A special 120th Anniversary Tasting Menu will be showcasing at Dean Banks at The Pompadour restaurant in Edinburgh to celebrate its culinary legacy, featuring reimagined classic dishes from vintage menus dating back over a century
Available for the month of July, the 8-course £65 tasting menu includes dishes blending historical authenticity with Banks’ modern techniques and handpicked Scottish ingredients
Dean Banks, the renowned Scottish chef and restaurateur, is honouring the rich culinary legacy of The Pompadour restaurant with a special 120th Anniversary Tasting Menu.
Launched on Monday 1 July and available until Wednesday 31 July, this unique dining experience coincides with the highly anticipated relaunch of the iconic Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh hotel.
The 120th Anniversary Menu pays homage to the storied history of The Pompadour, one of Edinburgh’s most celebrated dining establishments. Chef Banks and his team have meticulously researched and recreated their own classic dishes from vintage menus dating back over a century, reinterpreting them with Dean’s signature modern flair.
Dean Banks said: “”I would never have imagined when I was a young boy I would become part of this famous restaurant’s history, and here I am creating a menu for its 120th anniversary.
“I can only wish that in another 100 years there is another chef standing reading my menu looking for inspiration.”
The multi-course tasting menu features reimagined classics like prawn cocktail, sole veronique, stuffed poulet with Waldorf salad, and, for dessert, the historical Peach Melba. Each dish is a masterful blend of historical authenticity and contemporary techniques, showcasing the finest blend of high-quality Scottish ingredients.
Priced at £65 per person, the 120th Anniversary Tasting Menu comprises an eight-course tasting menu including:
Classic canapés
Bread selection with whipped beef fat
Prawn cocktail
Sole veronique
Mosaic of rabbit
Scottish native lobster (supplementary cost)
Stuffed poulet with waldorf salad
Peach melba
Sacher torte a la Pompadour
This year marks a transformative year for the iconic hotel, which will receive significant investment to extend the offering, increasing its capacity to over 300 rooms by early 2026 and making it one of Edinburgh’s largest leading hotels
The 120th Anniversary Menu at Dean Banks at the Pompadour is a truly unique opportunity to experience the rich heritage of one of Scotland’s most iconic dining destinations, reimagined through the lens of one of the country’s most celebrated chefs.
Experience this unique culinary journey through time by making a reservation for the 120th Anniversary Tasting Menu at Dean Banks at the Pompadour.
Book your table today by calling 01738 718387 or visiting www.deanbanks.co.uk.
National Galleries of Scotland is celebrating the acquisition of a painting by one of Scotland’s most accomplished female artists, Bessie MacNicol (1869–1904). The Lilac Sunbonnet,created in1899, joins the national collection and is free to visit in the new Scottish galleries at the National.
This bright, sunny painting acquired for the people of Scotland is incredibly rare. Many of MacNicol’s works were dispersed or lost following her tragic death in the late stages of pregnancy, aged just 34. In recent years there has been strong competition to acquire the precious few artworks by this talented artist which remain in private collections, making this an exciting addition to the national collection.
National Galleries of Scotland is determined to celebrate such pioneering female Scottish artists and in recent years has made a concerted effort to acquire more of their works.
In the lead up to the opening of the new Scottish galleries in September 2023, a significant number of watercolours, drawings and prints by Scottish female artists active before 1945 were added to the collection.
They include important groups of works by Phoebe Anna Traquair and Mabel Royds, and single artworks by Ethel Gabain and Alice Boyd. Pre-20th-century oil paintings by female artists, such as MacNicol’s The Lilac Sunbonnet, are generally not widely represented in museum collections and don’t often come on to the market.
The challenges faced by women wishing to train, exhibit and make their living as artists, have meant that their work has often been overlooked and their histories poorly recorded.
The Lilac Sunbonnet is a joyous painting of a farm girl in the countryside, dressed in light, summery fabrics. MacNicol successfully captures a feeling of spontaneity and playfulness. Her lilac-coloured sunbonnet, blonde hair and light-coloured clothing are skilfully illuminated by bright, dappled sunlight.
