Posts Tagged ‘west coast’
Brewers go direct as pubs close
SCOTLAND’S breweries are stepping up direct sales to consumers amid the latest coronavirus restrictions on pubs. Bars cannot currently sell alcohol indoors, with those in the Central Belt closed completely. Alva-based Harviestoun Brewery has lifted the lid on how the latest restrictions are hitting its business. Joint managing director Stu Cook said: “This is a…
Read MoreAuthors pick top lockdown crime novels
Ahead of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, which begins online on 18 September, authors Alex Gray and Gordon Brown – who writes as Morgan Cry – pick their favourite lockdown books. Alex Gray Three books that were really good during lockdown days include Kate Atkinson’s Big Sky. A terrific read, thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully written and quirky.…
Read MoreAlbarino: how will lockdown affect the way wine is made?
Two very different vintages and two very different tastings demonstrate how the weather still plays a crucial role in winemaking, writes Peter Ranscombe. WHAT a difference a year makes; nearly 12 months ago, I was sitting in a London tapas bar – remember when we could go out for tapas? – listening to Paula Fandino,…
Read MoreScottish Hospitality for Heroes
Crerar Hotels are to gift 2,000 free ‘nights away’ for NHS staff, care workers and their families in an initiative that will give the company and the public an opportunity to express their gratitude to those who have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 crisis. The ‘Scottish Hospitality for Heroes’ campaign will begin with two key…
Read MoreBatten down the hatches
Batten Down the Hatches, an appropriately-named online exhibition of new paintings by the excellent Ross Ryan, opens at The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh on Wednesday 29 April. This solo exhibition is the result of two years of chasing gales, sailing to offshore lighthouses on his boat Sgarbh and discovering the people and their islands. His…
Read MoreThe final straw
In an unanticipated side-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, shops in Glasgow have been forced to stop selling Buckfast, the iconic tonic wine made by Benedictine monks in Devon which is popular on the west coast of Scotland, as supplies have dwindled. “It’s really bad,” Whiteinch-based shop owner, Sobhan Rashid, told the Glasgow Times. “At the…
Read MoreA delicious seared scallop recipe to enjoy
Strong childhood memories of food remain an inspiration for Kinloch House chef Steve McCallum. As a child, Steve would spend time on the west coast with his uncle, a lobster fisherman in Tarbert, bringing in the creels and aquiring a taste for fresh food. ‘I still have a fondness for those early memories of eating…
Read MoreFormer Victorian school could be a class act
A rare opportunity to acquire an impressive Victorian built former school with planning permission for conversion. Situated on the popular Ardnamurchan Peninsular, this very impressive Victorian building offers a rare opportunity to acquire an important piece of local history in the form of a mission house and primary school dating from 1868. Presented by Galbraith,…
Read MoreProject Smok’s debut album is brought to life
Bayview is the debut album from upcoming neo-trad trio Project Smok. Recently released, the record showcases the non-conformist and progressive Scottish traditional music the young band have become known for in recent years. Combining trad music with links to contemporary new-age pop, Bayview was brought to life in Edwyn Collins’ famous Clashnarrow Studio in Helmsdale…
Read MoreThe Torridon review: a slice of paradise
To say that the road to The Torridon is dramatic doesn’t quite cover it. Rounding the corner and passing a sign signalling ten miles until I reached my destination, I felt as if I’d driven straight onto the set of a Hollywood blockbuster. The single track road was glistening in Narnia style, while the snow-capped…
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