Hey! Nashy & Abs here 👋
Welcome to your weekly Thriving Newsletter!
Still out and about, wandering, meeting new businesses and finding brilliant independents that deserve every bit of your support. This week I found a hidden cinema; I think I saw Stanley Tucci and a video that went viral when I suggested that the Tattoo seating on the Castle Esplanade was a new rollercoaster!
Been having fun with our content lately as we continue to mix storytelling, Edinburgh nostalgia and local business highlights. Please do keep sending in your ideas and business recommendations.
This week's newsletter includes:
⚽ A taste of what's on the Thriving Card this week
🔥 New business shout-out: The Pend
🏪 Local business highlights
📣 Worth shouting about & 📅 Dates for your diary
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding-member price is still available to newsletter subscribers only.
Let's get into it! 👇
💳 A TASTE OF WHAT'S ON THE THRIVING CARD THIS WEEK
The Thriving Card is doing exactly what it was built to do. Locals are saving money, tourists are finding the real Edinburgh and brilliant independents are getting the support they deserve. Here's a taste of what's on the card this week:
⚽ First Class Football Shirts - World Cup fever is here and this is your one-stop shop for vintage and retro football shirts plus memorabilia. A brilliant independent Edinburgh business for any football lover. Free UK postage too.
Thriving Card offer: 15% off all shirts in store.
🐶 The Dog Port, Portobello - A special shop for your best pal. A fab independent and self-service dog wash for the adventurous pup in your life. Eco-friendly toys, accessories, natural treats and everything your dog needs with community at its heart.
Thriving Card offer: 10% off in store. Self-service dog wash excluded.
🎩 Underground Magic: Edinburgh's Live Magic Night - Edinburgh's brilliant live magic night is back. Close-up magic, cabaret-style performances, comedy and an intimate atmosphere make for an unforgettable evening. The kind of night out that reminds you how brilliant Edinburgh's independent events scene is.
Thriving Card offer: 20% off all tickets. Use the discount code at checkout.
Loads more offers across food, drink, health, wellness, shopping, experiences and outdoor activities. A wee something for everyone. 🩷
🔥 NEW BUSINESS SHOUT OUT
💼 The Pend: Old Fishmarket Close, Edinburgh
Something genuinely exciting is open in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. Did you know about it?
The Pend is a brand new events, community and residential space on Old Fishmarket Close, one of the most characterful closes in the city. 🩷
Co-working space, a cinema and a Fringe pop-up all under one roof, right in the middle of the Old Town. The kind of creative and unique independent space Edinburgh has always needed more of. Watch this space, they have big plans and ambition. Check out my video of their cinema room. It’s very cool!
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
🍰 Kate's, Causewayside
One of Edinburgh's most loved neighbourhood cafes and a proper hidden gem on Causewayside. Kate Murphy started Kate's after years working in hospitality, driven by a passion for seasonal baking and creating a space that feels like walking into her home kitchen.
Comforting, seasonally-influenced home baking made with genuine care. Sausage rolls, cheese scones, loaf cakes, cookies, muffins and all your favourite treats.
Open Wednesday to Friday, 8am to 3pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 3pm (closed Monday and Tuesday).
Dog friendly. Go and support Kate and her brilliant team. That’s us now craving cake…
🌊 Huge congratulations to Ocean Vertical - now B Corp Certified!
Brilliant news from one of our favourite East Lothian Thriving Card partners. Ocean Vertical have just earned B Corp Certification. Joining a global community of businesses using business as a force for good. A massive achievement and one that reflects exactly how Stevie, Mollie and the team have always operated. Ethical, community-minded and genuinely brilliant at what they do. 🩷
Go and book an adventure with them and know that every penny supports a business doing things the right way. Check out their kids’ ultimate adventure camps in collaboration with Fox Lake for fun for the wee ones this summer!
Thriving Card offer: 15% off. Use code at checkout.
