Talk of the Town: Stunning view off menu at restaurant

SEAN Connery, it is reputed, once said the view from Jeffrey Street towards Calton Hill and the sea was one of the finest in Edinburgh.

It was little wonder, then, that fans of the Capital's traditional vistas were pained when the council plonked its new home, Waverley Court, slap bang in the middle of it.

And now there's another blot on the landscape, at least for anyone dining at Jeffrey Street's French restaurant, La Garrigue.

Once blessed with a grandstand seat where they could enjoy the view over dinner, customers now look out on nothing more exciting than two metal builders' cabins placed in the street outside. "I looked out one day and there was one there, then I looked again a few days later and there was another one," says a bemused Jean-Michel Gauffre, Le Garrigue proprietor. "I haven't seen anyone go in or out of either of them."

Thankfully, Sir Sean has been spared this problem, thousands of miles away at his luxury bolt-hole in the Bahamas – where the only views of Edinburgh are on postcards.

Fish loiters within tent

"PLEASE don't lie upon the grass," sang prog rocker Fish in his former band Marillion's third single Garden Party but he's sadly failed to heed his own advice. The Dalkeith-born singer, real name Derek Dick, has put his back out after spending the weekend in a tent in his garden in preparation for a bid to walk the West Highland Way this Saturday.

"I'm aching!" said Fish. "I better get used to it, though, because I'm going to have camp out for real."

You ain't no landlady

MAYFIELD Guesthouse owner Ross Birnie is flying the flag for male hostel managers everywhere . . . by being named one of the AA's Friendliest Landlady. Ross is the only solo male finalist in the AA's Friendliest Landlady of the Year 2010. The winner will be awarded the coveted title at the AA's Bed and Breakfast Awards lunch to be held on 25 May.

When asked why a man was up for the award, AA staff simply said: "Who are we to say that Ross isn't the UK's friendliest landlady?"

Runners will be panting

THE sight of runners in their shorts is not an unfamiliar scene in Holyrood Park but few would chose to run in their pants . . . until now.

Prostate Scotland and healthcare provider Simplyhealth is holding a Pants in the Park 5km charity fun run on 18 July, where runners are encouraged to get their pants out for prostate cancer research.

However, spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction will be sadly disappointed, as the pants will be worn Superman-style on the outside of regular running gear.