With local government reorganisation looming in England, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed controversially approved delays in 30 council elections in England until 2027.
However Reform UK launched a legal challenge to this decision, and the Government has now been forced to abandon plans to postpone elections after receiving advice that the move could be unlawful.
Florence Eshalomi, Chair of Westminster’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee commented on the Westminster Government’s decision to scrap plans to delay 30 council elections in England:
“I welcome this development. As I argued previously, democracy is not an inefficiency that should be cut out during local government reorganisation process.”
“Councils should not have been put in the position of choosing between frontline services or elections.
“I welcome the indication that the Government will provide additional resources to ensure that local council elections can take place and look forward to seeing more detail on this”.
With the theme of Going Global, Edinburgh Science Festival – the world’s first science festival – takes over the Scottish capital between 4 and 19 April.
First British astronaut Helen Sharman and the nation’s favourite wildlife photographer Hamza Yassin each present a special talk at this year’s Festival at Usher Hall on 12 April.
Science Festival Favourites is a selection of family-favourites workshops and shows presented at the National Museum of Scotland, including Splat-tastic! and Dig Up a Dino.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chairs a panel on First Women of Science which marks the opening of the Festival on 2 April.
Commissioned by the Festival, Dr Gayle Chong Kwan delves deep into museum archives to interrogate the history of the scientific canon with the results presented as large-scale, fantastical sculptures taking over the Grand Gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.
Other big names at the Festival include The OBGYN Mum – Dr Brooke Vandermolen, Dallas Campbell, Prof Catherine Heymans, Dr Deborah Cohen, Marcus Chown, this year’s Edinburgh Medallist – Dr Kay Redfield Jamison and The Great British Bake Off 2020 winner Peter Sawkins and 2023 finalist Dr John Smalley.
World’s first and still one of Europe’s biggest science festivals, Edinburgh Science Festival takes over the city during the Easter break, between 4 and 19 April, with a wide range of workshops, talks, exhibitions and much more, aiming to inspire people of all ages to get hands-on with science.
This year’s theme of Going Global reflects on science as a shared human story: connecting people across countries and continents, joined in scientific breakthroughs and failures, conducting experiments and sharing results. The Festival goes global while also celebrating the local: universities, laboratories, hospitals, schools and cultural spaces.
As Edinburgh Science’s Director and CEO, Hassun El-Zafar put it: “Discovery rarely happens in isolation. It travels, carried forward by many hands.”
He added: “Every year, Edinburgh Science Festival showcases what is possible when science, creativity and international collaboration come together. With this year’s theme of Going Global, our programme highlights the extraordinary work being done across borders to address our shared challenges, challenges that sit at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“From internationally renowned voices such as Britain’s first astronaut Helen Sharman and wildlife storyteller Hamza Yassin to artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan’s powerful exploration of scientific heritage at the National Museum of Scotland, the Festival celebrates how discovery flourishes when ideas move freely around the world.
“International partnerships lie at the heart of Edinburgh Science, whether through joint programming, global scientific dialogue, or supporting the next generation of innovators. This year’s Festival reflects that mission. It offers a platform where researchers, artists, families, and communities can come together to imagine and discuss a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future for all.
“The SDGs remind us that global problems require global solutions, and this programme is our invitation to everyone to be part of that shared endeavour.”
Edinburgh Science is a world expert in producing live science events and the 2026 Festival is the prime example of the power of bringing people together to explore the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering and maths and arts.
The Festival is pleased to continue the fantastic collaboration with the venues around the city, including National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, the Royal Botanic Gardens, The University of Edinburgh, and Dynamic Earth, each presenting a number of science events for children and adults. The Festival is spread across the city and includes 25 venues with new additions for 2026 including Central Hall, SS Explorer and Augustine United Church.
Festival team is also pleased to confirm that 60% of the speakers and artists appearing at this year’s Festival are female-identifying.
2026 KEY PROGRAMME EVENTS:
On 12 April, First British astronaut Helen Sharman shares her unique experience from the historic mission in 1991 aboard the Mir space station in conversation with Earth scientist and former BBC presenter Dr Hermione Cockburn. Helen reflects on the evolution of space exploration – from Tim Peake’s International Space Station mission to private space companies – and the growing international diversity in space programmes. The event takes place on the anniversary of the first person journeying into outer space (Yuri Gagarin, 12 April 1961).
