🧭 What Will Kirkcaldy's £20m Be Spent On?

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• What's Next for Kirkcaldy's £20m Investment?

• 36 Events to See This Week

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

— Duncan

TODAY’S TOP STORY

💷 What's Next for Kirkcaldy's £20m Investment?

Back in the Autumn budget, there was welcome news when Kirkcaldy was confirmed as one of the beneficiaries of the UK Government's Growth Mission Fund, with the maximum allocation of £20m awarded. We’ve following this story closely and have been waiting on an update since MP Melanie Ward held her consultation on what locals would like to see the money spent on. Now, Fife Council is ready to share what's planned for that investment.

Two drop-in sessions are being held at the Old Kirk, Kirk Wynd, on February 4th (2:30-5pm) and February 5th (5:30-8pm). These sessions offer residents and businesses the chance to hear what's planned, understand how the investment fits into the bigger picture, and speak directly with council officers.

Fife Council has submitted proposals for part of Kirkcaldy's waterfront, including a new multi-use building designed to help grow the town's economy and demolishing derelict buildings to better connect the High Street and waterfront. Whilst a significant investment, I am still somewhat sceptical of how far this money can go. We’ll have to wait and see what exactly the plans entail at next week’s meetings.

Subject to final confirmation, funding will start to become available from April 2026, with opportunities throughout the year for the community to influence development plans. David Ross, Leader of Fife Council, emphasised: "Regeneration isn't about one site or one pot of money, but a long-term, connected plan for Kirkcaldy and nearby communities." [Fife Council]

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🏥 A £3 million investment has marked the official opening of the refurbished Ward 3 at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, delivering a safer, more therapeutic environment for older adult mental health care, with a further £12 million confirmed to modernise additional wards and mental health facilities across NHS Fife over the next two years.

• 🗳️ Zoe Hisbent of the SNP has been elected as the new councillor for Glenrothes West and Kinglassie (Ward 13) after winning the by-election on January 22nd with 1,167 first-preference votes, in a contest that saw a 22.1% turnout from 2,663 ballots cast.

• 🔥 Newly refurbished Cowdenbeath Public Park was set on fire in a senseless act, just weeks after its £150k revamp. Only one piece of equipment was damaged, and there were no injuries.

• 🩺 37 third-year medical students from the University of St Andrews have started a new programme within NHS Fife that allows future doctors to complete their medical degree and clinical training locally, supported by a newly refurbished education hub at Cameron Hospital.

• 🚆 The normal train timetables across Fife have now resumed following completion of the electrification works that were taking place last week.

• ☕ Former Prime Minister and Kirkcaldy MP Gordon Brown joined guests and volunteers at the Salvation Army’s Warm Welcome Space in Kirkcaldy for breakfast during Warm Welcome Week.

• 📸 Fife’s Coast Snap initiative is launching at four sites, including St Andrews, Anstruther, Leven, and Kirkcaldy, to track coastal erosion. This citizen science project uses fixed phone holders to allow residents to take photographs of the coastline, which analysts will use to monitor storm impacts and beach changes.

• 🏫 The new Dunfermline Learning Campus, built to Passivhaus standards, has cut energy bills by £433,392 and reduced energy use by 48% in its first year. Real-time monitoring shows the building is performing 20% better than its original energy target.

• 🎓 St Andrews University has confirmed it is set to elect a new Chancellor with four candidates contesting the role: Dame Anne Pringle, Lord Mark Sedwill, Lady Walmsley, and Dame Barbara Woodward. Voting will run from February 16th until February 22nd, with results announced the week of February 23rd.

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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, 27th January

East German Cinema and the Holocaust - Join us for a screening of Konrad Wolf’s Sterne / Stars.
📁 Movie | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £4+

Cook and Dine: Vegan Feast - This hands-on workshop is the perfect opportunity to explore delicious, seasonal dishes.
📁 Food | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Greener Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £47

The Secrets of Blackholes & the Story of Gravitational Wave Astronomy - Prepare for an evening where space, time, and imagination are pushed to their limits.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Kabin, Dalgety Bay | 🎟️ £2

Martin Barre Band - Four Piece Electric Band play Aqualung in its entirety plus additional Tull Classics.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £52.80

📅 Wednesday, 28th January

Archaeology Survey Walk - Join the River Park Archaeologists for an Archaeological Field Survey
📁 Tour | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Poplar Road & Kirkland Walk, Methil | 🎟️ Free

Song Sung Blue - Two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band.
📁 Movie | 🕢 11am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5

