New Naked Malt Garden set to open next month in collaboration with Underbelly and top local bars

As the world’s largest arts festival is set to return to Edinburgh, Naked Malt will launch the city’s best kept secret cocktail garden complete with sipping stations and Instagrammable delights this August.

An official sponsor of Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022, Naked Malt has created an immersive drinks den called the Naked Malt Garden, located in the legendary Bristo Square serving signature cocktails from some of Edinburgh’s most sought after bars including Top 50 cocktail bar in the UK – Hey Palu and the innovation-driven Superico. 

Launching on August 3rd, the picturesque garden embodies an urban summer in the city with a vibrant backdrop of oranges, refreshing lemons and of course, whisky. Encouraging guests to drink whisky their way. 

Designed specifically to encourage you to savour those little moments in life, the pop up embraces Naked Malt’s ethos to “Live Naked” – celebrating those shared moments with friends. The garden itself  is full of Instagrammable highlights including a striking Live Naked vibrant wall, a standing ‘Sipping Station’, along with comfortable seating and a relaxed outdoor vibe.

Popping up at the Med Quad area in Bristo Square,  right next door to McEwan Hall for four weeks from 3rd – 29th August, The Naked Malt Garden will bring the very best whisky cocktails to the city centre during the highly anticipated return of Edinburgh Fringe.

The whisky brand has collaborated with expert bartenders from two of Edinburgh’s most respected bars Hey Palu and Superico, to create specially crafted whisky sours. 

On the menu, you’ll find three exclusive Naked Sours including their signature Cloudy Apple Sour, alongside an imaginative Tropical Tuesday serve made by Hey Palu (above).

This contemporary drink sees Naked Malt whisky expertly mixed with a homemade passion fruit syrup, a blend of pineapple and lemon juices alongside Orgeat for that ultimate summer drink. 

Meanwhile, top bar Superico has crafted The Superico Sour which offers a sophisticated twist on a classic sour which blends Naked Malt whisky, Coconut liqueur, Miso Pineapple Syrup and Lemon Juice. 

The Naked Malt Garden will be the perfect spot to enjoy expertly made whisky sours and encourage Edinburgh Fringe visitors to #LiveNaked this summer.

Emily Stephenson brand manager at Naked Malt said: “Taking over an iconic location, we’re excited to reveal The Naked Malt Garden, in collaboration with some of Edinburgh’s top bartenders, just in time for the return of the biggest arts festival in the world. 

“Edinburgh in August is a sight to behold, and we can’t wait to welcome guests from the city and beyond to enjoy some very special Naked Sours. 

“We’re eager to ensure the spotlight stays on the city’s local bars during the Fringe and that they reap the benefits of the huge influx of tourists into the city,  which is why we’ve collaborated with the incredible teams at Hey Palu and Superico, to design their very own Naked Malt cocktail.

“Their skilled bartenders have concocted some truly delicious drinks, inspired by Naked Malt’s ethos to Live Naked – celebrating the little moments when we can get back to our real selves.”

Family-run Italian cocktail bar Hey Palu has gained a cult following since arriving in the city, recognised as one of the Top 50 cocktail bars in the UK, with their modern cocktails and friendly atmosphere.

A design-led cocktail bar, Superico were crowned winners of the best ‘Bar, Club & Lounge’ at the Hospitality Design Awards in New York in 2021, the only venue outside of the US to be shortlisted. Led by Mike Lynch, a multi-award-winning mixologist, the venue has delighted visitors to the city with its show-stopping food and innovative cocktails. 

The Naked Malt Garden opens on August 3rd until August 29th and runs daily at Bristo Square from 10am until 1am – Sunday to Thursday, and from 10am-3am on weekends.  Strictly for over 18+s. Free entry. 

Follow Naked Malt on Instagram or visit website for more information

Eddie Izzard is announced Patron of Fringe charity

Eddie Izzard has been appointed as the first alumni Patron of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

As our first Patron, Eddie will represent the idea that the Fringe Society is the charity that underpins the Fringe and supports the Fringe to fulfil its vision to ‘give anyone a stage and everyone a seat‘. 

In 1981, while studying Accounting and Financial Management at Sheffield University, Eddie first came to Edinburgh, and the Fringe, with a vision of emulating her Monty Python heroes who had all played there, but it took her 10 years to get shortlisted for the Perrier Comedy Award in 1991 (now the Edinburgh Comedy Awards).

