Latest news with #BusyBee
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Owner of abandoned Edinburgh pub threatens legal action against bar and restaurant group
The owner of an abandoned Edinburgh pub has threatened potential legal action against one of the UK's biggest bar and restaurant groups over the state of the building. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The former Busy Bee pub in Saughton Mains closed in around 2016 and has stood empty ever since, gradually falling into disrepair as the weeds grow around it. In recent weeks nearby residents have begun a campaign for action over what they say has become an eyesore. Last week they staged a protest at the site amid calls for the building to be demolished and replaced with a community hub or new housing. The Busy Bee has been closed for nearly a decade | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Owner Fiona Clarke has already rejected a proposal for demolition put forward by Mitchells and Butlers, who own brands including All Bar One, Toby Carvery and Browns, and have a lease on the Busy Bee which runs until 2069. And Ms Clarke - whose father bought the premises, formerly Saughton Mains Congregational Church, in 1970 - has launched a Facebook page where she has warned she is ready to take legal action. She wrote: 'A final dilapidations survey is being completed to assess the full extent of repairs required due to ongoing leaseholder inaction (est. completion: August 2025). This report will be formally served to Mitchells & Butlers, the current leaseholder, along with a legal request for payment or remedial action. 'If no agreement is reached within a reasonable period, we will initiate legal proceedings. This may include a formal court process to pursue recovery of costs and/or seek to bring the lease to an end. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This is not a quick process, but we are committed to using every legal avenue available to hold the leaseholder accountable and unlock the potential of this site for the local community.' In another post, she criticises Mitchells & Butlers and claims their demolition proposal 'seems at odds with their stated commitment to sustainability and zero operational waste to landfill by 2030'. She continues: 'We call on Mitchells & Butlers to explore sustainable renovation rather than demolition; engage directly with the local community; respect the social and cultural value of this historic site. Let's preserve this place for future generations — not erase it.' Mitchells & Butlers told the Evening News earlier this month they had tried to sell the lease on the pub, but there had been no interest. They said: "We have also actively explored alternative uses for the building, but progress has been hindered by restrictions within the lease. Realistically, we now believe the building to be beyond it's usable economic life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "In light of this, Mitchells & Butlers has made a proposal to the freeholder to demolish the building. We are committed to working closely with the freeholder, local stakeholders, charities, and the city council to explore and deliver a new use for the site.'
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Residents living near abandoned Edinburgh pub call for its demolition and replacement by community hub
Residents living close to an abandoned pub are calling for the building to be demolished and replaced by a community hub. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... People in Edinburgh's Saughton Mains staged a protest at the site of the former Busy Bee pub on Thursday to voice their frustration at the lack of action which has allowed the place to fall into disrepair since the pub closed about a decade ago. Pat Carr, chair of Stenhouse, Saughton Mains and Whitson Community Council, said: 'I spoke to everyone that was there and the general opinion is they're fed up with it, it's an eyesore, they want it demolished and rebuilt as something that the community can use, like a community hub or houses. That would be their preference.' Saughton Mains residents protest outside the abandoned Bus Bee pub | contributed Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Busy Bee - which appeared in Trainspotting 2 - was originally built as Saughton Mains Congregational Church but is now owned by Fiona Clarke, whose father bought it around 1970 and converted the building to a pub. He let it on a 99-year lease to Bass Taverns, who were taken over by Mitchells & Butlers, now one of the biggest bar and restaurant groups in the UK. The pub closed around 2016, but the lease still has 44 years still to run. Mitchells & Butlers have said the building is beyond its usable economic life and they have proposed demolition. But that would require the agreement of Ms Clarke as owner. She has set up a Facebook page, where she has indicated she is opposed to demolition. She has posted, urging Mitchells & Butlers to 'explore sustainable renovation rather than demolition' and 'respect the social and cultural value of this historic site'. And she added: 'Let's preserve this place for future generations — not erase it.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In another post, Ms Clarke said: 'Rather than demolishing it, we propose a sensitive redevelopment that respects its heritage and serves the community: a small row of local shops - perhaps a bakery, a café, and affordable essentials; a green communal garden and outdoor gym space; above, a modest block of affordable flats to help address Edinburgh's housing needs.' The Busy Bee has been closed for nearly a decade | supplied But Ms Carr, at the community council, pointed out there was a row of derelict shops on a neighbouring site where planning permission was granted for new flats with shops underneath, but nothing had happened. She said:'The Busy Bee has become a blight on our local community with the state of the building reflecting the lack of basic care shown by the leaseholder and the owner. 'It appears for years now that financial gain has been placed above the well-being of local residents.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Independent Sighthill/Gorgie councillor Ross McKenzie said: "Many of the local residents who came together for the meeting are really angry that this site has been left to rot in the middle of their community. For those who live next to it, this affects their daily lives as vermin thrives on the site. 'We're asking the landowner and leaseholder to find a solution. The landowner takes a tidy rent for the site and the leaseholder made profits of over £300m last year. These people can afford to fix this and it's time they got on with it."
