August/September
MELA LINKS UP WITH NEW VENUE This year’s Edinburgh Mela Festival promises to be the most popular yet, with the annual celebration of cultural diversity moving to its new home at Leith Links and that’s good news for local businesses. Founded in 1995, the Mela’s stature has grown year on year with the event now a dazzling three-day programme of theatre, dance, live music, fashion, food and family entertainment from a variety of cultures. The Mela has always been warmly embraced in Leith and Festival Director Liam Sinclair has paid tribute to the backing it receives from the community. He commented: “We are grateful for the continued support from local businesses as they are crucial to the ongoing success and growth of the Mela. With the move this year to our new, permanent home at Leith Links we hope that those located nearby enjoy the knock-on effect of an increase in customers over the festival weekend.” Festival Chairman, Councillor Steve Cardownie added: “Community involvement with the Mela has grown year on year and we have continued to receive great support from local residents and businesses alike.”
In addition to all the regular favourites, highlights of this year’s festival are the premiere of CARGO, a Scottish Government-funded large-scale outdoor performance on the theme of migration and a major new commission entitled Naturally Inspired, a crossfestival collaboration which features theatre, storytelling, music, dance and song. The Mela runs from August 6–8 at Leith Links. For ticket information and full details of a packed programme visit www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk or call 0131 332 2888.
SPOTLIGHT ON… LEITH WALK, OLD & NEW As one of Edinburgh’s most famous streets, Leith Walk is home to hundreds of distinctive businesses, with entrepreneurs from all over the world choosing it as their company’s home. A regular flux of new discoveries are intermingled with popular local haunts – and we spotlight two of its exciting stores.
THE NEWCOMER
This May saw the arrival of an eye-catching shop on Leith Walk, specialist furniture store Urbane Furniture. Though owner Garry Scott admits it is a challenging time for any business, he is confident that the quality of the furniture and expert advice on offer will prove a winner with customers. He comments: “People are often on the hunt for something a bit different and as well as what you see in store, we individually-tailor bespoke designs. It’s worth dropping by to discuss what you’re looking for – and don’t forget there’s an hour’s free parking outside!” Urbane Furniture stocks a vibrant selection of diverse, solid wood furniture and there is plenty to discover. Affordable pieces are sourced from around the globe and there is even a range of exclusive
artwork on display. To get things home in one piece,their delivery service guarantees drop-off within a week while for those who can’t make it in store, the website boasts an extensive selection. Visit www.urbanefurniture.com, call 0131 629 7661 or pop into the store, located at 28 Haddington Place.
THE INSTITUTION
With its famous DARTS and TELEVISION shop façade, Borlands at Croall Place has been a thriving Leith Walk landmark since it opened in 1925. Maureen Borland has been running the eclectic shop since marrying into the family business in 1967, now working with her business partner Ray Withey. Borlands has come a long way since its inception, building a stock of specialist darts supplies as well as televisions and radios. As a sideline, they also offer a successful key cutting service for customers on the go. Maureen says that the majority of customers are local, residing in Leith, Edinburgh and Fife areas. She comments: “There has always been a good community in the Leith area and it’s still going strong. I really enjoy what I do and am proud to be part of the Leith business community.” Borlands is located at 7 Croall Place, Leith Walk.
COME ON – CHOP CHOP!
Such has been the success of the famous Chop Chop since its 2006 launch in Morrison Street that the opening of a second branch seemed only a matter of time. So it proved, with the much-loved Chinese restaurant having brought its fantastic range of dishes to Commercial Quay in Leith this summer. Husband and wife team Roy King and Jian Wang are behind the Chop Chop success story, which began in 1997 when chef Jian arrived in Edinburgh from Changchun in north-eastern China. The opening of a dumpling factory in Edinburgh was the first step on the road to success, with the plan being to supply Chinese supermarkets across the UK. Renowned for the quality of its authentic, well-priced Chinese food, Chop Chop has earned a string of glowing reviews, further enhanced by Jian’s appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s F-Word last year. The new branch is well situated in what is already a bustling restaurant strip, but there was more than just location behind the decision to open in Leith. Jian’s love of the area was also a major factor in the move.
INTERVIEW WITH… TOM HOWIE, LEITH SEA CADETS
With a group of bounding youngsters who attend regular meetings under his wing, Commanding Officer Tom Howie’s job is no mean feat. Luckily, he comes well prepared, having spent eight years in the Merchant Navy and over two decades as an Education Welfare Officer. Leith Sea Cadets is part of a national youth organisation for young people and Tom’s role reflects its commitment to building confidence, encouraging team-work and instilling life skills through lessons in everything from seamanship to engineering. With a drive to increase its numbers , Tom speaks passionately of his future plans
“When I first came to Edinburgh I studied English at Stevenson College’s Leith campus,” she says. “I grew very fond of this part of the city and it just felt like the right place to open our second restaurant. It’s very important to me to have the right feel for a place before I’d consider opening a restaurant there.” Despite the fact the restaurant only opened in June, its reputation has ensured it is already pulling in the crowds. “We thought it might take a month or two to become established,” says Jian, “but we’ve been busy from the moment we opened the doors. Things are going really well.” Now Chop Chop is Leith’s to savour. Chop Chop, Commercial Quay, Leith. 0131 553 1818 / www.chop-chop.co.uk
for Leith Sea Cadets: “We will hopefully get a new Headquarters and continue to provide a valuable resource for young people in Leith. I know that so many more young people in the area would really benefit from Leith Sea Cadets and its core qualifications. These include the two year BTEC diploma, the equivalent of six standard grades which test different skills including seamanship and navigation.” TOM NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leith Sea Cadets is looking for adults to join its Unit Management Committee, 10–18 year-olds to join the scheme and donations to sustain running costs and provide training courses. To find out more contact Tom on 0131 669 7604 or visit http://units.ms-sc.org/leith/Default
BUSINESS HUB BOOMING The Leith Business Hub at McDonald Road Library continues to grow in popularity and organisers have urged those interested in attending the autumn workshops to book their places early. Run by Business Gateway, the Hub provides free advice, support and training for local businesses. An initial series of spring workshops proved enormously successful, with a number of courses being over-subscribed. The autumn schedule begins in early September and will address topics including low-cost marketing, advertising and promotions, book keeping and cash flow and will culminate in a November networking session.
increased its range of business-related books and I’d remind anyone interested in using our services that we also offer free wi-fi access. Looking to the future we’ll be offering four courses later in the year specifically tailored for business start-ups.”
“free advice, support and training for local businesses” Among the numerous local businesses to have benefited is Pixel Web Studio, which offers a comprehensive range of website design services. The company’s New Business Manager Karolina Awizen commented: “We have attended several of the courses at the Hub and would highly recommend them to existing businesses like ours and to anyone hoping to start their own venture. It’s a great opportunity to receive professional advice, build and extend your business network and share knowledge.” Facilities at the Hub are constantly improving and Business Gateway Manager for Edinburgh and Lothian Charlie Shanlin commented: “The library has recently
Graham Russell, Business Co-ordinator Leith Walk and West End added: “The ground-breaking Business Hub, a first in Edinburgh, has become a vital ingredient in helping local businesses to improve their selling and marketing skills, find and keep new customers and use the Internet to market their products and services. In the current economic decline all small businesses need a helping hand – the Hub offers that support free of charge.” To register for workshops at Leith Business Hub, book online at www.bgateway.com, call 0131 347 2820 or email brian.moffat@btgateway.com
We want to hear from you!
If you have a story which you would like us to feature in our next issue of Spotlight on Leith, contact us on openforbusiness@burtgreener.co.uk