Eddie performed at the Fringe twelve times over thirteen years to get her career to take off – in sketch comedy, street performing, and finally in stand-up comedy.

Eddie is now recognised around the world, having played in forty-five countries, in four languages, and in venues like Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl.  She has also acted in such diverse Hollywood films as Ocean’s Twelve and Thirteen, Six Minutes to Midnight, Valkyrie, Victoria & Abdul, Whisky Galore and The Lego Batman Movie, as well as Sky’s hit drama Stay Close.

Winner of both Primetime Emmy and International Emmy awards, and nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor, Eddie is a global champion for creativity, and a vocal supporter for those starting out.

Eddie Izzard said: “The Edinburgh Fringe gives people from all around the world – a wonderful, open door opportunity to perform and be seen.  But it is also physically and mentally as tough as hell.  It took me eight Fringe festivals to start breaking through, and ten festivals to finally arrive! 

“But the Fringe Festival taking place in the dramatic and historic capital city of Edinburgh gives it something else.  It gives it grandeur.  It is this grandeur, coupled with young people’s intense creative struggle, that has made the Edinburgh Fringe what it is today.  A legend.”

Shona McCarthy, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chief Executive, said: “Eddie’s enthusiasm and passion for what the Fringe represents is inspiring, and she speaks from the heart and personal experience of its challenges. We are delighted to welcome her as a Patron of the Fringe Society. 

“As someone who has performed at the Fringe since the 80s, she has experienced the festival as an emerging artist, as a street performer, and as a returning performer at the top of her game.

“As an organisation created to support artists in navigating, and maximising their time at the Festival, Eddie’s involvement, through her role as Patron, will resonate with many looking to develop their careers.  It is a privilege to have Eddie on board, supporting the work of the Society and working with us to achieve our Fringe development goals and commitments.”

Yesterday’s announcement follows the 2021 appointment of Phoebe-Waller Bridge as the Society’s first honorary President.

In the coming months we will recruit a range of patrons from our Fringe alumni to join Phoebe and Eddie in championing the Fringe vision and development goals.

We want the Edinburgh Fringe to be the best Festival in the world for artists and audiences alike, and it is both welcome and necessary to have the support of brilliant Fringe alumni to help make that happen.

Healthy Tip: Staying Hydrated This Summer

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Staying Hydrated This Summer

Staying hydrated is important for keeping your heart and circulatory system healthy. Thirst often feels similar to hunger, so drinking plenty of fluid can prevent over-eating and weight-gain. We have some tips to help you stay hydrated:

  • Am I dehydrated?

Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. If your urine is pale and clear then you are hydrated. If your urine is more yellow, brown or dark in colour with a strong smell, you are probably not drinking enough.

  • How much should I drink?

Aim to drink six to eight cups or glasses of fluid every day. You may need to drink more during hot weather, or if you are doing a lot of physical activity.

  • What should I drink?

Water is best, but if you don’t like water, you could try herbal teas or sugar-free squash. Coffee and tea also count, but try to cut out any added sugar.

You can get water from fruit and vegetables, such as cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, oranges and apples. Avoid drinking too much alcohol as it causes you to urinate more, which can lead to dehydration.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

More than 100 online child abuse crimes in Scotland every month Online Safety Bill delayed, NSPCC warns

  • Charity urges next Prime Minister to keep the promise made to children and families and commit to passing Online Safety Bill as a national priority
  • NSPCC say children will carry the considerable cost of further delay to social media regulation

More than 100 online sex crimes will take place against children in Scotland every month the Online Safety Bill is delayed, NSPCC research indicates.

The charity’s analysis of Police Scotland crime data found that online child sexual abuse offences had more than doubled over the last decade.

The data shows 1,298 Indecent Image offences and crimes of Communicating Indecently with a Child were logged in the year to March– up from 543 just ten years ago.

The NSPCC said the growth in crimes and the scale of abuse taking place against children should serve as a wake-up call for the next UK Prime Minister to make the Online Safety Bill a national priority.

The charity said it underlines the urgent need for Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to commit to passing the legislation in full and without delay.

It warned the disturbing reality of delay is more children being groomed on their smartphones and tablets, being contacted by offenders in the summer holidays, and coerced into acts of online sexual abuse in their bedrooms.

The landmark Online Safety Bill was due to pass through the House of Commons last week but was postponed until at least the autumn when a new Prime Minister will be in place.

