{{Short description|Building in Edinburgh, Scotland}} {{distinguish|Rainforest Cafe}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox building | name = The Forest | image = The-Forest-Cafe-3-Bristo-Place-Edinburgh.jpg | caption = Former site at 3 Bristo Place | address = 141 Lauriston Place, Tollcross EH3 9JN Edinburgh | coordinates = {{coord|55.9438|-3.2031|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | status = Closed | opened_date = 2000 | pushpin_map = Edinburgh | closing_date = 2022 | website = https://theforest.org.uk/ }}
'''The Forest''', also referred to as '''Forest Café''', was an independent social centre and arts centre located in central Edinburgh, Scotland.<ref name="gardner"/><ref name="timeout">{{cite web |author=Kate |url=http://www.timeout.com/edinburgh/restaurants-cafes/venue/12773/forest |title=Forest, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh. Music - Time Out Edinburgh |publisher=Timeout.com |date=2011-11-09 |access-date=2012-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925050819/http://www.timeout.com/edinburgh/restaurants-cafes/venue/12773/forest |archive-date=25 September 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It was notable for being run by volunteers as a charitable, self-sustaining not-for-profit organisation. The Forest was initially housed at a West Port venue from 2000 to 2003, then housed at 3 Bristo Place in the former Edinburgh Seventh-day Adventist Church, a building owned by the Edinburgh University Settlement<ref name="evening-news-fire">{{cite web|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Firehit-charity-converts-church.2455826.jp |title=Fire-hit charity converts church - News - Scotsman.com |publisher=Edinburghnews.scotsman.com |date=2003-08-25 |access-date=2012-11-28}}</ref> until August 2011. It featured a two-room café with performance space, a single room art gallery named Total Kunst, a radical library named Old Hat Books housed in the café front room, an Action Room for consensus process based meetings and internet access, artist gallery spaces, a meeting cum screen printing and crafting room, a rehearsal/music studio, a walk-in freezer, a woodworking and machining room, and a darkroom specialising in alternative photographic process. In August 2012 the Forest reopened at 141 Lauriston Place, Tollcross,<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael MacLeod |url=http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/150579-forest-cafe-moves-to-tollcross-the-times-square-of-edinburgh/ |title=Forest Cafe moves to Tollcross, 'the Times Square of Edinburgh' | Magazine | Edinburgh | STV |publisher=Local.stv.tv |date=2012-08-15 |access-date=2012-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824184953/http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/150579-forest-cafe-moves-to-tollcross-the-times-square-of-edinburgh/ |archive-date=24 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> where it continued its activity as a volunteer-run vegetarian cafe with regular free events and workshops, assuming a pivotal role in the revival of the independent community development in central Edinburgh. In 2022 the physical space closed, citing difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, despite arts activities continuing decentrally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 update |url=https://blog.theforest.org.uk/post/676921234045403136/2022-update |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=forestcafe |language=en}}</ref>
==Background== The Forest organisation itself started in August 2000<ref name="award"/> with a venue in West Port, off the Grassmarket in Edinburgh's Old Town.<ref name="evening-news-fire"/> Relocation to the Bristo Place premises started in September 2003 and the Forest Café opened there in October 2003. After leaving in August 2011, it reopened again in Tollcross in August 2012.
