St Andrews Harbour Gala Takes a Break
The St Andrews Harbour Gala is taking a temporary break this year due to ongoing efforts to restore devastating storm damage.
Typically taking place over a Saturday in July, the Gala is a hugely popular event in the town’s calendar, consistently supported by townsfolk, visitors, and a range of local businesses, charities, and volunteers.
Last year’s Gala delighted visitors with a vibrant mix of craft and charity stalls, live music and dancing, bouncy castles, face painting and, true to tradition, the ever-popular Bowbridge Alpacas!
However, with organisers St Andrews Harbour Trust working hard to repair around £3M worth of storm damage, it will not be possible to hold the popular event this year.
Douglas Mundie, Trustee, said, “It’s been fantastic to receive such a warm welcome to the reopening of the long pier after months of restoration and repair and wonderful to see people enjoying it again, especially during the fantastic weather we’ve experienced lately. The newly resurfaced areas, such as the path and picnic area, have also been well-received.
“However, with so much time and effort spent on the restoration, we have sadly had to put the Gala preparations to one side for now. The Gala is a hugely popular event in St Andrews, and it’s always heartwarming to see the local community and visitors come together to enjoy the fun and raise some money for the harbour in the process. For that reason, we’d like to reassure locals that this is just a hiatus, and we hope to host a Gala again in the future. We would also like to thank the many individuals, businesses and funders who continue to support our efforts as we move through the restoration programme.”
During the storms of November 2023, the 14th century structure suffered substantial damage to the tune of £3M, sparking a major fundraising drive and months of repairs to the harbour area, which remain ongoing.
While the main pier reopened on 1 May 2025, following the annual Gaudie Procession the evening before, major engineering repairs to restore the pier’s connection to the cliffs remain unfunded, requiring approximately £2M. With major grant applications underway, it is thought that a funding gap of around £0.5M will remain.
To donate, visit https://www.standrewsharbourtrust.org/
ENDS
Pics provided by St Andrews Harbour Trust