Coulters Round-Up of Fringe by the Sea 2025

Our Coulters Hut was a lively hub for families throughout the festival. Children enjoyed our activity corner where temporary tattoos and paper crown colouring proved especially popular. It was fantastic to see so many families stop by and join in.

The Coulters Makers Market was a fantastic showcase of talent, with 11 makers displaying everything from contemporary jewellery and ceramics to eco-friendly homewares and art. The market created a wonderful opportunity to meet the makers, hear their stories, and celebrate local creativity.

This year also marked the beginning of our collaboration with Timberplay Scotland, who are renowned for designing imaginative outdoor play spaces across Scotland, from Union Terrace Gardens and The Burrell Collection to Craigies Farm and even beneath The Kelpies.

At Fringe by the Sea, Timberplay created a dedicated play village, where Coulters added our own “For Sale” signs to the wooden houses. It was an instant hit with children, who spent hours using their imagination to transform the houses into shops, dens, ice-cream parlours and more. The play village quickly became a favourite spot for families, offering children the freedom to create their own worlds and connect through play.

As Mark Grimshaw, Associate Director at Timberplay Scotland, explained:
“Partnering with Coulters was a natural fit; their values of supporting families and local communities align with our belief that play should be at the heart of shared spaces.”

The partnership was a perfect reflection of what matters most to both Timberplay and Coulters: building spaces that spark creativity, encourage connection and make events like Fringe by the Sea even more memorable.

We were also proud sponsors of a thought-provoking event with George Clarke. His reflections on architecture, creativity and the meaning of home gave the audience plenty to take away.

Highlights included:

• Encouraging aspiring architects to “draw every day.”
• The importance of going beyond a client’s brief to create something truly special.
• His reminder that a house is bricks and mortar, but a home is where families grow and stories are made.

The event was extremely well received, and our team left inspired by George’s insights and passion.