The NSPCC first secured the commitment to regulate social media four years ago in a bid to combat the inaction of Silicon Valley to abuse taking place against children on their platforms.

The legislation would put a duty of care on companies for their users and mean they would have to put measures in place to prevent and disrupt child abuse on their sites and protect children from harm.

The charity is concerned the delay could result in the Bill being watered down despite years of failed self-regulation by tech firms putting children at increased risk.

Frida*, who is a survivor of online abuse, said: “The abuse that I experienced started ten years ago when I was 13. It is sickening that since then the number of young people being abused online has grown dramatically.

“Being groomed has had a horrific impact on my life and I want no other young person to endure that. I know this delay to the Online Safety Bill will see more young people like me experience harm when it could have been prevented, and that is devastating.”

The NSPCC has written to both Conservative leadership candidates saying, ‘delay or watering down of the Bill will come at considerable cost to children and families. It would represent the reversal of an important manifesto commitment that commands strong levels of public support’.

YouGov research for the NSPCC found more than four fifths of UK adults think the Online Safety Bill should deliver strong and comprehensive measures to protect children from online child sexual abuse.

NSPCC Chief Executive, Sir Peter Wanless, said: “With every second the clock ticks by on the Online Safety Bill an ever-growing number of children and families face the unimaginable trauma of preventable child abuse.

“The need for legislation to protect children is clear, commands overwhelming support from MPs and the public and builds on the UK’s global leadership position in tackling harm online. Robust regulation can be delivered while protecting freedom of speech and privacy.

“There can be no more important mission for Government than to keep children safe from abuse and the next Prime Minister must keep the promise made to families in the election manifesto and deliver the Online Safety Bill as a national priority.”

Summer holiday booked? Is water safety on your packing list?

With school summer holidays under way for families across the UK, many of us will be counting down the days until we step on a plane for potentially the first time since pre-covid. However, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is asking families if they are up to date on their water safety knowledge.

The charity fears that we will see more tragedies overseas in the coming months, as we have seen in previous years, as families head abroad to enjoy the sun, sea and swimming pools. 

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “Every year during the summer we see a sharp rise in the number of accidental drownings not only in the UK but also with UK citizens abroad.

“Unfortunately we have already this year seen a number of drownings of both adults and children who were enjoying their holiday abroad and we do not want to see any more over the summer period.

“We understand how exciting a summer holiday can be but we want to ensure that families long awaited trips do not turn to the unimaginable for all of the wrong reasons. We are encouraging families to ensure that they take responsibility for their own water safety and enjoy their time on holiday but be safe whilst doing so.”

The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s advice is clear, that those preparing for their summer holidays should ensure the following simple tips are understood by all members of the family:

  1. You are your family’s lifeguard – Lifeguard standards differ outside of the UK and Ireland. Always supervise children and keep them within arms’ length.
  2. Do your research – check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the pool/beach and know what to do and who to call in an emergency.
  3. Do not use inflatables in open water – Inflatable dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard – each year there are a high number of incidents where people on inflatables are blown out to sea. 
  4. Make sure the whole family can swim and knows basic water safety – visit www.rlss.org.uk to take their free, online Lifesaver Lifechanger toolkit.
  5. Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs – find out what local warning signs and flags mean.

Lee continued: “We want to help families enjoy water safely with our summer water safety information.

“We truly believe that people can be equipped with the right knowledge around water safety, and as a result we won’t need to see the fatalities we currently are seeing with accidental drownings both in the UK and abroad.”

For further water safety information visit the RLSS UK website – www.rlss.org.uk.

‘This Is Our Moment’: Birmingham all set for Commonwealth Games 2022

The biggest ever Commonwealth Games and the largest sporting event to be held in the West Midlands will open in Birmingham today ‘on time and on budget’.

Backed by £778 million of public funding, including £594 million from the UK government, Birmingham 2022 is the most significant investment in a major sporting event since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Prince of Wales – accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall – will represent Her Majesty The Queen and officially open the Games at this evening’s Opening Ceremony, taking place at the newly-refurbished Alexander Stadium in front of over 30,000 spectators and an estimated global television audience of over one billion people.

Birmingham 2022 will be the quickest delivered Commonwealth Games in history – ready in just four and a half years instead of the usual seven. It also boasts the biggest para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history and more medals for women than men for the first time at a major multi-sport event.

