Pupil hears her rap recorded by the army

A RAP written by a 12-year-old school pupil and inspired by the Windrush generation has been recorded by army musicians. Leila McPhate, from Larbert High School in Stenhousemuir, wrote The World Is A Dark Place as her entry for Never Such Innocence, an international arts competition to give children and young people a voice on conflict.…

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REVIEW: Cavens Country House

A trip to the south west of Scotland proved a welcome break from city life for Rosie Morton…  Carpe diem. Two words we’ve heard countless times, and yet they seem to resonate far more in 2020 than ever before. Having been on our starting blocks since the end of March, all the trips we’ve been…

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Ivy’s floral flourishes in Edinburgh and Glasgow

THE Ivy restaurant chain has brought a splash of colour to its outlets in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Ivy on the Square in Edinburgh has turned its terrace into “a magical greenhouse and garden”. Meanwhile, The Ivy Buchanan Street has brought “a touch of the jungle to Glasgow’s Style Mile”. The Glasgow branch has created…

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Outdoor venue for Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival

ORGANISERS have moved Edinburgh Craft Beer Festival from The Biscuit Factory to The Corn Exchange’s outside venue. The event, which is due to take place on 9 and 10 October, will feature Scottish breweries including Fierce, Vault City, 71 Brewing, and new kid on the block Newbarns. Foreign breweries sending beer to the festival include…

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Book festival hails global audience

THOUSANDS of viewers from throughout the world have tuned in to watch live sessions from the Edinburgh International Book Festival online. People have watched the performances from as far away as Algeria, Brazil and Nigeria. Highlights from the first few days of the virtual festival have included Ian Rankin, Julia Donaldson, Hilary Mantel, and Bumi…

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Balcarres House auction spans three centuries

FURNITURE and art spanning three centuries from a Scottish country house will go under the hammer next month. Lyon & Turnbull’s “Five Centuries” auction in Edinburgh on 3 September will feature lots from Balcarres House in Fife, home of the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres. The Lindsay family has lived in the house since 1595.…

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Beer fans enjoy more pints with Scottish barley

SCOTLAND’S craft brewers are poised to get more access to Scottish malted barley thanks to equipment that can handle smaller bags. Crisp Malt has spent ÂŁ2 million installing a packaging line at its plant in Alloa. At the moment, craft brewers that can’t buy large quantities of malt either need to buy Scottish malt that’s…

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‘Hello Dolly!’ as museum and other sites reopen

THE National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh is among the tourist attractions reopening today as Scotland’s businesses continue to bounce back from the coronavirus lockdown. The Chamber Street museum’s entrance hall and level one galleries open today, with other parts of the site opening on unspecified later dates. Two new displays have been completed to…

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Rural arts fundraising campaign launched

A FUNDRAISING campaign to help rural venues host live performances begins this morning. The “Keep Rural Arts Live” initiative aims to raise ÂŁ20,000 through the Crowdfunder website. The campaign is being run by The Touring Network, which brings together artists and venues spread across Scotland. The money will subsidise lost income if venues have to…

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‘Blockchain’ helps keep oats gluten-free

SHOPPERS will soon be able to check that their oats are gluten-free thanks to six Scottish farmers and “blockchain” technology. Although oats are naturally gluten-free, many of the facilities in which they are processed handle gluten and so contamination is an issue. Six Scottish farmers have been created a gluten-free oat supply chain, so customers…

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