The Lilac Sunbonnet joins two very different works by MacNicol in the collection, a small oil painting, Portrait of a Lady (‘Phyllis in Town’) which is also on display at the new Scottish galleries and a fabulous watercolour, Three Ladies of Fashion, which probably depicts a milliner’s shop.
MacNicol may have been inspired by the 1894 runaway bestseller, The Lilac Sunbonnet, by Scottish novelist Samuel Rutherford Crockett (1859–1914). Set in the Galloway countryside, the story tells of the romance between a prim divinity student called Ralph Peden and the golden-haired Winsome Charteris, granddaughter of a local farmer and owner of the lilac sunbonnet.
Crockett’s book was hugely popular in the 1890s and even inspired costumes at the fancy dress parties that were fashionable at this time. It must have captured the imagination of MacNicol, who loved costume and fashion – an interest she inherited from her grandfather, a skilled tailor.
MacNicol studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1887 to 1893 under the groundbreaking directorship of Fra Newbery.
This is where she met fellow artists Margaret and Frances Macdonald, Jessie Keppie and Katharine Cameron, part of the fascinating and diverse group of women artists and designers that has become known as the Glasgow Girls.
In 1893 MacNicol exhibited at the Royal Academy in London before undertaking further studies at the Académie Colarossi in Paris. Contributing almost annually to the Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts exhibitions, she began to attract attention and also had her own studio, on St Vincent Street at the heart of Glasgow’s thriving art world, in the 1890s.
Her friend, the art critic Percy Bate wrote: ‘Art lovers at once saw that in Bessie MacNicol a new artistic force had arrived in Glasgow’. From 1896 MacNicol made several visits to the artistic town of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, where she became friends with Glasgow Boy EA Hornel.
An established Glasgow-based artist, MacNicol exhibited internationally – in Ghent, Munich, Vienna, Pittsburgh and St Louis – before her early death in 1904.
At the time of her funeral, the Glasgow Herald noted: ‘So brilliant was her work and of such promise that it is felt that her premature death has robbed Scotland of one who would have left a name worthy to rank with the best of her artist sons.’
In 1908 the new director of the National Galleries of Scotland, James Caw, considered MacNicol to be ‘probably the most accomplished lady-artist that Scotland has yet produced’.
Dr Patricia Allerston, Deputy Director & Chief Curator of European & Scottish Art, National Galleries of Scotland said: “Bessie MacNicol’s light-filled painting ‘The Lilac Sunbonnet’ is like a dose of vitamin D on a dreich day.
“It instantly lifts the spirits! We are absolutely delighted to add this lovely painting to our new Scottish galleries at the National.”
Anne Lyden, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “The Lilac Sunbonnet by Bessie MacNicol is a fantastic addition to Scotland’s amazing national collection of art.
“It’s a beautiful painting by an incredibly talented Scottish artist, and we’re really happy that everyone will be able to enjoy it for free at the National.
“We’re proud to continue to increase representation of works by women across our galleries, and have been making a considerable effort to acquire works by a diverse range of artists.
“These important artworks mean we can not only look back on Scotland’s past and remember our history, but we can also look to the future and the generations that will be inspired by artists such as Bessie MacNicol.”
Bessie MacNicol’s The Lilac Sunbonnet, 1899 was purchased with funds from the Cowan Smith, MacDougall and Treaty of Union Bequests, 2024.
Audiences can see it for themselves with 50% off Preview Night tickets on sale now
Scottish musician Nathan Evans has revealed his pride after discovering his hit ‘Wellerman’ will be part of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this summer.
The 29-year-old shot to fame when the sea shanty went viral across TikTok in 2020 which led to a record deal and a Number 1 single in several countries.
Now it has been revealed that the famous track will form part of the Tattoo performance, with His Majesty’s Royal Marines Band taking it on, alongside some traditional navy tunes and sea shanties.
Nathan said: “What an incredible honour to have my song featured as part of the Tattoo.
