Inverness hotels share positive figures

RESIDENTS in the North of Scotland are being encouraged to discover “what’s on their doorstep” as Inverness’s hotels report brighter figures amid the covid gloom. Chris Taylor, regional leadership director at national tourism marketing agency VisitScotland, said: “Right now, we are encouraging local people in the Highlands to discover what’s on their doorstep, in line…

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Wee Smoky – a whisky for people who don’t like whisky

WHISKY industry veteran Rory Gammell has launched a bottle of Scotch – for people who don’t like whisky. Wee Smoky is made by ageing single grain whisky in a cask that used to hold peated single malt. Gammell describes the result as “smooth, fruity, and lightly smoky”. His initial run of 400 bottles went on…

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Sir James MacMillan marks Eric Liddell Centre’s 40th anniversary

COMPOSER Sir James MacMillan will take part in an online broadcast next week to mark the 40th anniversary of the Eric Liddell Centre in Edinburgh. The centre is a care charity and community hub, providing specialist dementia support together with a carers programme and befriending service. Sir James’s younger brother, John, is chief executive at…

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Edinburgh’s ‘Digital Diwali’ marks ‘triumph of light’

EDINBURGH’S Diwali celebrations are moving online this year, with two hours of dance and music kicking off at 5pm on Sunday. The programme includes music from Edinburgh’s own Ajay Dixit, classical Indian dance by Bharatiya Ashram from Dundee, fusion dance from Edinburgh’s Dance Ihayami and songs by African Connections. The climax will feature the Odissi…

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Theatres to commission new musicals

SINGERS Barbara Dickson and Ricky Ross have joined a selection panel to find the next great Scottish musicals. Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Edinburgh’s Capital Theatres – which runs the Festival Theatre, the King’s Theatre, and The Studio – have created a musical commissioning hub, which will bring new shows to stages around Scotland. The submissions…

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Skyran Candle Company launches Christmas collection

At Skyran Candle Company, we are dedicated to quality home fragrance products, which are kind to our bodies and to our planet. We use natural wax and the finest fragrance oil in all our products to create a truly luxurious experience. As a husband-and-wife team, we launched our business in the spring while staying in…

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Drinks maker grasps the nettle to extend range

A DRINKS business that was launched during lockdown has teamed up with Scotland’s Rural College to turn nettles into a “healthy shot”. Hugo Morrissey, founder of Edinburgh-based Nuisance Drinks, released a sparkling nettle pressĂ© earlier this year. Now, he’s working with development chef Mark Barker in the college’s SAC Consulting test kitchen to extend his…

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St Leonards: Scotland’s Independent School of the Year 2019

St Leonards is a coeducational boarding and day school for pupils aged 5-18. The school boasts a safe and leafy campus bounded by medieval walls in the heart of the seaside university town of St Andrews. It was named as Scotland’s Independent School of the Year 2019 by The Sunday Times Good Schools Guide. Pupils…

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Botanics invites heroes to lights show

HEROES from the emergency services are being invited to the opening of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Christmas lights display. Some 200 “Blue Light” card holders will be asked to come along to the launch of the trail, which will be open for 32 nights. Regius Keeper Simon Milne said: “The opening of Christmas at…

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10,000 skincare products for cancer patients

CANCER support charity Make 2nds Count has teamed up with cancer skincare specialist Jennifer Young to give 10,000 products away during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Over the past few weeks, the Edinburgh-based organisation has asked people to nominate small charities, hospices, and cancer support groups through which it will give away products from Young’s Beauty…

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