Birmingham is hosting 6,500 athletes and officials from 72 Commonwealth nations and territories competing in 11 days of sport across the West Midlands. More than one million tickets have been sold for events across the West Midlands from Cannock Chase to Coventry.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson – remember him? – said: “The UK rightly has an outstanding reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be another fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of Britain on a global stage.

“Not only will we be celebrating sporting success, we will also be strengthening the crucial ties between our 72 nations and territories – bringing businesses and governments from across the world together to encourage trade and boost economic growth that will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.

“Good luck to all the athletes competing – let the Games begin!”

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Today the eyes of the world turn to Birmingham. We have an incredible 11 days of sport and I know that fans from across the home nations will get right behind our athletes.

“Beyond the medals won and records broken, these Games will deliver a fantastic legacy – sporting, cultural and economic – for the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands.”

The investment in the Games will create a positive economic and social impact for Birmingham and the West Midlands; including:

  • 40,000 new jobs and volunteering opportunities;
  • A £38 million investment to kickstart a range of innovative programmes in the West Midlands to help those who need the most support to get physically active;
  • A Business and Tourism Programme, supported by £21 million government investment, to attract more visitors and investors to the West Midlands, including a two-week UK House programme drawing global business leaders to Birmingham;
  • A brand new aquatics centre in Sandwell, that will be used by the local people as a state-of-the-art sport and leisure facility for decades to come;
  • The redevelopment of Alexander Stadium to transform it into a world-class sporting facility that will attract future major events to the region;
  • The Birmingham 2022 Festival – the biggest celebration of creativity ever staged in the West Midlands with free events open to the public.

President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Dame Louise Martin said: “These Games have been four and a half years in the making and Birmingham has done an incredible job, overcoming challenging circumstances, to prepare for the biggest ever Commonwealth Games.

“I’m absolutely delighted that over 1 million people will be attending and more than a billion people watching around the world to share in the excitement. I have no doubt that Birmingham 2022 will be a spectacular Games for the host city, and the Commonwealth.”

Birmingham 2022 Chief Executive Ian Reid said: “Over the coming days, all eyes will be on Birmingham and the West Midlands, as we host the 22nd Commonwealth Games. After many years of hard work, I am delighted to say that we are ready and are looking forward to welcoming athletes and spectators from around the world to the region.

“These Games will play host to the largest sporting programme of any Commonwealth Games and for the first time will see more medals awarded to women than men. Over the coming two weeks, we will be able to showcase the very best that we have to offer.

“Now is the time to celebrate our city and region. This is our moment.”

Over one hundred vehicles stopped during careless driving campaign

Over one hundred vehicles were stopped as part of a Police Scotland five-week long road policing initiative to combat careless driving.

During Operation Tramline, which was carried out between Tuesday 26, April, to Thursday, 26, May,2022 a total of 78 cars, 44 LGVs and two motorcycles were stopped by officers using an unmarked HGV cab

The HGV cab was deployed on dual carriageways and motorways in Fife, in and around Edinburgh, and in the Forth Valley area.

As a result 138 offences were detected. Of these 58% (80) related to mobile phone offences, 14.5% (20) to seat belt offences, 4.3% (6) to careless or inconsiderate driving and 23.2% (32) to other road traffic offences. (Please note some drivers committed more than one offence)|

These included a 23-year-old woman seen driving in lane two of the M90 Queensferry Crossing eating cereal from a bowl as she drove southbound. She was fined £100 and had three points added to her licence.

On the Edinburgh City bypass a HGV driver was found to be using both hands on his mobile and steering with his forearms, clearly not in control of his vehicle. He received a £200 fine and six penalty points.

On the M90, southbound a 37-year-old woman was given a £100 fine and three penalty points for driving while using her laptop.

Road policing officer Tom Aitken said: “Keeping all road users safe is a top priority for Police Scotland and Operation Tramline was set up to help us to reduce the number of road casualties we see on a day to day basis.

“I cannot emphasize enough that drivers should be in control of their vehicle at all time. Eating your breakfast or using a mobile phone or laptop is clearly a major distraction.

“A split second lapse in concentration could result in a crash which can cause serious injury and even death. I would urge all road users to be aware and to stay safe. Road crashes can cause devastation for all those involved.”

Springboard into diving

Diving taster sessions at the Royal Commonwealth Pool

With Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games kicking off today, with diver James Heatly who trains at the Royal Commonwealth Pool with coach Jen Leeming, taking part, Edinburgh Leisure is on the hunt for the next generation of divers.