“Growing up in Scotland, I think the Tattoo is something you’re always aware of and feel that sense of pride about so to have my song included is a real pinch-me moment.
“Since I released Wellerman, things have obviously changed dramatically for me but this is the icing on the cake and I can’t wait to see the song come to life as part of the amazing performances this summer.”
This year’s Tattoo performances will run from 2-24 August, with guests from around the world coming to experience the Journeys Show.
For fans eager to see the special performance of Wellerman alongside other world-class acts from across the globe, special preview night tickets are on sale from TODAY Monday 24 June, with up to 50% off standard ticket prices.
Journeys will celebrate the journey of connection through music, dance, culture, and military traditions.
The Show will be the third under the Tattoo’s bold brand proposition, Performance in a New Light, and will follow the successes of the last two years shows, Voices and Stories, under creative Director Michael Braithwaite Journeys merges the traditional military elements that the Tattoo is known and loved for, with modern touches through creative projection, technology, costume design and music inspirations.
Michael Braithwaite, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, says “While the Tattoo has a proud history of the very finest world-class military and civilian performances; innovation and Scottish culture have also been a core tradition of the show since its first days.
Nathan’s much-deserved success and passion for Scottish music represent everything we hold dear at the Tattoo. He has taken a 19th century sea shanty and brought it to the modern era to great acclaim. We are thrilled to be presenting Wellerman, as a feature with the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, our lead service, and a highlight of the journey our audience will embark upon this year.”
The Castle Esplanade will be filled with over 800 international performers from far and wide to showcase their epic journey, through vibrant dance, music, visual artistry and so much more.
Expressing their unique cultures, this Show will host talents from the USA, India, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and homegrown acts from around the UK. Through an artistic odyssey, expect a wide variety of enthralling action featuring world-leading talent.
With the Royal Navy as lead service, the Show will pay homage to the seafarers that brave the ocean to travel across continents bringing people and cultures together
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone, 0131 225 1188. The Show will run from 2-24 August 2024, with Presenting Partner, Innis & Gunn, offering a bar service at the event.
Tickets for 2025’s Show celebrating the 75th Anniversary of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will go on sale in August during Journeys.
Celebrate the spirit of British summer sports with The Caledonian Edinburgh’s latest afternoon tea, featuring a variety of innovative sandwiches such as Squash, Chilli & Coconut Quiche; Hoisin Duck Crème Fraîche Wrap; and Steelhead Smoked Trout & Pear Chutney.
The pastry chefs have hit it out of the park with selections including the baseball Yogurt & Mango Compote Macaron; football Mint Buttercream & Lime Ganache Battenberg; and tennis Coconut Paste & White Chocolate Crunch Pepite – for sport fans and pastry lovers alike.
Standing proudly at the West End of Princes Street, this former Victorian railway building hotel nestles in the shadow of the imposing Edinburgh Castle. Its reputation for style and excellence has attracted generations of locals, internationals, and notable personalities for over one hundred years.
Formerly the station concourse and ticket office, The Lounge represents the historic heart of the Caley – the perfect setting for an unforgettable afternoon tea.
The British Summer Sports afternoon tea is available in The Lounge, The Caledonian Edinburgh daily from 12:30 – 4pm. Gluten free, vegan, and children’s menus are also available. The menu can be viewed here.
Bookings can be made by emailingdining@edinburghcaledonian.comor calling the reservations team directly at 0131 222 8832.
Following on from the success of their pop-up bar two years’ ago, Skyline Sips is returning to level 5, St James Quarter, Edinburgh on Tuesday 25th June 2024.
The rooftop bar is set to offer a range of drinks, including some exciting and exclusive Chambord cocktails and promises breath-taking vistas towards Edinburgh’s historic Calton Hill.
Skyline Sips will also be offering customers hot food and snacks, in partnership with the neighbouring Everyman Cinema.
Situated between Everyman Cinema and Roomzzz Aparthotels, Skyline Sips will be open every day until 8th September 2024.
