 🍻 Dunfermline Beer Festival kicks off at Wetherspoons

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

— Duncan

WEATHER

Things are starting to heat up, with temperatures set to reach highs of 13°C. Here's the forecast:

Friday: 11 🌡️ 7 | 🌧️

Saturday: 13 🌡️ 4 | 🌤️

Sunday: 12 🌡️ 4 | 🌤️

Monday: 7 🌡️ 2 | 🌧️

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

Fife will enforce a pavement parking ban starting 1 September 2025, aligning with Scottish Government legislation. The ban also covers double parking and parking at dropped kerbs, ensuring safer access for wheelchair users, prams, and those with mobility issues.

Fife Council will launch an awareness campaign before enforcement begins, with an initial soft approach. Some streets may be exempt, subject to local reviews. Offenders will face a £100 fine, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

🌊 Fife Council Invests £19.5M in Flood Prevention

Fife Council is committing £19.5 million over the next decade to tackle flooding, with £9 million set aside in the next three years to upgrade its fleet, including essential gulley tankers. This investment supports flood prevention schemes, drainage improvements, and emergency responses across the region. Recent efforts include clearing 37,000 gullies, responding to 1,905 drainage requests, and progressing flood studies in high-risk areas. Residents can also apply for a property flood resilience grant to help protect their homes.

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🩺 NHS Fife uses VR to manage chronic pain! Patients can now experience mindfulness, golf, and fishing simulations to ease pain and boost mobility. Early trials show reduced pain and improved well-being.

• ☕ New Starbucks planned for Dalgety Bay! Fife Council has delayed a decision on a drive-thru Starbucks at The Gateway, pushing the deadline to March 14. The project could create up to 50 jobs, with a second drive-thru tenant still unnamed.

• 🍻 Dunfermline Beer Festival at Wetherspoons! The Guildhall and Linen Exchange is hosting a 12-day beer festival from March 5 to 16, offering 20 real ales, including 5 from international female brewers. Pints are just £1.99!

• 🏥 Orthopaedics Waiting Times in Fife Drop 5.2% NHS Fife has reduced waiting times by 5.2%, thanks to £30 million from the SNP Government. Over 75,000 appointments were completed by January. A further £200 million is set to be invested in 2025-26 to tackle waiting lists.

• 🏗️ MRS Training and Rescue Plans New Centre MRS Training and Rescue has applied to Fife Council for a new facility in Crossgates to offer specialist training at height, expanding its services in health and safety.

• 🔋 Fife Launches Battery Recycling Trial Fife Council will begin a six-month trial on March 31, allowing residents in central Fife with a four-bin service to recycle household batteries by placing them on top of their green bin for collection.

• 🏰 £62M Leuchars Base Upgrade Completed The £62 million upgrade at Leuchars Station enhances facilities for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and REME, setting a new standard for Army infrastructure in Scotland.

• ⛴️ Rosyth-Dunkirk Ferry Talks Progress Fife MSP Annabelle Ewing has secured a meeting between Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and ferry operator DFDS about a potential new service from Rosyth to Dunkirk, with talks aiming for a launch in late 2025.

• 🌍 St Andrews Links Trust Aims for Net Zero by 2040 St Andrews Links Trust has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040, with steps like using 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and switching to electric golf buggies. The trust is also focusing on sustainability in its operations and enhancing biodiversity.

• 👀 Golf Made Accessible for Visually Impaired Players RNIB Scotland and PGA coaches at St Andrews Links are training coaches to support visually impaired golfers. Using "sim specs" to simulate sight loss, the initiative highlights barriers and encourages inclusivity.

AROUND FIFE

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

🍽️ Booffi Restaurant Set to Open in Dunfermline's Historic Kinema

The historic Kinema Ballroom in Dunfermline will reopen as a Booffi all-you-can-eat restaurant in April, creating 40 jobs. This will be Booffi’s first east coast location, offering themed nights with diverse cuisines and plans for an online takeaway and coffee shop. The purchase is nearly complete, with minimal refurbishment needed. Estate agent Colin Jenkins says the new owners are “ready to go,” bringing fresh energy to the city’s dining scene.

🎉 Free Entry to Knockhill for Armed Forces & NHS

Knockhill Racing Circuit is offering free entry to its first car race (April 6) and bike race (April 13) for Armed Forces, NHS staff, and Blue Light Services workers. Family members get concession prices. Attendees can pre-book tickets via the Knockhill website or bring ID on the day for entry. The events feature non-stop racing, open paddocks, free parking, and on-site cafes.

