Mark Gorman
Spotter since 2017
My spots (25)
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
Leith Depot – Music bar, tiny venue and eaterie
"Leith Depot" in Edinburgh is a great addition to this, or any, city's music scene. For me it's the perfect combination of food, beer and quality music...
By
Mark
Gorman
Hoochie Coochie – Edinburgh's coolest clothes shop
"Hoochie Coochie" in Edinburgh is an colourful clothes shop with amazing prices. Dropping by is part of my routine when I go to the cinema...
By
Mark
Gorman
Leith Theatre – Edinburgh's hidden theatrical jewel
"Leith Theatre" (est. 1932) has had a chequered history, but is now coming on its own again. It's architecturally breath-taking and has great acoustics.
By
Mark
Gorman
Six by Nico – Michelin quality, mighty low prices
"Six by Nico" in Edinburgh has a glorious concept: six dishes of Michelin-quality food that change every six weeks, for a bargain price. To die for...
By
Mark
Gorman
Nok's Kitchen – Excellent Thai food
"Nok's Kitchen" is a great Thai restaurant in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. You have to try their deep-fried coconut ice crem...
By
Mark
Gorman
The Herringbone – Top bar and eatery near Botanics
"The Herringbone" in Goldenacre, Edinburgh is a delightful bar-brasserie with a great range of wines, craft beers & bar snacks. Their fries are to die for!
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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