===West Port===
===Bristo Place===
The building at 3 Bristo Place was constructed during 1899–1900 to a design by Sydney Mitchell and Wilson for the Evangelical Union<ref>{{cite web |author=David Goold |url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=208098 |title=Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report (November 28, 2012, 11:41 pm) |publisher=Scottisharchitects.org.uk |access-date=2012-11-28 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820090835/http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=208098 |url-status=dead }}</ref> on the site of a former Baptist Chapel.<ref name="hs">{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB47341|desc=2, 2GF and 3 Bristo Place, Seventh Day Adventist Church|cat=B|access-date=21 March 2019}}</ref> The category-B listed building has {{convert|659|m2}} of floor space and was previously owned by the National Museums of Scotland, who sold the building for £600,000 during 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scottish-property.gov.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=ViewFullStory&ID=4067 |title=CoStar SPN |publisher=Scottish-property.gov.uk |access-date=2012-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301080331/http://scottish-property.gov.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=ViewFullStory&ID=4067 |archive-date=1 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nms.ac.uk/pdf/about_us_annual_review0304_2527_2666.pdf|work=Annual Review 2003–04|title=Financial overview 2003-04|page=28|quote=Bristo Church was sold, raising an additional £600k|date=2004-12-15|access-date=2009-11-22|publisher=National Museums of Scotland|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610060031/http://www.nms.ac.uk/pdf/about_us_annual_review0304_2527_2666.pdf|archive-date=10 June 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The plaque over the door reflects its subsequent by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which had purchased the building in 1942<ref name="hs"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_justified_sinner/3849632298/ |title=Bristo Place Adventist Church | Flickr - Photo Sharing! |publisher=Flickr |date=2009-08-22 |access-date=2012-11-28}}</ref> and used it until 2000.<ref name="evening-news-fire"/>
The space was organised through multiple working groups that were open to the public, plus a closed "Core" working group that accepted volunteers for longer-term participation. The working groups were run using a consensus decision-making process. A mix of paid staff and volunteers were responsible for financial administration, building management and the café.
Free events were held in the building regularly, including workshops and skill-shares, music, film, poetry, theatre and readings. There was a community darkroom catering to black and white, alternative and historic process photography. Each summer, the venue ran the 'August Forest Fringe', a theatre and alternative arts programme to complement the Edinburgh Festival.<ref name="gardner">{{cite news|author=Lyn Gardner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/aug/07/edinburghfestival.forestfringe |title=Lyn Gardner meets the two theatremakers behind the Forest Fringe | Culture | guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian |date= 2008-08-07|access-date=2012-11-28 |location=London}}</ref>
In 2004, the Forest Café became one of only four internet cafés in the United Kingdom to have won a highly recommended citation in the Yahoo! Mail Internet Café Awards.<ref name="award">[http://www.via3.net/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_113663] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031074404/http://www.via3.net/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_113663|date=31 October 2004}}</ref>
The Edinburgh University Settlement – the charity that owned the Bristo Place building – went bankrupt in October 2010, and it was announced that the premises were to be sold.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11651828 |title=BBC News - Job losses as Edinburgh charity collapses |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2010-10-29 |access-date=2012-11-28}}</ref> The Forest launched a campaign to raise £500,000 to try to buy the building, or buy or rent another property elsewhere in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forestcafe.tumblr.com/savetheforest |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708054347/http://forestcafe.tumblr.com/savetheforest |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-08 |title=Forest Café, ReForestation |publisher=Forestcafe.tumblr.com |date=2011-08-31 |access-date=2012-11-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Michael MacLeod |url=https://www.theguardian.com/edinburgh/2010/nov/15/edinburgh-forest-cafe-campaign-fundraising-video |title=Forest Cafe campaign update | Edinburgh | guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian |date=2010-11-15 |access-date=2012-11-28 |location=London}}</ref>