Michael Donovan, Managing Director, Sips said: “This is our second time up on the roof at St James Quarter. We were here back in 2022 and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. We’re delighted to be back and look forward to a busy summer.
“The feedback we received in 2022 was very positive and we can’t wait to be part of Edinburgh’s bar scene once again. Whether it’s after-work drinks, groups of friends getting together or a romantic date night, we hope that Skyline Sips will become a firm favourite this summer.”
Established in 2016, Sips is an Edinburgh based pop-up bar company that has operated bars at festivals and events including the Royal Highland Show, Fly Festival, Musselburgh Racecourse and the Edinburgh International Festival.
Drag Race royalty Kitty Scott-Claus brought the house down at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Edinburgh, tonight with a fabulously fierce performance at the five-star visitor attraction to celebrate Pride Edinburgh which kicks off this weekend (22ndJune).
The talented queen took to the stage in an all singing, all dancing extravaganza for visitors to the Pride Edinburgh pre-show hosted in the Label Studio, one of the World’s Leading Spirit Experience’s first-class event spaces.
Head to Johnnie Walker Princes Street this Pride weekend to enjoy the best view of Edinburgh Castle in the city, cocktails, mocktails and so much more:
Deacon Brodies Tavern, on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, officially reopened this Spring following an extensive 4-week refurbishment, giving the iconic pub an exciting new look. The pub has been given a facelift while keeping its traditional look and feel inside.
Deacon Brodies Tavern is renowned for that truly authentic Scottish pub experience. Built in 1806 on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, the pub is named after one of the city’s most famous sons, Deacon William Brodie – one of the inspirations behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde.
Guests can tuck into all the pub classics, Balmoral Chicken, Nicholson’s Fish and Chips and Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, as well as a delectable range of hand-crafted seasonal Pies to delight discerning guests.
Along with the new food menu, guests will also be greeted with an extensive drinks menu, boasting a wide selection of craft beers, ciders and new to the menu – cocktails.
Speaking about the refurbishment, Deacon Brodies Tavern General Manager, Taufiq Abdu, said: ‘’Deacon Brodie’s Tavern is an iconic Scottish pub, loved by guests from all over the world who visit us to experience our traditional Tavern atmosphere.
“The restoration works undertaken, including painstakingly restoring our original decorative wooden ceiling ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy a wee dram or two with us for years to come…’’
Following the extensive refurbishment and significant investment made at the pub, fifteen new jobs have been created for the local area, with the team now ready to pour pints and serve delicious food to guests.
For more information about Deacon Brodies Tavern please visit:
POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery at a shop in Gracemount. The incident happened around 9pm last night (Monday 17 June) on Gracemount Drive.
No-one was injured, however a two figure sum of cash was stolen.
The suspect is described as being a man of slim build in his early 20’s. He was wearing a dark blue hooded jacket, tracksuit bottoms, and had a green and white scarf covering his face.
The man was seen running in the direction of Balmwell Avenue.
Detective Sergeant Steven Gray said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious to contact us.
“We also ask anyone driving in the area at the time with dashcam footage to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 3667 of 17 June. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
More than 2,000 daily bike trips on Leith Walk in May, following completion of cycle lanes between Leith and Picardy Place
New traffic data collated by Cycling Scotland, Scotland’s national cycling charity, has revealed how the growing network of cycle routes in Edinburgh is encouraging record numbers of people to travel by bike.
Through May 2024, a daily average of 1,812 bikes were recorded travelling on the cycleway on Leith Walk, with a peak of 2,107 journeys on 30th May.[1]
Demonstrating the significant year-on-year growth in cycling on Leith Walk, a total of 219,070 bike journeys were recorded along the route between January 2024 and the end of May 2024 – almost double the number recorded over the same time period in 2022 (117,969). Data shows that cycling volumes are at their highest during commuting times, indicating many people are using the route for everyday journeys.
Data was captured by an automatic counter located on the cycle path at Picardy Place, one of Cycling Scotland’s nationwide network of counters, funded by Transport Scotland to help measure cycling levels across Scotland.
