Former brand ambassador takes on new whisky role

Former Chivas Bros international brand ambassador, Ian Logan, has joined Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky. He will take on the post of senior manager of whisky and hospitality. Aged 52 and originally from Ayrshire, Ian has made the move after nearly 21 years with Chivas. Renowned for their extensive portfolio of world-class whiskies and casks, Duncan…

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Scotland’s home of the year search goes west

The search for Scotland’s Home of the Year 2021 continues tonight. A renovated coach house in Uddingston, a 70s inspired home in Mauchline and a Victorian conversion in Ayr vie to become Scotland’s Home of the Year, representing regional finalists from The West in this fourth episode of the series. Judges, interior designer Anna-Campbell Jones, lifestyle…

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Photographer to reveal Desert Island Gardens

Britain’s premier gardens photographer is to share her Desert Island Gardens this week. Andrea Jones, who lives near Barr, in South Ayrshire, will be a guest of the Garden Masterclass, where she will chat with Noel Kingsbury and Annie Guilfoyle. Like radio series Desert Island Discs, Andrea will discuss her favourite gardens which she has…

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Cauliflower power as snacking shifts online

SNACKING Scots have been credited with saving an Ayrshire-based business. Tracey Hogarth, owner of Nudie Snacks, saw her sales drop by 95% when lockdown began as the offices that bought her snack boxes sent their workers home. Hogarth switched to selling her snacks – which include cauliflower crisps, roasted split peas, and chocolate orange protein…

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Golf: the perfect social distancing activity

GOLF has become “the perfect social distancing outdoor activity in a safe environment”, according to Trump Turnberry. The hotel and golf resort on the Ayrshire coast has hailed its corporate packages for giving companies the chance to “mix business with pleasure”. Turnberry offers both individuals and companies a variety of corporate and partner memberships, with…

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Visit Moscow – without leaving Scotland

TOURISTS are being encouraged to visit Moscow – without even setting foot outside Scotland. That’s because the village of Moscow in Ayrshire is featuring in a new publicity campaign by holiday website Love Home Swap. The site has created an online guidebook called Around The World in Britain, which also includes California in Norfolk, Egypt…

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NTS gardens springing back into action

THE National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is preparing to reopen around 30 of its gardens from 6 July. Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire, Brodie Castle’s garden and estate in Moray, and Crathes Castle’s garden and estate in Aberdeenshire are among the properties that will begin welcoming back guests. The trust’s countryside sites, including St Abb’s…

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Chicken wings its way to charities

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has donated 1.4 tonnes of chicken to Scottish food banks, school breakfast clubs and homeless shelters. The meat, which included 600kg of whole chicken, 250kg of chicken legs and 615kg of chicken breasts, was donated by SRUC from its carcass evaluation unit on the Auchincruive Estate in South Ayrshire. The chicken…

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Nicola Benedetti’s new Elgar album

Ayrshire’s Nicola Benedetti’s new album, exploring music by Britain’s best loved composer, Edward Elgar, will be released digitally on 15 May 2020. The centrepiece of the album from the Grammy-award-winning violinist is his vast Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 – considered one of the most technically demanding violin concertos and a marathon for…

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Loch Lomond Group switches to making sanitiser

Independent distiller the Loch Lomond Group has completed production of its first batch of hand sanitiser with deliveries across the country scheduled for today, 1 April. The group has already started working with Fareshare Scotland, who will ensure onward distribution to those who need it most in our society, helping to support Scotland’s most vulnerable…

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