POLE POSITION
Pble
POSITION
The arrival of thousands of Polish immigrants is transforming Scotland’s
cultural scene and we are
all reaping the rewards, finds Claire Sawers
Pictures: Jannica Honey
whole year here without ever speaking
English.’ says lwana Zurawska, who moved to Edinburgh from Malbork, North Poland in 2003. a year before the country entered the European Union. ‘The community is really establishing itself here now.’ she adds. picking up one of the glossy Polish magazines which are distributed around bars and cafes in Scottish towns and cities.
It’s easy to see what she means. From bilingual newspapers and magazines to Polish club nights, cafés, delis and shops. the burgeoning Polish community is making its presence felt all over Scotland. As if more proof were needed. one of the key events at
‘l f they wanted to, a Pole could live a
16 THE LIST 15—29 Mar 2007
this month’s Ceilidh Culture in Edinburgh is the Footerin Aboot Baltic Ball. featuring Scottish and Polish musicians and dancers.
An estimated 100,000 Poles now live in Scotland. with 30.000 in Edinburgh alone. the bi ’gest hub for their fast-expanding community, and many more thousands in Glasgow and Inverness. Strolling up the capital’s Leith Walk — or Little Poland as some have nicknamed it — there’s Deli Polonia. selling Slavic treats like pigeon casserole. chocolate covered plums and bottles of rose petal vodka. Owner Kelvin Ellis and his Polish wife Lucy say their customers are a 50-50 mix of Poles and other nationalities. A few doors up there’s Polski Smak. selling traditional comfort foods like pierogis — stuffed dumplings — and cold cuts of smoked meat. Take a left along London Road and find a Polish hairdresser and tattoo parlour Rock‘n’Roll. Up the road a bit. St Mary’s Cathedral runs Polish services on a Sunday. and round the corner on York Place, there’s Spirala, a Polish bistro-bar, with Polish football on the big screen.
Last month saw the publication of the first issue of bilingual newspaper Gazera : Highland which was set up in response to the huge demand for local and international news in Polish and English.
Iwana Zurawska’s visit was meant to be a short stopover before she moved to Australia. but the 26-year—old fell in love with Scotland and is now firmly settled, and expecting a baby with her Polish partner. DJ Jacek Zamojski. They‘ve recently been joined by Zurawska‘s cousin. Natalia Trzmieleska. When she first arrived. Zurawska worked in pubs and fiyered for clubs. but now she runs her own events company, Out of Space. She’s been organising club night Polished for three years now. flying over superstar DJs and bands from Poland. >
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- Main picture, left to
flight: Chojnowski, Jamojski, Zurawska and Trzmieleska. Below: Polish beers; the Ellises in Deli Polonia