WHISKY NEWS ROUND-UP: Finn Thomson, Ardbeg, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted look through the latest whisky news. THE Thomson family is marking its 300-year connection with the whisky industry by launching one of Scotland’s rarest private cask collections. Finn Thomson Whisky has signed up a slate of independent bottle shops to sell the whiskies in the UK, along with distributors in…

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Restaurant news round-up: Ralph & Finns, Gleneagles, and more

Peter Ranscombe serves up another slice of recent restaurant news. CHEF Kevin O’Neill has taken over at modern bar and brasserie Ralph & Finns in Glasgow. His autumn menu features Shetland hake from fishmonger Bernand Corrigan and Isle of Barra scallops, crustaceans, and oysters delivered by Andy Bell’s Fish People. Specialist butcher C & C…

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Hannah Lim solo show comes to Edinburgh

EDINBURGH Printmakers is to host the first solo exhibition in Scotland by Singaporean-British artist Hannah Lim. The London-based artist will make prints for the first time as she continues her exploration of East and South East Asian culture and its appropriation for Western audiences. Lim’s Scottish show opens on 29 September and runs until 20…

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Bloody Scotland shines spotlight on new authors

THE Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival has chosen 22 new writers for its “Crime in the Spotlight” feature. Each author will appear alongside more famous writers, either on stage or online. The idea was inspired by the support acts at music festivals. More than 100 new writers have been supported by the project in…

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Hostelling Scotland sites all open again

ALL of the sites operated by Hostelling Scotland are now up and running again following the lockdowns. It marks the first time in more than two years that the charity’s 29 youth hostels are all open again. Margo Paterson, the boss at Hostelling Scotland, said: “The [past] couple of years will long be remembered as…

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Tweed Valley Trail launches day and night runs

DAY and night runs are being organised on the Tweed Valley Trail. Off-road five-kilometre, 10-kilometre, and 20-kilometre routes will be offered during the day on 1 October, followed by a 10-kilometre “nightfall” run at 6.30pm with head torches. The routes will include a “100-metre arboreal avenue of light and sound effects”. Neil Dalgleish, event director…

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Royal National Mòd to begin by torchlight

A TORCHLIGHT procession through the streets of Perth will kick off the Royal National Mòd on 14 October. Organisers expect hundreds of visitors to attend the event, which will feature around 60 torches. The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and District Pipe Band will lead the procession, which is due to begin at 6.30pm. James…

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Brian Cox and Alan Cumming back King’s Theatre rescue bid

ACTORS including Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, and Gabriel Byrne have backed a campaign to save the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. The theatre is closing for a £25 million redevelopment. But the cost of the work has risen by 20-30% due to inflation and so Capital Theatres, which runs the site, is calling for increased funding,…

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Scottish fish skins turned into ‘leather’ wallets

FISH skins from Dunkeld Smokehouse are being turned into wallets to raise money for wild salmon conservation. Antonia Gillett, 28, has opened Felsie, which is the UK’s first dedicated fish skin “tannery”. Gillett is turning the left-over fish skins with the scales removed into a “leather”, from which she then makes wallets and cardholders. She…

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Watch out for the ‘Money Mule Man’ in Edinburgh

IF THE “Money Mule Man” approaches you in Edinburgh tomorrow then just say “No” – and you could win £100. Comedian Paul Black has teamed up with Royal Bank of Scotland-owner NatWest to warn people about the dangers of becoming a “money mule”, when a criminal asks you to channel money for them through your…

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