Escape the festival and enjoy an afternoon tea

If the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh city centre in the midst of the Fringe Festival is too much for you, then you probably want an afternoon tea. This week is National Afternoon Tea Week and the Restoration Café in Dalkeith Country Park is offering a scrumptious afternoon tea in stunning surroundings. Enjoy what has…

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Festival fringe comedy review: Jason Byrne

A Fringe stalwart and deservedly sold out many nights, Jason Byrne is the archetypal Irish stand up. He berates life, his idiosyncratic working class childhood and then picks on a few brave souls in the audience to tease, mock and generally make them the butt of a stream of jokes. His quick wit and the…

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Fringe review: Paul Merton’s Impro Chums

Paul Merton may be best known as a team captain on Have I Got News For You, but he’s also one of the country’s best improvisational comedians. He and his highly professional Impro Chums take genuine audience suggestions (unlike some impro shows) and create hilarious scenarios of random nonsense that are guaranteed to have you…

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Movie star’s brother opens the Military Tattoo

Ex-RAF pilot Colin McGregor was the special guest who opened this year’s show at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He performed the moving poem ‘High Flight’ – a special tribute to the late servicemen and women of the RAF. Colin was joined in the Royal Gallery at Edinburgh Castle by his brother, actor Ewan McGregor,…

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Glen Scotia brings Campbeltown to the Fringe

If visitors won’t come to the distillery then the distillery will come to them, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. IT’S safe to say that only the most hardcore whisky fans will have visited Campbeltown. While many Scotch nuts will make the pilgrimage to Speyside or catch a plane or a ferry to Islay, the three-hour drive…

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Edinburgh Fringe Review: Gusset Grippers

An absolute must for women who have experienced childbirth and/or are ‘ of a certain age’. This slick, incredibly funny show is written and presented by Elaine Miller, physiotherapist, mother and recovered incontinent who enjoys revealing the wonders of the pelvic floor and how to get yours in tip-top shape (men and women) which will…

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Edinburgh Fringe review: Jimeoin: Result!

This well-kent Irish comedian has had a loyal Fringe following for 25 years. He is a familiar face on ‘Live at the Apollo’, the Royal Variety performance, and he had his own smash-hit show in NYC off-Broadway. Observational comedy touching on everything from Trump to Jesus and some fresh new material involving the cost of…

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Edinburgh Fringe: Baby Wants Candy review

Sold out for the past three years, Baby Wants Candy’s improvised show is a Fringe classic. Performed by six energetic Americans, the show I saw was Papa Peea – a play on the new Mamma Mia movie, with roles reversed so the debate is who is the mother of the young lady in question. As…

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You’re invited to a wedding at this year’s Fringe

A frenzied bride on a rollercoaster journey of debauched self-discovery and empowerment is entertaining at the Fringe. Laura is an immersive debut solo tragicomedy by Elina Alminas, set at a wedding party, where the audience play the guests. It has been created as a response and rejection of the stereotypical roles women are most likely…

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Newsrevue is still one of the best

Newsrevue is an annual fixture which deserves its plaudits and awards, and this year’s offering  is flawlessly delivered by four professionals who are as comfortable singing as acting. Piano is a tad too loud on occasions, but I’m being picky. There’s no shortage of material this year so the political satire and wry view at…

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