All things bright and beautiful at Wasps Christmas market

Forty artists and makers are coming together for the first ever Wasps Christmas market – and marking the 40th anniversary of Scotland’s biggest creative community. It’s a chance to see a rich variety of art, craft and design of many kinds including work by the exceptional silversmith Hamish Dobbie, beautiful glasswork from Cressa McLaren, gorgeous…

Read More

Scottish Borders Heritage Festival was a massive success

The biggest Scottish Borders Heritage Festival to date attracted almost 33,000 visitors during September, and brought an estimated £1.45million into the area. The number of visitors was up from 20,517 in 2016 and 4,490 in 2015. Celebrating heritage sites through light, music, storytelling, re-enactment, theatre and performance, the month long 2017 festival saw more than…

Read More

A rural gem that’s still close to the big cities

Kirkfield Lodge is an attractive small holding in a rural location within commuting distance of Glasgow and Edinburgh.  This is a four-bedroom property, with dining kitchen, two bathrooms, two public rooms, sun room and large study. There are two entrances but the property is commonly accessed through an adjoining porch which leads from the tarmac parking…

Read More

Borders rugby legend Doddie Weir onhand for unveiling of new whisky

Doddie Weir, the Borders rugby legend who was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, was the guest of honour for the unveiling of the second whisky from the new Annandale Distillery near Annan on Friday, 1 December, writes Richard Bath. Doddie was also joined by two fellow Scotland and British & Irish Lions in Finlay…

Read More

Borders aims to capitalise on success of re-opened railway line

Plans to boost business in the borders has been approved, to expand on the success of the reopened Borders Railway. Scottish Borders councillors have agreed to progress plans for an innovation park in Tweedbank to maximise the economic impact of the Borders Railway and provide modern facilities for new and expanding businesses and support future…

Read More

Capital Christmas cocktail is an Old Fashioned classic

A Christmas cocktail in the capital is just what the doctor ordered this festive season. With Christmas just around the corner, a selection of fine festive cocktails has been prepared for winter drinking. Gingerbread Old Fashioned has been created by R&B Distillers and Usquabae Whisky Bar in Edinburgh. Gingerbread is the scent of yuletide, bringing…

Read More

Whisky maker launches editions based on notes from 19th century

Award-winning craft whisky maker R&B Distillers has launched two new editions of The Tweeddale. The Tweeddale The Evolution and The Tweeddale A Silent Character are the latest additions to the Tweeddale collection. These characterful whiskies have each drawn inspiration from the brand’s fascinating heritage. Co-founder of R&B Distillers, Alasdair Day, is the great-grandson of Richard…

Read More

Art gallery celebrates its successful first 12 months

The Gallery Melrose is celebrating its first birthday this month. It has been a year of discovery and excitement, of growing, learning, building expectations and going with the flow. The Gallery Melrose sell paintings, pottery, wood carvings, ceramics, glass and jewellery all handmade by skilled artistic people living within a few miles of the town.…

Read More

Iconic Scottish sites to turn purple for World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Famous Scottish landmarks are turning purple today to mark World Pancreatic Cancer Day. The one-day campaign demands a focus on earlier detection to improve survival rates. People around the world are uniting to ‘Demand Better’ for patients and survival. The annual one-day campaign is an initiative of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, which is comprised…

Read More

There’s more to malbec than Mendoza

Peter Ranscombe explores the regionality of Argentina’s malbecs with Phil Crozier, director of wines at steak house chain Gaucho. MALBEC has been one of the wine world’s great success stories. Wind the clock back 20 years and few drinkers had heard of the all-conquering red grape. Now, it’s become ubiquitous on restaurant wine lists and…

Read More