The tsar's bar

HE is Edinburgh’s very own festivals "tsar" and is known for his frequent trips to the former Soviet Union.

Now Steve Cardownie is extending his links with the region by setting up a Russian-themed bar/restaurant in the heart of the Capital.

Traditional beers and vodka will be served to customers as well as dishes including borscht (beetroot soup) and goulash.

The city’s deputy provost is joining forces with a local businessman to open the pub in the West End which will be called Da Da Da (Russian for Yes Yes Yes).

Councillor Cardownie is due to unveil the new venture on Friday on the site of a former Costa Coffee bar in Shandwick Place.

His business partner is David Coutts, who used to run several pubs in Estonia and stood in last year’s local elections as an independent campaigning against the city’s parking policies.

The premises, which are planned to be open daily from 8am-1am, will be billed as "family friendly" and only table service will be provided for customers.

As well as traditional drinks and food from Russia, specialist alcohol from the likes of the Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic and Estonia will also be on offer.

An array of specially imported memorabilia will adorn the walls, including old posters and flags from the Communist era in the former Soviet Union.

And to give the place that extra authentic touch, the owners hope to employ staff mainly from eastern Europe.

Cllr Cardownie, the city’s former recreation leader, has been a regular visitor to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev for personal and professional purposes over the last ten years.

But his trips have not been without controversy.

Four years ago he faced a barrage of criticism for running up a mobile phone bill of more than 900 on a council-funded trip to the city, which is officially twinned with Edinburgh.

He was ordered to stump up half the cost after dozens of calls he made were found to be of a family or personal nature.

And last year there was anger when he gave the council just 24 hours notice that he intended to fly to Kiev on official business. The trip was sanctioned without the approval of councillors.

Cllr Cardownie is heading off to Kiev later this month on official business. He will visit the city during the annual Days of Kiev festival and unveil its version of Edinburgh’s floral clock.

A twin cities football tournament being held in Edinburgh this summer will include a youth team from Dynamo Kiev, as well as young stars from Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Hibs and Hearts.

Da Da Da is the councillor’s second foray into the licensed trade business after he spent two years jointly running a bar next to the Edinburgh Playhouse in the last 1990s.

Mr Coutts was at the centre of controversy last year over a Czech-themed beer tent which he ran on the Meadows during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which sparked complaints from local residents about late-night noise.

Cllr Cardownie said: "David and I have known each other for about a year. Obviously I found out that he used to run bars in Estonia and I go to Kiev probably a couple of times a year, as I’ve got a lot of friends there.

"We both decided that given Edinburgh’s international outlook and the recent enlargement of the European Union there was a gap in the market for somewhere like this. We discovered these premises in Shandwick Place were up for grabs and decided to go for it.

"We will be promoting eastern European food and drink, although it will be more of a restaurant than a bar.

"It’s just the two of us that are doing this, but neither of us will be involved in the day-to-day running of it."

Cllr Cardownie declined to say how much the pair had put into the venture. Mr Coutts added: "We’re looking at expanding this idea into a chain of eastern European bistros if this initial one takes off, as we’re going to patent the name.

"We’re bringing in specialist beers and vodkas from around eastern Europe, some of which won’t be available anywhere else in the UK, while food like soups and stews will be available all day.

"We’re also looking at putting on regular live music slots and we’ve already got a band from St Petersburg lined up to play during the Fringe."