Edinburgh’s summer bolthole still has so much to offer

Portobello was traditionally Edinburgh’s playground and it still draws the crowds to its beach and promenade when the weather is fine. When summer blesses the capital with warm sunny days, there’s nothing better than a stroll along Portobello’s promenade with an ice cream (flake optional) in hand, as you relax and soak up the rays.…

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New dessert tap aims to be top of the chocs

A Scots ice cream parlour has been tapping into childhood memories with the arrival of its newest dessert topper. Mackie’s of Scotland’s 19.2 parlour, based in Aberdeen’s Marischal Square, has welcomed white chocolate to its line-up of ever-flowing taps. The new tap, which dispenses warm, smooth white chocolate, has replaced the parlour’s hugely popular peanut…

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The fantastic four power on in Rura’s new album

Four go on alone in Rura’s third album which, for the first time, is a wholly instrumental recording following the departure of singer Adam Holmes at the end of 2016. It is a testament to the confidence the remaining band members have in their own musical ability to defer seeking a new vocalist either from…

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Coffee house award is a monumental honour

The cafe at a major tourist attraction has been honoured for its outstanding commitment to local Scottish produce. Legends Coffee House, at The National Wallace Monument in Stirling, has been awarded Taste Our Best accreditation from VisitScotland. This quality assurance status is awarded to food and drink establishments that can demonstrate their use of fresh,…

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Stunning views from Malin Court’s new conservatory

A spectacular new conservatory offering stunning views of Arran and the Firth of Clyde has been opened. The opening ceremony of new large facility took place at Malin Court, the long established hotel and nursing home which sits adjacent to Turnberry Golf course on the panoramic south Ayrshire coast. The biggest conservatory manufactured to date…

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Eleventh heaven as society wins whisky awards

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has won Cask Strength, Scotch Whisky of the Year. Their bottle Cask 3.305 – The Scents of Perfection was crowned at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018 (IWSC). The 28-year-old Islay whisky, which was released in December 2017 with only 209 bottles available to SMWS members, also won a…

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The Caledonian Canal’s history will be staged outdoors

The amazing true story of the Caledonian Canal is being brought to life – in the great outdoors. Fort Augustus, at the heart of the Great Glen, will become Scottish Canals’ latest outdoor pop-up theatre venue this summer. Waters of Time, the new bespoke Canal Theatre play produced by The Walking Theatre Company, is set…

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Up to 20 new jobs created as £1.7m wine cafe opens

The first phase of a £1.7million wine café and luxury food and wine boutique has launched in Edinburgh. Creating 15-20 jobs, One20 Wine Café is a two phase £1.7m project to bring luxury wine and food at affordable prices to Edinburgh’s New Town. Situated at 120 Dundas Street, it is serving a wide range of…

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Orkney Distillery and visitor centre now ready to open

The Orkney Distillery and visitor centre will officially open in Kirkwall this week, creating a major new tourist attraction for the islands. Two years in the planning, the new facility – which has created six local jobs – represents the realisation of the owners’ dream. Sited on Kirkwall’s historic harbour front, the two-storey distillery and…

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Ramon Bilbao goes back to the future in Rioja

Peter Ranscombe straps himself into his DeLorean to watch Spain’s flagship wine region take a step back in time. WITH its massive turbine hall and colossal central chimney, there’s no forgetting that the Tate Modern art gallery was once the Bankside power station, burning through piles of coal to provide electricity for London’s homes and…

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