For those who have been inspired by divers such as James Heatly, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (daughter of Fred!), Tom Daley and Matty Lee, Edinburgh Leisure is offering the opportunity for children to come and try diving with their Performance Diving Coaches at the Royal Commonwealth Pool to see if they have a talent for the sport.

Children should be between 5 and 16 years old, able to swim 10 metres unaided, confident in deep water and submerge in water without googles.  No experience in necessary as they will be learning basic skills but those interested in gymnastics, trampolining, acrobatics or similar sports might enjoy this opportunity to try a new sport.

The diving taster sessions cost £3 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool are offered on:

Monday, 8th – Friday, 12 August at 15.00 – 15.25 and 15.30 – 15.55.

To secure a place, interested people should click visit the Edinburgh Leisure website to book:  

https://edinburghleisure.bookinglive.com/home/holiday-dive-coaching

Edinburgh Leisure offers a world class diving programme at their diving pool at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, complete with a dedicated Dry Dive Area with trampolines and harnesses, which enables more experienced divers to practice the twists and turns before trying them out on the boards. Their diving programme follows the National Diving Award Scheme right through to competitive level.

Athletes training at the Royal Commonwealth Pool include local Edinburgh boy, James Heatly (GB) and Yona Knight-Wisdom (Jamaica). Grace Reid, who grew up in the capital, previously trained at the Commie.

For more information:   https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/dive

Environmental campaigners call for action this Earth Overshoot Day

Today (28 July) marks Earth Overshoot Day – the day when humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds what the Earth can generate that year. In Scotland, our consumption of materials is more than double our fair share of the Earth’s resources.

Scotland’s material footprint is 18 tonnes per person. Experts suggest that we can live sustainable, high quality lives with eight tonnes per person, by moving to a circular economy where materials are reused and recycled as much as possible.

The Scottish Government is currently planning a law to support the creation of a circular economy in Scotland, where materials are properly valued and cycled around our economy for longer by increasing recycling, reusing and repairing.

Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “It’s shocking and distressing that we’ve reached Earth Overshoot Day so early in the year. Scotland is not doing nearly enough to reduce our use of materials to sustainable levels. We need to make significant changes to the way we use materials – and fast.

“Right now, we have the opportunity to create a  future within planetary limits with the introduction of a new circular economy law. Targets to reduce our consumption to sustainable levels must be at the heart of the new law. The Scottish Government must be bold and embed circularity throughout all of Scotland’s  economic sectors and every level of government.”

Find out more about what Friends of the Earth Scotland wants to see in the circular economy law and share your views at www.act.foe.scot/circulareconomy

THE SHOW THAT PUTS THE JOKE IN WOKE!

Gabby Killick’s new comedy show Game of Thongs is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe

Award-winning comedian Gabby Killick is set to debut her new show Game of Thongs at the Edinburgh Fringe where she’ll take a hilarious frolic through the modern-day jungle of sex, drugs and cancel culture.

It’s the show that puts the joke in woke with Gabby speaking what others dare not say. It includes her viral pandemic anthems Masturbation in Isolation and Pose and tells the social media generation the truth they don’t want to know, at least not from one of their own.

Performing at the Wee Coo in the world-famous Underbelly George Square tent, the hour-long show will run from 3rd to 29th August* at 7:20pm. It comes with a cast of extraordinary characters from ‘The Apps’ to ‘Shocking Diseases’ and every minute is mesmeric.

Gabby Killick’s previous show was voted one of the Top 3 at the Funny Women Awards and Gabby was described by the Edinburgh Evening News as “one of the most authentic voices of her generation.” Gabby’s shows have also featured in both Time Out and GQ Magazine’s 10 Coolest Things To Do In London. 

Game of Thongs is brutally honest, offensive, hysterical and unapologetically about to cause a storm at this year’s Fringe.

Gabby says, “Everyone is so obsessed with cancel culture that, in the social media age, few dare to tell the truth. The great thing about comedy is that it gives us a platform to explore taboos and say it like it really is.

“Game of Thongs is offensive and shocking but it is also hilarious. The characters are a reflection and commentary on the darker aspects of our society in this digital age. I wouldn’t advise coming if you’re easily offended.”

Gabby first played the Fringe back in 2014 and since then has worked on a variety of stage and film projects and has begun releasing her comedic songs on Spotify and YouTube.