Mark Gorman
Spotter since 2017
My spots (25)
Rogue Bros – Fabulous gourmet sandwich eatery
I had Mushroom and Thyme soup that was astonishingly delicious and homemade Apple and Rhubarb Crumble with Creme Pat Custard that was to die for.
By
Mark
Gorman
The Leith Collective – Design and art shop
"Scottish Design Exchange" is in Edinburgh's Leith, hidden in a shopping mall called Ocean Terminal. It's not high concept, it's things you'd actually buy.
By
Mark
Gorman
Manna House Bakery – Incredible bakery/eatery
"Manna House Bakery" in South Queensferry in Edinburgh has great views over the Forth Rail Bridge. Come here for the super value-for-money homemade food!
By
Mark
Gorman
CC Blooms – Hot gay bar/club
"CC Blooms" Edinburgh: the throbbing heart of the city's gay culture. You can enjoy a quiet pint all the way to a full blown hiNRG diva dancing downstairs.
By
Mark
Gorman
Arusha Gallery – Art gallery quarter
"Arusha Gallery" in Edinburgh and the area around is a place well worth visiting for its variety of commercial galleries. Last time I counted 13 of them!
By
Mark
Gorman
Bacco – Wine bar and merchants
"Bacco" is the classic 'try before you buy' Italian wine experience in Edinburgh. Expect sumptuous olives with your glass. It should be better known...
By
Mark
Gorman
Kanpai Sushi – Best Japanese food in Edinburgh
"Kanpai Sushi" Edinburgh changed my whole concept of what Japanese food can be. It's not budget, but this restaurant serves the best Japanese food around.
By
Mark
Gorman
Elvis Shakespeare – 2nd hand books & records
"Elvis Shakespeare" in Edinburgh is a second hand record shop/bookstore, also committed to darts and television! It's an Aladdin's cave full of stuff...
By
Mark
Gorman
About me
About me
I'm Mark. Apart from my university days, I have lived in Edinburgh all my life. I chair Creative Edinburgh, the organisation that helps creative professionals network and grow their businesses. It promotes the city beyond its boundaries. I'm an ad man having worked in advertising since the mid 1980s but for a decade and more have done my own thing.
I love art, travel, theatre, music, cinema, food, wine, beer, cooking, cycling, walking – sometimes all in the same day. Some would call me bohemian I suppose.
My wife, Jeana, and I have an Air B'n'B room in South Queensferry so we get a chance to meet visitors to my beloved city which is at its best in August during the world's biggest arts festival. Utter nirvana.
Why Edinburgh
Many people think of Edinburgh as a big village. You can't walk through the city centre without bumping into a friend. Yet it has 500,000 residents so is big enough to support a strong economy. It's almost perfectly proportioned; to walk from the Port of Leith to the other side of the city centre takes a little over an hour (briskly) and in that hour you'll see every form of life, many nationalities (Leith has a big Polish and Asian community) and the centre is full of tourists and a slew of different buildings and skylines.
The art scene is healthy, with only a decent large music venue missing from our repertoire.
It has a good eating and drinking culture (OK it's not Italy standard but it's decent) and the climate is favourable.
Phenomenal history and architecture.
The greenest city in Britain.
Really, what's NOT to love.
Where else can you find me online?
Where to find me
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