⚽ This week's question:
The World Cup is here and Edinburgh's independent scene is the perfect place to watch it. Where is your favourite independent pub or bar to catch the games in the city? Drop it below and we'll shout out the best suggestions next week. 👇🩷
📣 WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT & 📅 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
🐮 The Royal Highland Show - Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st June
Scotland's biggest agricultural and rural lifestyle event is back at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston this week. Over 200 years of celebrating the best of Scotland's food, farming and rural life, with livestock, food, cookery theatre, Grand Parade, live music and so much more. Free entry for under 15s. 🩷
Best part - Nashy is hosting the Lidl stage on all 4 days, feel free to say hi, he’d love to meet you! Plus you get to taste some of Scotland’s finest local produce, bonus!
⚠️ Travel warning - heavy traffic is expected on the Queensferry Crossing, M90, A8, M8 and A720 throughout the event. Plan and allow extra time. Edinburgh Trams run to Ingliston Park & Ride from the city centre and Lothian bus service 98 goes directly between Edinburgh City Centre and the Royal Highland Centre.
7am to 7pm Thursday to Saturday. 7am to 6pm Sunday.
🎸 Dunbar Uprising Festival - Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June
Brand new and genuinely brilliant. theSpace in collaboration with local organisations and businesses, has created the first-ever Dunbar Uprising Festival; a celebration of youth and community in Dunbar town centre. 🩷
Friday night is a metal, grunge and DJ night at the Dunbar Royal British Legion.
Saturday is an all-age family day with live music from 12pm to 8pm; acoustic acts, live bands, DJ and MC sessions showcasing young talent from Dunbar and across East Lothian. A family ceilidh with the Armstrong Ceilidh Band from 4:30pm to 6pm, bouncy castles, pizza from Jamie's Backyard Slice, drop-in DJ workshops, stonestacking and badge making.
Sunday sees Dunbar Voices perform their summer concert, Roots and Wings, at Dunbar Parish Church, 4:30pm.
Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June. Free entry.
🚲 Girls on Wheels, Haddington - Sunday 21st June
A brilliant inclusive community cycling initiative landing in Haddington and exactly the kind of event we love to shout about. ‘Girls on Wheels’ provides a supportive outdoor environment for locals of all ages and abilities to get comfortable on their bikes.
Cycling skills sessions, smoothie bikes, games and route planning tips all included. No experience needed. Just turn up, give it a go, let loose and have some fun. 🩷
Supported by the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and local community partners.
Sunday 21st June, 9am to 11am.
A shout-out from one of our brilliant followers, Tam, this week and a very well-deserved one. Summerhall is one of Edinburgh's most beloved independent arts venues with a packed programme of events, theatre, music, comedy and exhibitions running all year round. If you haven't been recently, go and check out what's on. Coming up next week, portrait drawing from life, improv night and many more options. Something for everyone, every single week. When you’re there have a look out for the beautiful Canto candles on sale at Summerhall, another awesome local independent maker. 🩷
A brilliant Scottish Borders independent is popping up in Edinburgh at the end of July. Shimena create buttery soft, uniquely printed leggings, scarves and pashminas designed for comfort and everyday style. 100% recommended on Facebook.
Grab your own pair of leggings for the very reasonable price of £20 at the pop-up. 🩷
Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August.
That's your Thriving Thursday! 🩷
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding member price is still available at £45 through the link below:
We genuinely love putting this together for you every week. The fact that you read it, share it and support it means the world to both of us.
Our Newsletter is a place to shine a spotlight on the many brilliant local businesses on our doorstep and to keep you in the loop on local events and what’s happening in and around Edinburgh.
We really want to hear about new independent businesses that are opening in Edinburgh and the Lothians! Know a business deserving a shout-out? Reply to this email and tell us their story.
Are you a local business owner? Would you like to join our Thriving Card? It’s FREE and takes only 2 minutes to register.
Let's Keep Edinburgh Thriving. 🚀
BIG love,
Nashy & Abs