On the same day, wildlife TV presenter and author Hamza Yassin – known to wider audiences for his Strictly Come Dancing win in 2022 – is in conversation with science presenter Siân Bevan, sharing stories of unique experiences and adventures as a wildlife cameraman.
Due to considerable repairs required to the lift in the City Art Centre, the Festival is unable to present its usual programme at the venue but is pleased to run some of our favourite workshops at the National Museum of Scotland instead, under the name of Science Festival Favourites, further expanding the fantastic family offering at the Museum. Starting on 13 April, Science Festival Favourites includes Dig Up a Dino, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Splat-tastic!, Mini-Medics: The Body Show, The Rocket Show and free to access, drop-in Tech Decoded – altogether offering the perfect family outing, getting young sci-curious minds hands on with science.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chairs a panel First Women of Science, celebrating some of the breadth of knowledge and expertise among the female scientists working in Scotland today and in the past. The event officially opens the Festival on 2 April and also features Astronomer Royal for Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans and author of The Edinburgh Seven, Janey Jones.
Commissioned by Edinburgh Science, artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan spent the last several months exploring the archives of various British museums, looking at science as a culturally embedded process shaped by social history, power and omission. The outcome of her research is The Great Instauration, large scale fantastical sculptures and prints taking over the Grand Gallery at the National Museum of Scotland. An Exclusive Viewing of The Great Instauration takes place on 4 April while Artist Tour: Dr Gayle Chong Kwan on 17 April allows audiences a greater understanding of this fascinating commission, hearing directly from the artist. Developed with support from Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festival Expo Fund.
Accompanying The Great Instauration in the Grand Gallery is Science Under the Lens, a hands-on free exhibition for families delving deeper into the lesser-known scientific history of Scotland.
This year’s Edinburgh Medallist is Dr Kay Redfield Jamison, world-renowned clinical psychologist recognised for reshaping global perspectives on mood disorders and their treatment, reducing stigma and expanding public understanding of mental illness. Her contributions have helped to define bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) as a distinct biologically driven illness and to influence the widespread use of lithium in its treatment.
Also an Edinburgh Medal recipient, Dr Jane Goodall was a remarkable ethologist, environmentalist and activist widely known for her 65-year-long study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, who passed away in October 2025. Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, Goodall was a remarkable example of courage and conviction, working tirelessly throughout her life to raise awareness about threats to wildlife, promote conservation, and inspire a more harmonious, sustainable relationship between people, animals and the natural world. The Science Festival is pleased to be able to present an event celebrating her legacy and featuring Dr Anthony Collins, whose 55 years working alongside Goodall in Gombe, Tanzania offer an unparalleled perspective, and Jasmina Georgovska, Director of Outreach at the Jane Goodall Institute UK.
The Festival programme is set to mark 300 years since the birth of James Hutton – Edinburgh-born geologist, farmer and thinker who revolutionised our understanding of the ground beneath us – with a walking theatre show at Dynamic Earth exploring his theory of a dynamic Earth.
Additionally, Earth Matters – an exhibition at Inverleith House at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – will feature 30 artists looking into the living ecosystem of soil, its brilliance and beauty.
Also celebrating its 300th anniversary is Edinburgh Medical School. To mark the anniversary, the University of Edinburgh will present Faces of Edinburgh Medical School, an outdoor photography exhibition on the Mound (from 20 March, moving to Portobello’s Promenade after the Festival), which sheds light on people in the past and present who have shaped the School.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Climate emergency
Every year, the Festival presents a rich programme of events highlighting the climate emergency and some of the solutions to help address it. This year, Prof Tim Linton in Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis, takes an optimistic look at positive tipping points which become self-propelling once they gain momentum and make a positive difference, e.g. climate justice movement. In this year’s ARUP lecture, The Future of Water: Working In Tune with Nature, Dr Mark Fletcher outlines our options to restore the balance and address the global challenges of too much, too little or too polluted water. Author of Sink or Swim: How the World Needs to Adapt to a Changing Climate, Susannah Fisher tells the story of the tough choices that lie ahead and looks at ways we still have a liveable planet in an event under the same title.
This year’s programme takes a closer look at women’s health with a couple fantastic events, including medical doctor known to her social media followers as the OBGYN Mum, Dr Brooke Vandermolen debunking myths in Bloody Powerful: The Taboo-busting Guide to Period, Menopause and Everything In-between.
