A “GREAT family day out” can be enjoyed at this year’s Queen Margaret University (QMU) open day on Sunday.

The event, from noon to 3pm at the university’s Musselburgh campus, will feature sports, games, a barbecue and bouncy castles, as well as tours of the campus.

While children can enjoy the games, the open day provides adults with the chance to explore what the university can offer local residents and groups in terms of room space, conference facilities, the sports and fitness centre, and Maggie’s Bar and Cafe.

Gillian Fairweather, conferences, events and marketing co-ordinator at QMU, said: “It is important for us to make sure all the local residents are aware of the fantastic facilities that we have here at QMU.

“The university has lots to offer the community and we want the university to be an asset to the local people.

“The university facilities are perfect for organising everything from seminars to conferences and even corporate dinners.

“QMU is also a fantastic choice for family celebrations. We offer attractive, private dining spaces in bright rooms with open views across QMU’s landscaped gardens. There is decking space where friends and family can gather to enjoy a drink overlooking the pond and we even have a baby grand piano for guests.”

Growing in popularity since the Covid-19 lockdowns, the university’s students’ union bar and cafe, Maggie’s, is now a firm favourite with many members of the local community. People from across Musselburgh enjoy walks around QMU’s open, green campus before going to Maggie’s for a coffee and lunch.

East Lothian Courier: People from across Musselburgh enjoy walks around QMU’s open, green campus before going to Maggie’s for a coffee and lunch

Gillian said: “It would be wonderful if more people got the chance to enjoy Maggie’s with their friends and family. The cafe is dog-friendly, so people are more than welcome to bring their pets along while they enjoy a coffee or some lunch.

“Maggie’s has great outdoor eating spaces in University Square so perfect for eating al fresco, as well as plenty of seating inside too.

“I’m so pleased to see more and more walkers enjoy our gardens and green spaces. We love seeing people tour the grounds and it has been a treat to watch the campus used more regularly by locals over the last year. Whether it’s the outdoor gym or the trim track by the pond, it is important to us that local residents know they are welcome to use the campus’s green spaces and that they are not just for students.”