Why Scottish cities are smiles better than London

Edinburgh is the ninth-most ‘LOL’ city on the planet, according to a new survey. The study for MoveHub.com compared 67 major cities all around the world on how many comedy clubs, comedy shows, comedy festivals and social media mentions of the word ‘LOL’ there are per 100,000 people to determine the ultimate destinations for the…

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Scots comedian swaps Love Island for the Festival

An Edinburgh comedian whose voice is entertaining the nation each night is set to return home for the Festival. Iain Stirling is currently narrating the fourth series of ITV2’s smash-hit BAFTA-winning Love Island each night at 9pm, alongside hosting a second series of physical comedy entertainment show CelebAbility this summer. Following recording in Mallorca, Iain…

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Just over a week to go until Argyll music festival

Argyll’s biggest open-air live music event is set to take place next weekend. OBANLIVE, taking place on 8 and 9 June, has launched two new films targeting people out with Argyll, as well as maritime visitors, following an award of £11,250 from EventScotland, part of the national tourism organisation’s Events Directorate. The videos have been…

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An easy way to unlock some extra income

Home owners are being encouraged to earn extra money by letting out their houses. Owning your own home is a dream that many of us aspire to, but it’s one that’s becoming further out of reach – not only due to mounting purchase prices, but also to the increasing cost of running your own property.…

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Famous Edinburgh landmarks unite as conference venue

Two of Edinburgh’s most iconic Old Town institutions are joining forces in a move that is set to deliver a multi-million-pound boost into the heart of the city. The prestigious Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and the Festival Theatre are pooling their resources to create a one-stop ‘large conference destination’ with unrivalled character…

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Big names heading for Edinburgh Fringe

A host of big names are joining the Gilded Balloon’s star-studded 2018 roster for the Edinburgh Fringe. Hot Brown Honey, Esther Rantzen, Jon Culshaw, Janeane Garofalo and a brand new play from the award-winning Henry Naylor are the latest shows to In the midst of a world tour, the award-winning and genre-defying Hot Brown Honey…

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Talented chef is cooking up a treat with £150K kitchen

A 29-year-old head chef has been handed his dream task – to design his own purpose-built kitchen from scratch. Rising star Alan Dickson – who is Scotland’s reigning Hotel Chef of the Year – will fit out the vast new premises at the expanded Ten Hill Place Hotel in Edinburgh with around £150,000 worth of…

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Walking group enjoy all things bright and beautiful

David Gleed celebrates the 30th birthday of a Scottish walking group with a difference. On 17 June 1989, and a small group of pilgrims gathered at a remote moorland chapel on the fringe of the Snowdon mountains. A little over a year from its founding, the first Pilgrim Adventure travellers were about to set off…

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Legendary whisky area will celebrate with its first festival of gin

Campbeltown and the Kintyre area are legendary for their whisky, but now it’s set to host its first festival of gin. The inaugural Gintyre Festival will take place from 20-22 April as a collaboration between Campbeltown Town Hall, Explore Campbeltown and local gin producers, Beinn an Tuirc Distillers. A spokesman said: ‘Our aim is to…

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Review: La Clique Noel

I’ve been going to the Fringe for almost 30 years and few shows have stayed longer in my mind than La Clique. For me, it’s always been a show that makes me think about Camille O’Sullivan, the sultry Irish songstress whose playful and sensual vocals came to define La Clique for a whole generation of…

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