====Pipe organ==== The upper floors of the Bristo Place building are the former church, the centre piece of which is a Gray and Davison-built pipe organ. This is powered by compressed air and has {{convert|16|ft|m|adj=on}} high pipes. It was originally installed at the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle in the late 19th century and transferred to its present location in 1900.<ref name="edwards">{{cite journal|journal=Xcell Journal|first=Gareth|last=Edwards|publisher=Xilinx|year=2009|issue=67|url=https://www.xilinx.com/publications/archives/xcell/Xcell67.pdf|title=Computer Interface Makes 19th-Century Pipe Organ Rock|pages=44–49}}</ref> The organ fell into disrepair<ref name="evening-news-fire"/> until June 2007, when it was repaired<ref name="jackson">{{cite web|url=https://lwn.net/Articles/240487/|title=Debconf - trip report|first=Ian|last=Jackson|author-link=Ian Jackson (computer programmer)|date=2007-06-28}}</ref><ref name="debconf">{{cite web|url=https://media.debconf.org/dc7/report/debconf7-report-small.pdf|title=Tore Repairs an Organ|work=Eighth Annual Debian Conference, Final Report|publisher=Debian|date=2007-12-07|access-date=2009-11-22|page=13}}</ref> and played by Keith Packard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andrew.mcmillan.net.nz/node/75|title=X.Organ|first=Andrew|last=McMillan|date=2007-06-19|access-date=2009-11-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030123053/http://andrew.mcmillan.net.nz/node/75|archive-date=30 October 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In 2008–2009, '''Project ''{{lang|de|Waldflöte}}''''' (English: "Forest Flute") was initiated, a musical experiment to control sections of the mechanical musical keyboard via an electronic MIDI interface from a computer. ''{{lang|de|Waldflöte}}'' is the designation of one of the organ stops available and was chosen because of the connection of the word "forest". The argumentation of the keyboards was undertaken by Dorkbot Alba without any long-term modification of the original organ.<ref name="edwards"/>
====Squatting==== The old Forest building was squatted on 30 November 2011 by a group of local residents protesting against the closure of several of the city's independent arts spaces including the Forest, though the protest itself was not affiliated to it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/news/284162-group-occupies-former-community-arts-centre/ |title=Protesters stage sit-in at community arts centre | News | Edinburgh | STV |publisher=Local.stv.tv |date=2011-12-01 |access-date=2012-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103102055/http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/news/284162-group-occupies-former-community-arts-centre/ |archive-date=3 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The place was renamed as The People’s Cafe and in its new guise, the space played host to several events (social and cultural gatherings, concerts and art exhibitions) and affiliate groups before being finally evicted.
===Tollcross=== The Forest moved to 141 Lauriston Place.
====Café==== The café served vegetarian cuisine, locally produced organic food,<ref name="gardner"/> vegan food and Fairtrade drinks.<ref name="fairtrade">{{cite web|url=http://download.edinburgh.gov.uk/Fairtrade/Fairtrade_PP15_28.pdf|title=Cafes, Restaurants, Bars|work=Edinburgh Fair Trade Outlets|date=2009-08-31|page=10|publisher=Edinburgh City Council|access-date=2009-11-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427163817/http://download.edinburgh.gov.uk/Fairtrade/Fairtrade_PP15_28.pdf|archive-date=27 April 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Customers were able to pay for hot drinks for others through a Caffè sospeso system. Free Wi-Fi was available for public use, and instruments and board games were provided. There was a free shop where visitors could exchange goods which might otherwise have gone to waste.
====Activity==== Due to local noise restrictions the café was no longer able to provide late night music or loud entertainment. However, during the daytime it often hosted free performances by local musicians, poets or artists. The renovated basement was home to a pop-up art gallery space.
===Community=== The Forest maintained close relationships with other alternative community spaces and socially oriented projects in the local area, such as the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative and the Swap and Reuse Hub (SHRUB).
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.theforest.org.uk Official website] *https://www.flickr.com/photos/forest_darkroom *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100208175501/http://dorkbot.noodlefactory.co.uk/wiki/WaldFl%C3%B6te WaldFlöte organ automation] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090622071340/http://www.forestfringe.co.uk/aboutus.htm Forest Fringe] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120824184953/http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/150579-forest-cafe-moves-to-tollcross-the-times-square-of-edinburgh/ STV - Forest Cafe Moves to Tollcross]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forest Cafe, The}} Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in the United Kingdom Category:Culture in Edinburgh Category:Social centres in the United Kingdom Category:Tourist attractions in Edinburgh Category:Internet cafés Category:Evicted squats Category:Squats in the United Kingdom Category:Squatting in Scotland Category:Infoshops