@THEFIFEINSIDER

📍 Picture by Empato | Location: St. Monans

📸 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

📍 Simple Minded & Deacon Blues – Tribute night with the best hits from Simple Minds & Deacon Blue!
📅 Fri, 7th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £16

📍 The Columbos - Soul Band – Fife's finest Soul band playing classic hits from the 60s!
📅 Fri, 7th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £11.55

📍 Burn The Maps – A live music event featuring Burn The Maps, Break The Embargo, and 13 Tombs at The King's in Kirkcaldy.
📅 Fri, 7th March | 🕖 7:30pm | 📍 The King's, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8

📍 Graeme Saxton with Donnie Mcleod Acoustic Night – Enjoy an intimate night of acoustic music with talented songwriters Graeme Saxton and Donnie Mcleod!
📅 Fri, 7th March | 🕣 8:30pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Samantha Whates and MG Boulter Live from Cambo Kitchen – Enjoy an evening of alt-folk and experimental tunes with the talented duo at the historic Cambo Country House.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕕 6:00pm | 📍 Cambo House, St Andrews | 🎟️ £15

📍 David Stevens of DOVV Live Solo Acoustic – Experience the powerful voice of Kirkcaldy’s own David "Dov" Stevens, blending the sounds of Elvis and Roy Orbison in an unforgettable live performance.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕣 8:30pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 Wyrd Sisters – St Leonards School's talented pupils perform Terry Pratchett's comedic play, Wyrd Sisters, at the Byre Theatre.
📅 Fri, 7th March | 🕖 7:30pm | 📍 The Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £12.00 / £10.00 / £8.00

📍 Kirkcaldy Gilbert & Sullivan Society presents: Ruddigore – A cursed family, a fishing village, and dark twists!
📅 Fri, 7th - Sat, 8th March | 🕖 Various times | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟£8 to £20

🍫 Charlie & the Chocolate Factory: The Musical – A magical journey with Charlie and Willy Wonka!
📅 Fri, 7th - Sat, 8th March | 🕖 Various times | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £18 / £16

📍 Matthew Dance Academy Presents: Into the Spotlight – A fantastic evening of toe-tapping, fun-filled routines performed by the talented pupils of Matthew Dance Academy, showcasing a variety of dance styles.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕐 1:00pm & 6:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £12 - £16

📍 Macbeth: David Tennant and Cush Jumbo (12A) – A thrilling new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, filmed live at the Donmar Warehouse in London.
📅 Sun, 9th March | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20.00 / £15.00 / £10.00

🎬 Entertainment

📍 Scottish Team Racing Championships 2025 – Join the thrilling Scottish Student Sailing Team Racing Championships at Lochore Meadows!
📅 Fri, 7th March - Sun, 9th March | 🕖 8:00am | 📍 Lochore Meadows, Crosshill | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bouncing Bingo – Fun-filled bingo night with dancing, prizes, and a DJ, all in aid of the Scottish Cot Death Trust!
📅 Fri, 7th March | 🕖 8:00pm | 📍 The Windsor Hotel, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15

📍 March Music Madness: Only Strings Attached – Explore acoustic string-based instruments like guitars, ukuleles, and violins in this fun workshop, perfect for beginners and experienced players alike.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕚 11:00am | 📍 Lochgelly Centre, Lochgelly | 🎟️ Free

📍 Community Cinema: Brave – A fun, interactive movie experience for the whole family!
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Wellesley Centre, Methil | 🎟️ Free

📍 Film: Moonage Daydream (15) – A genre-defying cinematic experience about the iconic David Bowie.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10.00 / £8.00 / £6.00

📍 Bearfoot Comedy presents Susie McCabe: Work In Progress – A night of stand-up comedy with Susie McCabe and a sneak peek at her GICF show!
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕗 8:30pm | 📍 Kings Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.96

📍 Ruddons Point Coastal Walk – Join a 3-hour coastal walk on the north coast of the Firth of Forth, spotting waders, divers, grebes, sea ducks, and more wildlife.
📅 Sun, 9th March | 🕙 10:00am | 📍 Shell Bay, Leven | 🎟️ Suggested donation: £3

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Family Fun Night – Enjoy a night of fun with Mikey from Mohawk Entertainment, featuring games, dancing, magic tricks, and more for all ages.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕕 6:00pm | 📍 Auchtertool Village Hall, Auchtertool | 🎟️ £6