Dr Elsje van Kessel: Art and the Ocean - Explore seaweed in the context of the history of art and the ocean.
📁 Talk | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 St Andrews Botanic Garden | 🎟️ £3

From Weimar Slapstick to Epic Westerns: Celebrating and Studying Silent Film - Join Dr Paddy Adamson and Dr Paul Flaig to explore iconic films and figures from 1920s silent film.
📁 Talk | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Salsa Beginners Class - You can join at any time. Each class is different, so you’ll always learn something new.
📁 Dance | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Young Community Hall, Burntisland | 🎟️ £10

National Theatre Live: Hamlet - Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall | 🎟️ £14

Martin Barre Band - Four Piece Electric Band play Aqualung in it's entirety plus additional Tull Classics.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £52.80

Bachata Beginners Class - You can join at any time. Each class is different, so you’ll always learn something new.
📁 Dance | 🕢 8:30pm | 📍 Young Community Hall, Burntisland | 🎟️ £10

📅 Thursday, 29th January

The Dunfermline Origami Club - A relaxed, welcoming origami meet-up in Dunfermline for anyone who loves folding, creating, and connecting.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Abbot House, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

The Roses - Behind Ivy and Theo’s picture-perfect life lies simmering competition and resentments.
📁 Movie | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £6.50+

The Music of Robert Burns & Scotland - Singer Vicki Robertson will perform the songs of Robert Burns and Scotland in this event to celebrate Scotland’s greatest poet.
📁 Music | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ £12

Game ON - Casual gaming club with a huge range of board games.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Café Wemyss, Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Meet the Buchanans - An off-beat documentary about the inauguration of the first Clan Buchanan Chief in over 300 years.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £6.50+

Celebrating Celine - Live concert experience honouring the legendary music of Celine Dion.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

Martin Barre Band - Four Piece Electric Band play Aqualung in its entirety plus additional Tull Classics.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £52.80

📅 Friday, 30th January

Behind the Business: Morning Session with Marissa Yassen-Fleming - Relaxed early-morning Behind the Business session with Fife Business Gateway.
📁 Talk | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Abbot House, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Pay what you can

Creative Craft Club For Adults - Come and enjoy a regular Friday morning of creativity.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £15

Hayley Matthews Art Pop Up Event - Local artist prints, paintings, cards, coasters and gifts!
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Gaelic Conversation Group - Join this informal group of Gaelic learners for a relaxed morning working together on Gaelic Conversation.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10:15am | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Free

Little Niblicks - Bring along your baby or toddler to enjoy the sights and sounds of the museum.
📁 Children | 🕢 11am | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Paint and Sip: Links to the Sea - Reflect on the seasons and relax with a glass of wine while we paint coastal scenes.
📁 Art | 🕢 5:30pm | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

Friday 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+

Soul Station - Resident DJ Martin Duffy keeps us entertained, so bring your dancing shoes.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

Nirvana Unplugged Experience - Relive Nirvana’s legendary 1993 MTV Unplugged in New York performance.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £25

Jack Pearce Quintet - Fusion of melodic and technical excellence, drawing influence from Post-bop and 90s New York Swing.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £24.20

🎉 Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

From These Parts: Scotland, Art and Identity - Special preview evening filled with live music, drinks, and creative activities.
📅 Sat, 18th October - Sun, 15th February | 🕢 10am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum | 🎟️ Free

Winter Memory Postcards - Reflect on the feelings and memories of the winter holidays, the fleeting moments captured, as if on postcards to friends and family.
📅 Wed, 4th - Mon, 16th February | 🕢 10:30am - 4pm (closed Tuesdays) | 📍 St Andrews Heritage Museum | 🎟️ Museum Admission

Paul McGinty: Beneath The Surface - This body of work represents elements of Paul McGinty's ongoing research into the history of the Coal Mining Industry in Fife.
📅 Thu, 8th January - Fri, 27th February | 🕢 10am-4pm (Thu & Fri) | 📍 Adam Smith Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Unveiling the Madonna - Discover the story behind the Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, the oldest painting in our art collection.
📅 Sat, 8th November - Sat, 7th March | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

Scottish Snowdrop Festival 2026 - Visitors can enjoy our winter garden and specialist snowdrop collection and the swathes of naturalised snowdrops in our woodland walk to the sea.
📅 Sun, 25th January - Sun, 15th March | 🕢 10am | 📍 Cambo Country House and Estate | 🎟️ Varies

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

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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Cheers,

Duncan