Talk of the Town: Eatern promise at city coffee shop

WE are intrigued to hear about the latest offering from Cuthberts Coffee in Fountainbridge.

The coffee shop is in the former dairy which once employed Sir Sean Connery, and has in the past hosted James Bond movie nights. Now they've turned their attention to the east, and tonight are screening Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon – and the chance to make your own sushi under the guidance of sushi chef Shigeko.

A sushi buffet is on offer, but we're not clear whether it will be the ham-fisted first attempts of the guests – or whether they will be able to enjoy Shigeko showing them how it SHOULD be done.

A skimpy outfit – but it's not the Bond girl's

ON the subject of Fountainbridge's favourite son, a rare nude painting of Sir Sean made when he was a young unknown is to go on public display for the first time.

The portrait of the star wearing only a G-string was painted in the 1950s just before he shot to fame.

The oil on canvas was discovered amongst a private collection of 500 works discovered following the death of Rab Webster.

He was a former student at the Edinburgh College of Art where Sir Sean posed for pupils before he got his big break..

Emergency call

AS outsiders who plant 50ft steel behemoths in the middle of picturesque communities, mobile phone mast contractors clearly lead a charmed life.

The recent protest at the installation of the tower at Greenbank village in Morningside successfully routed contractors, but they were left unfazed by the efforts of residents.

"This is nothing", said one cheerful worker, "In estates in London you get whole crowds gathering round you taking it in turns to shout at you."

"In Kilmarnock when we were trying to erect a mast on a piece of rural land, this farmer got his shotgun out and blocked our escape with his tractor.

"We had to call in the police to talk him down."

Just pack it in

WHEN it comes to where to head for the so-called staycation Edinburgh is definitely on top.

The city came out as the favourite UK destination, chosen by 39% of 2,000 respondents from across the UK in a survey for Jurys Inn.

Destinations seem clear-cut, but what to take is hotly debated, with a third of respondents saying they have argued over the packing with their partner.