Looking at a global issue using a fascinating example from the remote Himalayas, Doing Science on the Roof of the World explores antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which threatens global health when bacteria stop responding to antibiotics – which is a major issue for Nepalese yaks crossbreeding with cattle.
In Bad Influence – How the Internet Hijacked Our Health, Dr Deborah Cohen examines how social media became our helpline for healthcare questions. Shedding light on the hidden figures who changed the course of medicine and anatomy, Dissected From History takes its audiences on a global adventure through time.
Reflecting one of the most pressing issues humanity is facing in 21st century, technology and artificial intelligence are explored through a range of talks in this year’s programme.
(AI) Life Begins at 50 is a workshop for adults aged 50 or over, led by friendly AI academic researchers. Looking at harnessing the powers of AI for good, Health or Hype: AI in Biomedicine is an interactive event outlining how researchers are using AI in their daily work, e.g. detecting tumours. Truth, Trust and Trickery in the AI Age helps its audiences navigate the tsunami of AI-generated slop and chatbots hallucinations polluting our streams. Going further afield into outer space, AI: The Final Frontier looks at the role AI plays in interpreting the cosmos and in supporting complex space missions while Interacting (with) Galaxies explains the technology helping scientists represent and therefore understand collisions between galaxies.
With half of the Festival programme devoted to the young sci-curious minds, exploring everything from coding and recording your own podcast through to the magic of science and creating your own stage show with the help of AI, to astronaut training and one-of-a-kind cinema experience at a planetarium – there truly is something for everyone!
The below outline focuses on free activities:
Those who have experienced hands-on science in Science Festival Favourites and Science Under the Lens at the National Museum of Scotland can explore more free activities at the Hawthornden Court, including Tackling Food Security: One Potato at a Time looking at the humble potato and how it could be the key to tackling food security. The Quantum Zone explores how quantum technology impacts our everyday lives.
At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, free activities include Plant Passport, exploring some of the 3 million plants in its Herbarium and World of Wonder, delving deep into the Garden’s Living Collection – using VR headsets!
The free programme over at Dynamic Earth includes University of Edinburgh: 7 Days, 100 Scientists, offering a unique chance to meet the bright minds tackling some of the greatest challenges we face – visit the Festival’s website for daily line-ups between 7 and 13 April; Meet the Marine Scientists presents a range of hands-on activities exploring ocean currents and how our climate is influenced by these vast bodies of water; similarly, Meet the Scientists: Heriot-Watt University & Edinburgh Napier University includes activities and demonstrations of the latest research helping mend the world around us – from robots and AI to nature and design.
And then go further afield to other Festival partner venues, including Edinburgh Zoo, to explore what else the Festival has in store for families.
The wide-ranging offer includes a Visit the SS Explorer, a free tour of the UK’s very last steam sidewinder trawler which studied fish stocks, fishing practices and equipment which played crucial role in the fishing industry and developing our understanding of the seas.
Roslin Glen Country Park explores the history of the rocks of Midlothian in The Rocks of Roslin: Swamps and Streams while the National Museum of Flight presents a range of events, including Flying High which looks at the history of Scottish inventions that made international travel possible.
Over at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Dr Suzie Edge guides audiences through the fascinating world of Wee, Poo, Snot! (free to access)
At Panmure House, The Algorithm Adventure explains how our favourite apps always know what we like (free to access). Heriot-Watt University scientists showcase their ground-breaking space research at a hands-on Wonders of Space Family Festival at Archerfield Walled Garden.
In AI for All: Designing Responsibly 2025 at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh researchers offer an insight into Natural Language Processing (NLP), an area of AI underpinning technologies we use every day, such as voice assistants or ChatGPT – how do we ensure they are fair and accountable?
Crossing the borders between STEM and arts, every year the Festival presents a range of exhibitions and events, highlighting the fascinating beauty of the world of STEAM, including a new major arts commission or exhibition.
This year’s The Great Instauration from artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan takes over the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland, showcasing Dr Chong Kwan’s research into scientific instruments, Scotland’s historical connections with slavery, the botanical origins of medicine, infirmaries, and contemporary community gardens in Edinburgh, among others.
