Posts by Kenny Smith
A guide to Scotland’s lost railway lines
As cars turned the world of transport on its head, multiple Scottish railway branch lines were swept away by the ‘Beeching Axe’. With that in mind, Spaven – an award-winning author with a life-long interest in the rail industry – meanders along the country’s old branch lines, examining both their glory days and the devastating…
Read MoreJersey Boys leaves the audience just Beggin’ for more
The four seasons are hitting Glasgow this week and for once, we’re not talking about the weather. Jersey Boys is the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. The four boys from New Jersey, USA became one of the most successful…
Read MoreSailing programme for young people returns to Scotland
A sailing programme giving young people a week of funded training aboard a racing yacht is returning to Scotland’s west coast next week. On 25 April, Our Isles and Oceans is launching its second programme, welcoming 40 new Ambassadors onto its 68-foot racing yacht. Born from the pandemic, Our Isles and Oceans aims to provide…
Read More£35,000 Bowmore expression limited to just 339 bottles
Bowmore has unveiled the final whisky in its Vaults Series: an ‘ultra rare’ single malt from 1969. The new launches showcases some of the rarest whiskies from the iconic Bowmore distillery on Islay, and bring a totally new aged expression to the global portfolio. The collection includes the last in the highly successful 50-year-old vault…
Read MoreIslay local joins Lagavulin as distillery manager
Lagavulin has appointed Islay local Jordan Paisley as the new manager of its iconic island distillery. A former pupil of Islay High School, Jordan travelled the world before returning to the island with the world’s leading distilling company, Diageo. He has been working with the team at the Lagavulin alongside Diageo’s portfolio of other Islay…
Read MoreSponsorship makes schools book festival free for all
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has announced that this year’s Schools Programme will be entirely free thanks to the generosity of long-term Lead Sponsor Baillie Gifford. In addition to all tickets being free, every child attending in person will receive a free book, and free online resources will be made available on the Book Festival’s…
Read MoreThe corrupt world of business and politics
As part of the Angus Blue series, this third edition details a thrilling investigation led by DI Blue who is drawn into the corrupt world of business and politics. As we have come to expect of Martin, he has excelled himself with vivid descriptions of Scotland – in this case, of Oban – adding authenticity…
Read MoreVault City’s sour beers are boosting their sales
Vault City has announced that its sales have tripled year-on-year to almost £2 million as customers across the UK increasingly become suckers for sour beer. This news comes as the Edinburgh-based brewery launches two new beers made using real fruit nationwide in Tesco – a Blueberry Maple beer and Triple Fruited Mango beer. Last April,…
Read MorePark plans ahead should beavers make a colony
The Cairngorms National Park Authority has published a study it commissioned into the likelihood of the park being naturally colonised by Eurasian beaver and the potential benefits and implications. The study – carried out by some of the country’s leading experts, with support and advice from a steering group of partners – focused on natural…
Read MoreMacallan expression celebrates the joy of New York
The Macallan has released Distil Your World New York, a single malt whisky and documentary that capture the essence of one of the most iconic cities in the world. Crafted by The Macallan Whisky Maker Polly Logan in collaboration with the Roca brothers, owners of El Celler de Can Roca, twice named Best Restaurant in…
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