Review: Scottish Opera, The Strauss Collection

Lisa Simonis is transported back in time to a romantic past at Edinburgh’s historic Usher Hall for the latest performance from Scottish Opera.    Scottish Opera’s The Strauss Collection presented a repertoire of extracts from Richard Strauss’s operas with libretti by Hugo von Hofmannsthal.  The stellar programme included pieces from three operas: Der Rosenkavalier, Ariadne…

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Review: SugarBird, Aberdeen

Grant Dickie tries out SugarBird’s Sparkling Saturdays. For those familiar with Aberdeen’s wine scene, you are probably already aware of SugarBird’s first location on Union Grove. But their new location along the outskirts of Union Terrace Gardens in one of the quaint tram-car-esque buildings which opened in the tail-end of 2023.  Every Saturday afternoon, SugarBird…

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Review: Extra Ordinary, X_O, Glasgow

It’s hard to keep up with the rate at which trendy new restaurants are popping up in Glasgow.  Last year saw the opening of the already much loved Sebbs – found below their already well-respected Margo – as well as what has been touted as the city’s next Michelin-starred eatery, Gary Townsend’s new restaurant, Elements…

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Review: Hotel du Vin, Newcastle

Alister Tenneb enjoyed a weekend get-a-way at the glamorous Hotel du Vin in the bustling city of Newcastle.   Less than a three hour drive from Scotland’s central belt Newcastle is an excellent weekend break destination for those heading south of the border. Perhaps it’s the city’s relative isolation from other large ones that gives…

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Review: Stockbridge Eating House, Edinburgh

Editor Richard Bath visits the former site of the much-loved Bell’s Diner to run the rule over the Stockbridge Eating House, the new venture of Gardener’s Cottage co-founder Dale Mailley.   For many Edinburghers, endless chat over burgers at the tiny, intimate surroundings of Bell’s Diner in Stockbridge – often following a visit to one…

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Review: Rusacks St Andrews

Primely situated in the home of golf, Rusacks St Andrews is the perfect escape for golfers and non-golfers alike. Grant Dickie visited to sample just what was on offer.   I love St Andrews, but I’ve never spent more than an afternoon there. The coastal golf town has so much to offer and where better…

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Review: Chaophraya, Aberdeen

With the news that Chaophraya has launched a festive set menu, Grant Dickie just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give it a try.   Arriving at Chaophraya on the corner of Union Terrace and Union Street in Aberdeen, we entered what used to be The Monkey House and before that, the offices of insurance…

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Review: Jack and the Beanstalk, Aberdeen

★★★★★ The Panto is a festive institution in Aberdeen every year and this year it returned to His Majesty’s Theatre to tell the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.  With my best boo and ‘oh yes it is’ practiced, I joined my fellow theatre goers in the packed HMT to experience the colour and magic…

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Review: Castle of Light, Edinburgh

Edinburgh is celebrating its 900th anniversary with a spectacular light show at the capital’s castle. The celebration will light up Edinburgh’s skyline for the fifth year in a row and Fiona Tenneb headed to the iconic landmark to see the displays setting the Christmas season alight.   Despite the chill in the air, the cold…

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