At Printmakers, Modern Alchemy explores the similarities and differences between chemistry and art, presented by artist Susan Aldworth in her printmaking. In Sphaerosymphony: The Music of the Air, creative technologist David Oxley and Piera Morlacchi, Associate Professor at The University of Edinburgh invite audiences to listen to the air as their technology transforms real-time air quality data from cities around the world into an immersive visual and musical experience.
Inviting audiences to step into the Botanics’ green pharmacy, Herbology is a new exhibition celebrating 20 years of its contemporary herbology course and the enduring power of plants.
The Great British Bake Off stars, Dr Josh Smalley, 2023 finalist and science communicator, and Edinburgh’s own Peter Sawkins, 2020 winner present two events at this year’s Festival: Giants in the Kitchen: Big Science, Up Close, inviting children to explore the science of baking inspired by colossal creatures like dinosaurs and Bake It Global: The Science of Scotland’s Food and Drink – a mouth-watering tour of Scotland’s iconic exports, from whisky to salmon.
FameLab is back in Scotland with regional finals taking place at the National Museum of Scotland on 10 April. Packed with FameLab’s 3 Cs – content, clarity and charisma – the competition sees best new voices in science, technology and engineering convey scientific concepts to the expert panel of judges and audiences in just three minutes!
In The Science of Origin, a panel of experts including Prof Dame Lorna Dawson of The James Hutton Institute use the examples of organised crime, illegal mining and gold trading to explore the science of provenance and explain how scientists determine authenticity and link objects or people to places, including crime scenes.
Are We Alone? What Faith Says About Extraterrestrials is a fascinating talk from Dr Shoaib Ahmed Malik looking at what the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence would mean for our religious beliefs such as human uniqueness, and asking if non-human beings could be morally superior to us or closer to God than us.
Psychology and human-animal interaction experts uncover the science behind our love for our pets in Why We Love Our Pets while Dr Niamh Shaw shares her truly global adventures in Arctic, Antarctic…and a Dash of Mars.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “The science festival returns this year with an exciting programme entitled Going Global. This will be one of the many highlights of our cultural calendar.
“With a fantastic line-up of speakers and events, the festival reflects the best of Edinburgh as an outward-looking city whilst showcasing he depth of knowledge and expertise we have here in our city.
“There truly is something for everyone to enjoy and get involved with – it’s the perfect way to enjoy the Easter holidays!”
Milestone reached in energy efficiency support scheme
More than 50,000 households across Scotland have received support to live in warmer, healthier homes which are more affordable to heat.
Warmer Homes Scotland, the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme provides essential insulation and heating improvements to people living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty – helping ensure that more households across Scotland can live in warmer, safer, and more energy‑efficient homes.
Since its launch in 2015, the government has invested around £400 million in the scheme, delivered by Warmworks, which has now helped over 50,000 households across Scotland.
Marking this significant milestone, First Minister John Swinney met Warmer Homes Scotland customer Sandra Owen, who received electric storage heaters through the scheme to improve the energy efficiency of her home.
The First Minister said: “Warmer Homes Scotland is central to delivering my priorities for Scotland – helping people with the cost of living and tackling poverty, by providing support to make homes warmer and more affordable to heat.
“The scheme has been hugely successful, having now supported more than 50,000 households around the country – helping reduce fuel bills and ensuring households can benefit from the necessary transition to net zero.
“It is just one example of how my government is delivering for the people of Scotland and helping them keep more money in their pockets. In our budget we are allocating over £330 million to a range of initiatives, including Warmer Homes Scotland, to help everyone install clean heat and energy efficiency measures in their homes and buildings.”
Nicola Mcleod, Warmworks Managing Director, Scotland Division, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be marking this milestone today and celebrating what the scheme has delivered for households across the country with the support of our team, our supply chain and partners.
“That’s 50,000 people and families who are now living in warmer, healthier homes and worrying less about their fuel bills. Those savings will go a long way in helping so many people in their daily lives, but with so many homes still struggling to stay affordably warm, we know there is a huge amount more still to be done.
“We’re committed to working alongside the Scottish Government to ensure that Warmer Homes Scotland continues to support as many households as possible and is able to extend its proven, lasting impact on people and communities across the country.”
Warmworks are the Managing Agent for the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland.
Spokes and Cycling UK are holding a joint election hustings, on Monday 16 March, for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, to hear from Holyrood candidates on cycling and related policies.
