Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Tobermory Book Festival sets sail on Friday
BROADCASTER Sally Magnusson tops the bill at this year’s Tobermory Book Festival, which begins on Friday on Mull. Food and travel writer Ghillie Basan – who shared recipes in February’s Scottish Field magazine – will host a dinner on the opening night. Fellow foodies Ailidh Forlan and Sally MacColl will also discuss their work over…
Read MoreRoyal National Mòd ends with massed choir
A MASSED choir brought the Royal National Mòd to an end on Saturday in Perth. The mòd’s flag was handed over the Paisley, which will host next year’s cultural gathering. Around 2,100 people took part in 200 competitions over the nine-day festival, which was held at 14 venues in the Fair City. Contestants came from…
Read MoreREVIEW: The Cauldron – A Magical Evening
Megan Amato learns how to mix magical cocktails at The Cauldron pub chain’s Edinburgh branch. EDINBURGH is not short of magical- and witchy-themed shops and enchantments, but The Cauldron on Fredrick Street has always stood out more than the others as it appeals to the local crowd – not just the streams of tourists. The…
Read MoreGreywacke Wild Sauvignon
Drinks blogger James Robertson enjoys a vertical tasting of Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc. THE other day I had the privilege of attending a vertical tasting of wines from Greywacke, a winery found in Marlborough, New Zealand. Marlborough is the home for some of the best New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs around. The climate and soil structure has…
Read MoreGin Extremes: From Shetland to Scilly
Drinks blogger James Robertson reviews gin from either end of the UK. WHO would have thought that you would find a gin distillery on the southern tip of the UK on the island of St Mary’s, part of the Isles of Scilly, and then 776 miles as the crow flies there is another one on…
Read MoreGet a sneaky peek at the new look for Edinburgh’s Tigerlily…
EDINBURGH’S Tigerlily bar and restaurant reopens tonight after being redecorated. Innes Bolt, managing director of owner Montpeliers described the refit as “the biggest change in 16 years” at the George Street venue. The outlet opened in 2006 and had its last refurbishment in 2015. Designer Jim Hamilton – who created Tigerlily’s original look and was…
Read More‘Forest Floor’ by Fergus McCreadie named as top album
PIANIST Fergus McCreadie won the Scottish album of the year (SAY) title last night for “Forest Floor”. McCreadie, who was also shortlisted for a Mercury Prize this year, was unable to attend the ceremony at The Albert Halls in Stirling. The award was collected on his behalf by Seonaid Aitken. It was third time lucky…
Read MoreScots take gold at British Farming Awards
SCOTTISH farmers and rural businesses won some of the biggest prizes at last night’s British Farming Awards. More than 800 farmers and their advisors gathered at The Vox venue in Birmingham for a ceremony hosted by television presenter Patrick Kielty. Emma Gray and Ewan Irvine took gold in both the “small or medium diversification of…
Read MoreScotland gets ready for Halloween
There’s hubble, bubble, toil, and trouble ahead of Halloween, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. SCOTLAND is preparing to mark Halloween in a wide variety of ways. The Witchery restaurant in Edinburgh has rolled out its annual display of decorative pumpkins. The up-market eatery beside the castle has also unveiled its autumn menu. Highlights include: Findlay’s of…
Read MoreNew Fair Isle bird observatory takes shape
CONSTRUCTION of a replacement bird observatory for Fair Isle took a step forward yesterday. Modules built in a factory in Sheffield arrived at the island on a barge, ready to be assembled. The world-famous observatory burned down in 2019. Fair Isle has hosted a bird observatory since 1948. As well as carrying out scientific research,…
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