Prestonfield: Festive Afternoon Tea

Prestonfield House knows how to make Christmas magical. It begins as soon as you enter their long driveway and see the historic hotel lit up against the night sky and continues as their courteous and friendly staff welcome you with genuine warmth. The hotel is a maximalist’s dream, expertly decorated and layered with old-world finery,…

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The 12 Tipples of Christmas

Editor Richard Bath picks a dozen of his favourite easy-drinking festive tipples – one for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas – to ensure that our readers are seasonably lubricated (NB: contains no gin or Scotch whisky). DAY 1 – Disaronno Velvet – £16.50 The easy thing to say is that this variation on…

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DAME MARY BERRY’S HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS

NATIONAL treasure Dame Mary Berry is returning to her roots in Bonnie Scotland for a Christmas TV special. Travelling through the Highlands on the ultimate winter break, the Queen of cakes serves up a decadent festive feast in her new BBC programme, Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas. Throughout the 60-minute special, the acclaimed food writer, cook…

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Top ten Christmas stocking fillers

Editor Richard Bath comes up with his top ten suggestions for ultimate Christmas stocking fillers – whether the presents are for you, or for your loved ones. 1) Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (£159.99):  Ring’s products are becoming increasingly popular and increasingly sophisticated, but the general principle remains unchanged. This video doorbell alerts you via your…

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IKEA Edinburgh offers up unusual Christmas experience

IKEA in Edinburgh is offering customers the chance to enjoy a free Christmas dinner in one of its roomsets. Guests who book the experience will enjoy a fully prepared IKEA Christmas dinner, complete with festive décor. Hosting Christmas can be costly, not to mention the time and effort spent doing everything from cooking to cleaning.…

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CHRISTMAS AT THE BOTANICS: IT’S ALL LIGHT ON THE NIGHT

Christmas at the Botanics has opened to the public at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, featuring new installations and a reimagined route inspired by the magical world of plants. The annual light show is a calendar highlight for Edinburgh residents and tourists alike, and this year the illuminated trail is bigger and brighter than ever…

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Christmas at the Botanics 2023 tickets on sale now

AD Feature  The magic of the festive season is set to return to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh this winter as Christmas at the Botanics opens for its seventh year.  Reimagined for 2023 with new installations and a fresh route, organisers have introduced off-peak tickets on selected evenings in November and December. The magical, botanical…

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Famous penguin Sir Nils Olav gets promoted

ARGUABLY the world’s most famous penguin, Sir Nils Olav, has been promoted once more. Olav was raised from the rank of brigadier to major-general during a ceremony at Edinburgh Zoo. More than 160 members of the King’s Guard Band & Drill Team of Norway attended the event and bestowed Olav with his latest honour. The…

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