Rather than the usual hustings approach, which can be rather boring, our meeting will comprise several sections, with speakers undertaking Initiation, Interrogation, Combination, Clarification and Education, as in the agenda below.
Speakers
All the main parties currently represented at Holyrood have been invited to send along a candidate for an Edinburgh, Lothians or Lothians List seat. So far, we have…
Conservative – awaited
Green – Chas Booth [councillor, Lothians List candidate, councillor, Spokes member]
Labour – Daniel Johnson [MSP, standing again in Edinburgh Southern]
LibDem – awaited
Reform – awaited
SNP – Kate Campbell [councillor, Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh & Tranent candidate]
Time Starts 7.30, Ends 9.30. Doors open 6.45 for coffee, stalls and chat, including a special stall to join Spokes or renew your membership
Online We hope to live broadcast on our youtube channel – confirmation nearer the time – and make the recording available a few days later
Submit a question
If you have a question for all candidates (“Combination” section above) please email it in advance to spokes@ spokes.org.uk with the subject line hustings question. Note that questions to individual candidates (“Interrogation”) can only be asked in person at the meeting, after their Initiation speech.
Background
Check out the Holyrood 2026 manifesto signed by over 60 Scottish organisations, including Spokes. Commitments we’d like to see from parties include 10% of the transport budget going to active travel, and reorganised street space with well maintained, accessible networks of walking and cycling routes.
“A thought-provoking exploration of truth and deceit” – Variety
“an exploration of social norms, as well as cinema and filmmaking itself” – The Hollywood Reporter
“A memorable cinematic experience … this is a film we hope is picked up for distribution, as it’s certainly one that will get people talking” – HeyUGuys “Deliciously absurd”Cineuropa
Giant Films is delighted to announce that the British feature film Think of England, inspired by an enduring wartime urban myth that the UK government commissioned pornographic films to boost troop morale during World War II, will receive its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on 6th March, followed by a screening at Manchester Film Festival on 22nd March.
Set in the summer of 1943 on the Orkney Islands, where the Normandy landings are fast approaching and troops on the front line are increasingly desperate, the film follows an eclectic group of characters, each selected for their own unique skillset, tasked with a top-secret mission: to make pornographic films intended to raise morale ahead of invasion.
As each assignee struggles under the weight of conscience, coercion, and fear, the darkly satirical story examines who draws society’s moral lines, who enforces them, and what happens when they are crossed under extreme pressure.
Directed by BAFTA-nominated British writer-director Richard Hawkins, Think of England explores moral boundaries, power, and performance against the backdrop of war, at a moment in history when the stakes could not be higher. The film interrogates censorship and hypocrisy, asking what happens when deeply held values collide with the demands of survival.
The film, which was shot under the principles of Ted Hope’s NonDe movement, stars Ronni Ancona (Big Impression, EastEnders) as wardrobe and makeup artist. Agnes Duprée, with leading lady Natalie Quarry (Rosalind Clifford in Call the Midwife) as Holly Spurring, and leading man Jack Bandeira (The Gold, Andor) as Corporal Evans, alongside and John McCrea (Olivier award-winner for playing the original title role in ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’) as Captain Anthony Clune.
The cast also includes Ben Bela Böhm (Better Call Saul), Oscar Hoppe (All the Light We Cannot See) and Ollie Maddigan (The Olive Boy).
Lead Natalie Quarry as wartime actress Holly Spurring delivers a bold performance that includes on-screen nudity, a brave evolution from Natalie’s work as Rosalind Clifford in Call the Midwife.
The film treats this exposure with gravity rather than spectacle, using it to interrogate power, coercion, and vulnerability in wartime Britain.Occupying a pivotal position within the film’s provocative wartime narrative, Natalie’s character sits at the centre of its exploration of sexual performance, power, and moral compromise.
Similarly, Jack Bandeira, the film’s leading man, appears naked on screen as Corporal Evans, delivering a performance marked by PTSD,his striking and sometimes harrowing turn is rooted in volatility and loss of control, with moments of stark physical exposure that sit squarely within the film’s darker moral terrain.
Think of England, produced by father-daughter duo Nick and Poppy O’Hagan for Giant Films, is also a controversial film about cinema itself, about how moving images have historically tested, challenged, and redrawn the boundaries of what audiences are willing to see.
