Doors open to Adam Smith inspired Enlightenments hub in Kirkcaldy

The decals have been removed from the windows, the paint work has been spruced up, and the interior is pristine white.

Adam Smith himself would surely have approved of the transformation of a building just the shortest of strolls from the harbour which inspired his greatest writings.

His ethos also sits at the heart of The Enlightenments, the new enterprise arm of the Adam Smith Global Foundation which is finally set to open its doors.

It’s been a long journey.

Taking over the former Made In Naples restaurant in the east end of the High street threw up many challenges as they set about tackling the many challenges which the old building posed - everything from dry rot to a new roof, and all within the restrictions that come with a listed building.

The aim was create a hub where creatives could showcase their work, and fledgling businesses could access support as they looked to make the jump from ‘home based to possibly premises in the High Street.

Anchor tenant, Grain and Sustain, officially opens next weekend - so, Saturday, September 26 will also mark the arrival of The Enlightenments in Kirkcaldy.

Once all the boxes are unpacked, and the shelves filled with a wide range of items, people will be able to step inside and see what it offers.

For Iain Macdonald, lead trustee on the project, it’s a landmark day.

“It has been a long time coming, so I am, very pleased we have reached this stage,” he said.

“And the great thing about Grain And Sustain opening is people can come in and see for themselves, and that will increase the likelihood of more becoming part of it.”

The arrival of The Enlightenments adds to the feel-good factor which is starting to spread across Kirkcaldy town centre post lockdown as people start to reconnect with local businesses, and re-discover what it has, rather than malign what it has lost.

And it is very much a hub to connect people.

Business Gateway will have a presence where its teams can offer support, Fife College will be bringing students down to get involved - and a cafe will allow people to use it as a place to meet.

It can also accommodate up to 20 small, independent businesses keen to establish a presence in the heart of town.

The glass cabinets and white cubes are all available to rent to showcase products - and the flexibility they offer could be the first step some home-based businesses make towards moving into the High Street.

The model has worked elsewhere.

In North Berwick, Why Not breathed new life into an empty unit in the middle of the High Street, Creatives Jenny Potter and Adam Elder wanted a regular place to sell their products, got together with a group of people with a similar outlook - and a thriving hub was born.

Seven years on, it has around 25 businesses selling everything from fresh bread and fruit to custom jewellery and clothes.

Two years in the making, The Enlightenments is keen to make a similar mark in Kirkcaldy.

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“We were ready to start in March when everything had to stop because of lockdown, but now it’s looking really smart, and I think it will be good for the High Street,” said Mr Macdonald.

“The Foodbank already has a base here twice a week, and I’m hopeful we will have the cafe open soon. We have some creatives in already who are keen to display their work.

“It’ll take a while before we are fully up and running, but people will now be able to see what we are doing.”

The foundation has led the project from the start, with support from the Co-Op - which did much of the refit - and £145,000 of support from Kirkcaldy area committee to kick start the re-design of the empty restaurant building in the Merchants’ Quarter.

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That money came from a one-off £1m pot allocated by Fife Council to support economic development.

With two years of work now almost done, and the doors about to open, The Enlightenments joins a raft of other businesses which have brought disused buildings back into use, and helped to re-shape perceptions of our town centre.

Launching the project, Marilyn Livingstone, CEO of the foundation, said: “This is about giving people the opportunities and support that may otherwise might not have been there.

“It also leads into the need to think about our High Street differently.”

With the windows now filled, the makeover can finally be seen as it was intended.

The colours and artwork reflect a seaside theme which fits in perfectly with its location

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