Scotsman
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh community demands action over former pub left to deteriorate for a decade
Residents angry about a former Edinburgh pub left to deteriorate for the past decade are to hold a protest at the site. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Busy Bee pub in Saughton Mains - which appeared in Trainspotting 2 - closed in around 2016 and locals say it has now become an eyesore blighting the area. The pub - originally built as Saughton Mains Congregational Church - is owned by Fiona Clarke, whose father bought it around 1970, converted the building, and let it on a 99-year lease to Bass Taverns, who were taken over by Mitchells & Butlers, now one of the biggest bar and restaurant groups in the UK. The Busy Bee has been closed for nearly a decade | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But residents say neither owner nor tenant has acted to stop the once popular venue from falling into disrepair. And they are calling for the building to be either tidied up or knocked down and the space given to the community. The community council has organised a "community gathering" next to the Busy Bee next week to allow people to voice their frustration. Pat Carr, chair of Stenhouse, Saughton Mains and Whitson Community Council, said: 'The Busy Bee was at one time a well used community pub but for many years now it has just been both a physical and a social blight on our community.. 'It has been left to fall into serious disrepair with no attempt made to even clean up the graffiti nor to maintain the surrounding green space, which falls to the tenants of the pub. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This eyesore has had an impact on any residents living in the vicinity who have tried to sell their homes. Plus, for residents in homes nearby, this is not the view that you want to see when looking out your windows. 'Neither the owner nor the tenants Mitchells & Butlers have bothered to do anything with this building apart from having it tidied up to be used for a film sequence in 2021 for Trainspotting 2. If this building had been kept maintained as it was for that, then this would not have become the eyesore and problem that it is now. 'We as the local community council will be holding a small meeting alongside the Busy Bee on July 10 at 2pm, and we hope that as many residents come along to support us in the hope that someone will finally take notice and get something done. Either repair it or demolish it and give us the space back for better community use.' Ross McKenzie, independent councillor for Sighthill/Gorgie, has met with both the owner and the tenant and sees little prospect of the building being brought back into use either as pub or for the community. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'The building has been abandoned for almost 10 years now and neighbouring residents are asking why it isn't being used, developed or maintained. 'The landowner has no incentive to end the lease and Mitchells & Butlers don't intend to reopen it as a pub. It was clear that the investment required to make the building safe would prevent it from being opened up for community use. 'The main community demand is to get the whole area cleaned up because it's really badly overgrown, it's in a terrible state. 'Mitchells & Butlers make a huge amount of money out of Edinburgh - they own All Bar One, Toby Carvery, Miller & Carter. They're doing really well out of Edinburgh and at the same time they've left this property in dilapidation. As a gesture, in terms of corporate responsibility, they should make a nice space out of that area for the community.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fiona Clarke said she understood the residents' frustration about the state of the Busy Bee. She said: 'The building has deteriorated under Mitchells & Butlers and their subtenants — despite my efforts to enforce repairs, including a formal dilapidations schedule served in 2022. 'As the freeholder, I don't control the site day to day. I honour the lease, which still has 44 years to run, and expect the tenant to do the same. 'I remain open to constructive solutions — but they must start with M&B taking responsibility for the building's condition and their legal obligations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'My hope remains that the Busy Bee can one day return as a positive asset to the community.' A spokesperson for Mitchells & Butlers, said they had tried to sell the lease on the pub. 'Despite being openly marketed to attract a new occupier, there has been no viable interest in operating the site as a public house. "We have also actively explored alternative uses for the building, but progress has been hindered by restrictions within the lease. Realistically, we now believe the building to be beyond it's usable economic life. "In light of this, Mitchells & Butlers has made a proposal to the freeholder to demolish the building. We are committed to working closely with the freeholder, local stakeholders, charities, and the city council to explore and deliver a new use for the site.'
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Haverhill gets a breezy rooftop bar; Providence welcomes Per Se alums with Claudine
Coming soon : In Providence, Claudine (225 Weybosset St.) debuts on Thursday, June 26, led by husband-wife team Josh Finger and Maggie McConnell, who met at Thomas Keller's Michelin-starred Per Se in New York City. McConnell grew up in Providence. Advertisement 'We've dedicated our whole lives to food … and going out to eat. And there aren't a ton of places to go [in Providence] on a high-end level,' McConnell said in a March With 26 seats, Claudine will serve an ever-evolving, eight-course, $165 tasting menu spotlighting New England ingredients, alongside a $100 French-focused wine or a $65 non-alcoholic beverage pairing. Visit Thursday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m.; reservations open on the first of every month for the next month's seating. Olive oil cake and yogurt panna cotta with winter citrus at Claudine. Handout In Allston, look for a new branch of salad-and-stir-fry chain honeygrow (305 Guest St.) later this summer. And in Brookline, expect a version of the popular and aptly named Cambridge diner Busy Bee (1046 Beacon St.), says owner Mahmood Abu-Rubieh. Advertisement Kara Baskin can be reached at
Axios
17-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Busy Bee Cafe to open second location in Atlantic Station
Atlanta's famed Busy Bee Cafe will expand to another location in 2026. Why it matters: The iconic soul food restaurant, which opened in 1947, is the go-to eatery for anyone visiting the city and has earned industry recognition with a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation and a James Beard "America's Classic" award. Driving the news: Busy Bee will open in a 4,000-square-foot space at Atlantic Station. The new restaurant will offer a dine-in option, which hasn't been available at the original Vine City location since the pandemic. It will also have a larger menu and patio seating. What they're saying: Expanding was about "finding the right partner, place and moment to continue the Busy Bee legacy with care and intention," owner Tracy Gates said in a press release. "At Busy Bee, it's never just been about the food — it's about the feeling it brings," she said. "Every plate is a piece of our history, and we've worked hard to deliver that same comfort, joy and flavor every single time. We didn't chase the spotlight — we honored our roots, stayed true to the recipe and let the love speak for itself." Catch up quick: The original location on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive has attracted notable guests over the years, including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey and the late Anthony Bourdain.