Set firmly within its time, the film shines a light on the institutional misogyny and homophobia of the era while allowing its unlikely characters to gesture toward a more tolerant future, reminding us to continually question the sensibilities and censorship of any age, including our own.
The upcoming Glasgow Film Festival screening marks the first opportunity for UK audiences to see the film in a public cinema setting.
Edinburgh’s booming cocktail scene takes centre stage this March as Drinkmonger Spirits Fair returns to Mansfield Traquair on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March 2026, with award-winning local bartenders hosting sessions and sharing practical serves visitors can recreate at home – highlighting growing interest in a broader mix of spirits alongside traditional whisky.
Now in its third year, the event brings together more than 30 producers and over 150+ spirits and mixed drinks, positioning it as Scotland’s largest multi-category spirits tasting. Visitors can explore gin, agave spirits (tequila & mezcal), whisky and rum, alongside vermouths and liqueurs, with Japanese sake and shochu introduced as a discovery highlight for 2026.
The event arrives at a time when drinking habits are evolving, with bars reporting rising interest in cocktails, agave spirits and aperitif-style serves alongside established favourites. Organisers say the show has grown to reflect how people now discover drinks – socially, through bartenders and shared experiences rather than traditional structured tastings.
Organised by the team behind Royal Mile Whiskies – winner of Specialist Spirits Retailer of the Year at the Spirits Business Awards 2025 – and the long-running Whisky Fringe (which sold out in under an hour in 2025), the drinks show combines specialist credibility with a relaxed, accessible format.
Guests can move freely around the venue, chatting with producers and bartenders and trying drinks neat, mixed or in simple cocktails at their own pace.
New for 2026, partner brands have been paired with award-winning Edinburgh bartenders across three sessions each day, including Robert Meek (Bar Manager, Port of Leith Distillery) and Sian Buchan (Co-Owner, Uno Mas). The sessions focus on approachable serves and practical techniques visitors can recreate at home, highlighting the role of local bartenders in shaping drinking trends.
Scottish producers including Pickering’s Gin and North Uist Distillery will appear alongside international brands such as Don Julio, Casamigos, Redbreast and Nikka, with rum producers including Black Tot and Doorly’s also featured, allowing visitors to compare styles across multiple categories in one place.
An on-site festival shop will allow visitors to purchase favourites discovered during the event, with a £10 voucher included with each ticket redeemable against a £40+ purchase at the Drinkmonger Festival Shop on the day, or later at Drinkmonger Bruntsfield, Pitlochry or online (valid until the end of April 2026).
Sam Brabbs, Purchasing Manager at The Dormant Distillery Company, said: “We’ve worked hard over the last few years to make Drinkmonger Spirits Fair feel like the city’s fantastic bar scene under one roof.
“You can wander around, chat to the people behind the drinks, try some cocktails and explore an intriguing range of spirits you might never normally order, and leave with ideas you can actually recreate at home.
“It’s exciting to see it grow into Scotland’s largest multi-category spirits tasting, and we’d love anyone with an interest in spirits to pick up a ticket and come down.”
Held throughout the ornate halls of Mansfield Traquair, the fair is designed as a social day out as much as a tasting experience, showcasing Edinburgh’s bartending talent and giving visitors the chance to explore a wide range of spirit categories in one place.
Tickets are £35 and include tasting access, cocktail sessions, a branded tasting glass and the £10 voucher.
2026 is the year of the Fire Horse. St James Quarter will officially mark the arrival of the Lunar New Year with a vibrant programme of celebrations, inviting visitors to enjoy traditional performances, family-friendly entertainment and exclusive giveaways in the heart of Edinburgh.
Taking place on Saturday 21st February, the celebrations will centre around a spectacular Lion Dance, a much-loved Lunar New Year tradition symbolising prosperity, happiness and good fortune for the year ahead.
Back by popular demand, St James Quarter has partnered with Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Edinburgh for the performances. The lion dancers will journey through the Galleria before arriving at Register Square, bringing colour, movement and energy to the Quarter as they perform to the rhythm of traditional drumming. Visitors can catch the performances at 12noon and 1pm, making it easy to plan a visit around the vibrant festivities.
Alongside the live performances, St James Quarter will be hosting red envelope giveaways throughout the day.
In keeping with Lunar New Year tradition, the envelopes will contain a range of prizes, discounts and special offers from St James Quarter brand partners, giving shoppers the chance to enjoy exclusive rewards while celebrating.