In addition, a survey organised by Cycling Scotland to monitor traffic over a 48-hour period between 15th and 16th May, recorded that bikes accounted for 9.1% of all journeys on Leith Walk: a level of modal share rarely seen in Scotland.
A person cycling on Melville Street separated cycle lane, part of the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) route in Edinburgh
On the other side of the city centre, Melville Street also recorded a high cycling modal share of 6.4%. The number of cycling journeys in Edinburgh is up 12% compared to May 2023, and up 19% compared to May 2022.
The sustained growth in bike journeys seen on Leith Walk comes after the completion of fully separated two-way cycle lanes along the 2km route, as part of the Trams to Newhaven project, connecting communities in Leith and Edinburgh’s city centre. The route was developed by City of Edinburgh Council, with funding from the Scottish Government.
The route has also recently connected to the newly opened 4km City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), which runs from Roseburn to Picardy Place via Haymarket Train Station, and is already seeing increases in cycling.
Leith resident Elspeth, who uses the Leith Walk and CCWEL routes to cycle to work in Edinburgh Park several times a week, said: “I use the Leith Walk cycle lanes regularly – for travelling to work but also for lots of other shorter journeys, like popping into town or visiting friends.
“The separated cycle lanes have made my bike journeys so much more relaxed, and thanks to CCWEL, it’s now almost completely on separated cycle lanes. It means I can go whatever pace suits me without feeling rushed with traffic on my tail.”
“I love how it gives me independence and allows me to get about town. I find getting around by bike is great for my physical and mental health, and I love the passing waves and nods from other people on bikes in the morning!”
People cycling on Leith Walk
Rowan Simpson, Monitoring and Development Officer at Cycling Scotland, said: “It’s really encouraging to see more than 2,000 people are cycling on Leith Walk each day – yet more evidence that where Scotland builds networks of connected cycling routes, separated from vehicle traffic, more people travel by bike.
“We know that road safety is the single biggest barrier to more people cycling, and the early success of Leith Walk and City Centre West to East Link underlines the critical role of safe, convenient, separated cycle routes, if more people are to choose cycling for short and medium journeys.”
“The new cycle routes make it possible to cycle to Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket stations more safely, supporting multi-modal journeys by bike and public transport and helping more people to choose sustainable transport.
“With transport the largest source of carbon emissions in Scotland, we need to help more people to cycle, walk and wheel safely. Investing in dedicated, separated cycling lanes, limiting polluting traffic growth and helping everyone to access bikes, training and bike storage are all key actions to reduce our climate impact and improve health.”
Person cycling southbound on Leith Walk
Transport and Environment Convener of City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Scott Arthur, said: “These are really exciting counts that showcase the significant growth in cycling on Leith Walk following completion of the Trams to Newhaven project and the connection with the recently opened City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL).
“The Leith Connections project will be continuing the segregated cycle infrastructure and public space improvements, from the Foot of the Walk northwards, first to Commercial Street and ultimately to Ocean Terminal in the north, Hawthornvale path in the west and Seafield in the east.
“This improved connectivity, and better active travel and public transport links support our wider ambitions to achieve net zero by 2030 and active travel across Edinburgh.
“Once the Leith Connections project is complete, this improved route will not only provide a safer environment for people walking, wheeling and cycling but will transform the area to create a more pleasant, welcoming space to spend time.”
Person cycling northbound on Leith Walk
Karen McGregor, Scotland Director at Sustrans, added: “Edinburgh residents want to safely and easily get around without needing to rely on a car. This new data shows the demand that can be unlocked by delivering safe walking, wheeling and cycling links like the City Centre West to East Link.
“People in Edinburgh know that every time they decide to travel under their own steam, they are helping their health, our planet and improving the quality of the air we all breathe – and delivering more of these opportunities has support across the city.
“It’s so important to build on the success of projects like CCWEL and deliver even more high-quality, active connections which give everyone fairer, better choices to reach the places they need to.”
