Book shop’s fundraiser to stay open raises £48,000+

A Scottish bookshop which faced closure last week is on the brink of a bright future after the support of hundreds of people, including Scots writers Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. Pre-loved publications shop Guid Reads, on Stirling Street, Alva, in Clackmannanshire, feared the worst after its landlord announced his imminent retiral. In a panic,…

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A touch of luxury with Moda Living in Edinburgh

Renting accommodation in a big city can be testing at the best of times. Unreliable landlords, impossible deposit schemes, and flats the size of Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs are among some of the greatest – and sadly, most common – frustrations. For those willing to pay for a touch of luxury, however, these…

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Aldi beer festival: which brew are you?

The Aldi beer festival includes a quiz to help drinkers find their perfect tipple – so Peter Ranscombe took the test. ONE of the drawbacks of pandemic-induced table service is the inability to stand at a bar and peruse the pints. Pre-lockdown, few joys matched visiting a pub and squinting at the hand pumps to…

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Jean Leon: Drinking wine like Hollywood royalty

The legend of restaurateur and winery owner Jean Leon lives on under the watchful eye of the Torres family, writes Peter Ranscombe. SOMETIMES the very thing for which you’re looking is sitting right under your nose. Jean Leon emigrated from Spain to America with dreams of starring in Hollywood films. Yet he returned to his…

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Loop and Scoop to open a second ice cream and churro bar

Scotland’s only ice cream and churro bar has confirmed it’s opening a much anticipated second site. Situated on 157 Milngavie Road, Bearsden, near Glasgow, the new 603 sq ft store will include Loop & Scoop’s award winning gelato and churro menu alongside signature favourites including milkshakes, coffee as well as an extensive vegan offering. The…

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Social Bite hits the road with launch of new foodie pop-up

Social Bite Food, part of the Social Bite charity, has launched a new foodie pop-up just in time for a summer of outdoor events and festivals. The repurposed horse box has been given a makeover by Social Bite Food to become a coffee cart, taken out on the road across Scotland, delivering good food for…

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Gladstone’s Land reopens for a taste of the past

One of the Royal Mile’s oldest buildings, the National Trust for Scotland’s Gladstone’s Land, starts a new chapter of its 500 year-old history as it re-opens to the public . It has returned after a £1.5m restoration, including a brand new coffee shop and ice cream parlour, continuing the spirit of the building’s long commercial…

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Renowned jewellers unveil their reimagined showroom

Hamilton & Inches is celebrating the reopening of its iconic showroom after undergoing an extensive regeneration. Dedicated to enhancing the customer experience with work undertaken across its showroom, workshops, and service department, this transformation has kept the building’s historic accents at the heart of the restoration, creating a space that celebrates heritage whilst innovating with…

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A look around some of the most stunning gardens

Aspiring to promote interaction with the natural world, photos are divided into categories that encourage the appreciation of the planet’s diversity. Particularly for nature enthusiasts, the staggering range of nature’s beauty is astonishingly captured from a multitude of perspectives and locations. It could benefit from more narrative, but definitely one for the coffee table. International…

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It’s time to break out those paler ales

Peter Ranscombe runs the rule over the latest releases from beer website Flavourly. DESPITE this Arctic blast over the past couple of weeks, I’m informed reliably that spring is here. As the seasons turn, so too do the styles of beer for which we reach. The porters and stouts of autumn and winter give way…

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