Potential prizes include: St James Quarter giftcards, a £50 Botanist voucher, Moleskine notebooks, bath and body treats from Molton Brown, as well as some beauty favourites including Sol de Janeiro minis.
Anne Ledgerwood, Estate Director at St James Quarter said:“Lunar New Year is an important cultural celebration for many of our visitors and communities across Edinburgh.
“We’re proud to mark the occasion once again with traditional performances and activities that bring people together and add to the sense of atmosphere across the Quarter. We look forward to welcoming guests to join us on 21st February to celebrate the Lunar New Year with friends and family.”
The Lunar New Year celebrations form part of St James Quarter’s ongoing commitment to reflecting and celebrating Edinburgh’s diverse cultural calendar, offering engaging events for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Lovell has opened its South Queensferry development to local young people, recently welcoming 51 pupils from Echline Primary School to the site and supporting work experience opportunities. The education project gives young people a hands-on introduction to construction and the wide range of careers involved in building new homes.
The Crossings is a major mixed-tenure development that will deliver 398 homes, including 100 for social rent in partnership with Sanctuary Scotland, 185 homes for private rent through Sigma Simple Life, 113 private homes for sale by Lovell Homes and 14 commercial units. The development will also support more than 300 local jobs.
The education activity forms part of the ongoing commitment by Lovell to deliver social value in communities where it builds, helping to create opportunities for young people and strengthen pathways into employment.
It comes at a time when attracting new talent to the construction sector is increasingly important, with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimating that Scotland will need to recruit 26,100 additional construction workers by 2028 to meet future demand.
Tony Rankin, Regional Managing Director at Lovell, said: “Construction offers a huge range of opportunities, but too often young people only know about a few job roles in the industry. Opening up our sites like this is about showing them the bigger picture and helping them understand the many different career routes available.
“With Scotland needing to attract thousands of additional workers to the construction sector over the coming years, it’s vital we support the next generation to see the possibilities and feel confident that there is a place for them in the industry.”
As part of the programme, P7 pupils from Echline Primary School were guided through a series of live demonstrations by Site Manager Kevin Kelly from Lovell, including broadband installation, underground pipework and the various stages involved in completing new homes.
The groups also visited a nearly completed home, where they learned about painting and had the chance to try it for themselves.
The tour concluded with a discussion about the wide range of roles involved in delivering new homes, from trades and engineering through to design, planning and project management.
Laura Marshall, P7 teacher at Echline Primary School, said: “This was a fantastic experience for our pupils. Seeing a live site and speaking directly with the team helped them understand how homes are built and how many different roles are involved.
“It’s important that young people are given opportunities like this to explore career paths they might not have considered and it was very inspiring for the children.”
The visit is part of a wider programme of activity by Lovell that engages local schools and young people in South Queensferry. Lovell teams have interacted with hundreds of pupils from Echline Primary School and Queensferry High School through site visits, workshops and career sessions. Additionally, 15 surveying graduates from Hardies, the employer’s agent on the development, visited to learn more about construction operations and live-site working.
Lovell has also supported work experience opportunities at The Crossings, offering real-world experience and helping participants build confidence for future employment.
The experience was delivered in collaboration with Positive Qualities and its Construction Skills Academy, which supports young people in developing essential workplace skills. Through the Academy, participants successfully completed three SQA units ahead of their placement, including the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Health and Safety certificate.
Lovell site teams worked alongside supply chain partners R&M Contractors and Ramsey Electrical to support placements and provide young people with meaningful experiences across various trades.
Conor Watt, Development Manager at Sanctuary, said: “Creating great places to live is about more than building new homes. It’s also about supporting the communities around them and investing in opportunities for local people to ensure the benefits are shared and long-lasting.
!We’re proud to work alongside Lovell on initiatives that inspire young people and help them imagine a future career in construction.”
Post work placement surveys highlighted the real value of the live-site experience and showed measurable impact, including increased workplace confidence and improved understanding of the range of opportunities available within construction. Both work experience participants have since progressed to further education, moving on to college courses following their time at the South Queensferry development.
Sean Siala, work experience student, said: “It was great working on-site, especially gaining practical, hands-on knowledge.
“I really enjoyed the camaraderie. I loved chatting with the electricians and learning from their experience.”