📍 Lamb Bottle Feeding at Hillview Animal Park – A fun family experience where you can meet and bottle-feed adorable baby lambs!
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕙 Various times | 📍 Hillview Animal Park, Bogside | 🎟️ £19.67

📍 Book Fun Day at Craigtoun – A free, book-filled afternoon for young readers to celebrate World Book Day! Enjoy Bookbug sessions, storytelling, book swaps, puzzles, and more.
📅 Sun, 9th March | 🕛 12:00pm | 📍 Craigtoun Country Park, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

📍 March Ceilidh at Culross Stables – Experience the fun of Ceilidh dancing with live music and easy-to-learn dances. Open to all ages, no experience needed!
📅 Sun, 9th March | 🕓 4:00pm | 📍 The Stables Community Hub, Culross | 🎟️Donations

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Bowhouse Market – March – A celebration of the best food, drink, and craft producers from Fife and beyond! Enjoy street food, artisan stalls, and local makers.
📅 Sat, 8th – Sun, 9th March | 🕙 10:00am | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ Free

📍 Taste Fife's Best at Silverburn Park – Enjoy a special menu featuring the finest local produce, including Silverburn Skink, the Kingdom Royale toastie, and honey & salted-almond scones.
📅 Sat, 8th – Sun, 16th March | 🕙 10:00am | 📍 Silverburn Park, Leven | 🎟️ £10

📍 Spring Coastal Walk & Tasting Picnic – A guided micro-adventure exploring Scotland’s coastal ecology, featuring a tasting of pre-prepared seaweed snacks and a lesson in sustainable foraging.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕒 3:00pm | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £45

📍 Kingsbarns Distillery Whisky & Food-Pairing Tour – A special Fife Food & Drink Week experience pairing award-winning whiskies with locally-inspired canapés.
📅 Sat, 8th March – Sun, 16th March | 🕒 3:00pm | 📍 Kingsbarns Distillery & Visitor Centre | 🎟️ £38

📍 Women's Whisky Tasting with Lindores Abbey Distillery – Celebrate International Women's Day with a female-led whisky tasting, perfect for beginners or seasoned whisky lovers. Enjoy drams and learn about the whisky-making process.
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕕 6:00pm | 📍 Lindores Abbey Distillery, Newburgh | 🎟️ £27.80

📍 Whisky Tasting – Sample exquisite Scottish malts with optional chocolate pairings, guided by a whisky expert. Includes a fun whisky quiz with a bottle of malt up for grabs!
📅 Sat, 8th March | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 The Hoose, Kinghorn | 🎟️ £25

📍 Mid-Week Menu at Garvock House Hotel – Enjoy a 3-course seasonal lunch featuring Fife’s finest local ingredients in a stunning setting.
📅 Mon, 10th – Wed, 12th March | 🕛 12:00pm | 📍 Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23

🎨 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

📍 Jane McCurley Howie ‘The Cloud Collection’ – A spiritual art exhibition featuring Jane McCurley Howie’s intricate gel pen artwork, telling stories of beauty, resilience, and love.
📅 Wed, 5th March - Sat, 10th May | 🕖 Various times | 📍 Lochgelly Centre, Lochgelly | 🎟️ Free

📍 International Women’s Day at Methil – A series of workshops celebrating International Women’s Day, including creative writing, art, yoga, life drawing, and more.
📅 Fri, 7th - Sat, 8th March | 🕖 Various times | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre, 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

📍 Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition – Explore an inspiring exhibition showcasing 25 panels that highlight a vision for a sustainable future, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
📅 Mon, 10th – Sun, 16th March | 🕒 10:00am | 📍 Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

SPORTS

Fixtures

⚽ Falkirk vs Dunfermline Athletic
📅 Sat, 8 March | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Kelty Hearts vs Montrose
📅 Sat, 8 March | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 1

⚽ Clyde vs East Fife
📅 Sat, 8 March | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 2

🏒 Guildford Flames vs Fife Flyers
📅 Sat, 8 March | 🕒 18:00 | 🏆 Elite Ice Hockey League

🏒 Fife Flyers vs Coventry Blaze
📅 Sun, 9 March | 🕒 17:15 | 🏆 Elite Ice Hockey League

Results

⚽ Livingston 0-0 Raith Rovers
📅 Wed, 5 March | 🕒 17:45 | 🏆 Championship

🏒 Fife Flyers 2-6 Cardiff Devils
📅 Wed, 5 March | 🕒 19:30 | 🏆 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!