Tag: Entertainment

Underbelly announces ‘sensational lineup’ for Festival Fringe 2023

Underbelly are thrilled to announce a host of exciting shows for their Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 programme. The stellar line-up includes the best of theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus, musicals, children’s shows and more.

Highlights include:

  • BATSU! the outrageous new late-night comedy experience will replace SPANK! after 20 years in Cowgate.
  • World leading circus company, The 7 Fingers, return to Edinburgh with the world premiere of Duel Reality.
  • Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat in McEwan Hall will be a treat for families as the book comes to life in a new adaptation by The Wardrobe Ensemble, Old Vic and Royal & Derngate, Northampton.
  • Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows returns with the 2022 sell-out La Clique, Peepshow (Club Remix) from CIRCA, the return of Circus Abyssinia’s Tulu and Fringe debuts Lucky Pigeons and Sophie’s Surprise 29th.
  • Direct from Las Vegas, Colin Cloud makes his highly anticipated return home to Scotland with five performances only in McEwan Hall.


Underbelly Cowgate’s new, late night comedy experience is BATSU! Currently a hot ticket in New York and Chicago, audiences join comedy warriors testing their wits to avoid electric shocks, paintballs, giant chickens and other jaw-dropping punishments.

Underbelly Cowgate’s iconic SPANK! finished its incredible 20-year Fringe run last year and now BATSU! will follow in its footsteps, entertaining the late-night Cowgate crowds all festival. Similar to past shows such as Stamptown, and Werewolf Live, BATSU! is unlike anything you’ve seen before. It promises to be the must-not-miss experience of the festival.

The Circus Hub programme is once again full of incredible circus from all over the world. La Clique returns to its spiritual home, the Fringe, after a sell-out 2022 season. Underbelly is proud to present the return of The 7 Fingers to the Fringe, after many years touring the world, with the world premiere of Duel Reality.

Last seen in Edinburgh with the phenomenal Passagers, ‘wondrous acrobatics from Cirque de Soleil spinoff’ (The Guardian), this is circus on a whole new level. Merging passion with danger, two teams compete, the stage becomes an arena and the audience must pick a side.

Also taking centre stage in the Lafayette are Fringe favourites CIRCA with a brand new show Peepshow (Club Remix). Promising an hour of big beats joined by live DJ, playful acts and thrilling acrobatics, Peepshow (Club Remix) is delightfully funny and razor-sharp featuring the best acrobatics on the planet, directed by Circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz.

Direct from Las Vegas, Scottish mentalist Colin Cloud makes his highly anticipated return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for five nights only with brand-new show After Dark, promising to astound, delight and move you in equal measure.

Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat arrives in McEwan Hall to lead the line-up of family shows, adapted for the stage by The Wardrobe Ensemble, Old Vic and Royal & Derngate, Northampton. A proclaimed ‘miaow-vellus treat’ by The Guardian.

Fast becoming a Fringe home for musical hits such as Marlow and Moss’ Six, Fat Rascal’s Unfortunate and Rob Madge’s My Son’s A Queer, the upside-down purple cow, Udderbelly, will welcome the returning five-star musical Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder, in an expanded new version. A hilarious murder mystery musical from the Olivier Award-winning team behind Fleabag, Baby Reindeer and A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad).

Co-Directors of Underbelly, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, said; “Underbelly was born at the Fringe 24 years ago and we’re so excited to return home for another year with a line-up of exceptional shows.

“We’re looking forward to inspiring audiences this summer and once again working collaboratively with leading international companies. See you in August!”

Underbelly will once again span across four fabulous performance hubs; Bristo Square, Cowgate, George Square and Circus Hub on the Meadows. Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe runs from 2nd – 28th August. Festival goers can purchase tickets via the Underbelly website – www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk.

CIRCUS, CABARET & VARIETY

Joining The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality, La Clique and CIRCA’s Peepshow (Club Remix) at Circus Hub is Sophie’s Surprise 29thmaking its Fringe debut, with an interactive circus and cabaret night in the Spiegeltent. Featuring world-leading performers, it’s the nostalgic house party you’ll never forget.

For the whole family, Fringe debut Lucky Pigeons defies gravity to conjure a magical, surreal world where a flock of energetic, curious pigeons dwell. Returning after a smash-hit 2022 run, Tulu, from Circus Abyssinia is an unmissable showcase of superhuman strength blending breath-taking contortion, awe-inspiring acrobatics and mesmerising fire-juggling with a rocking, exuberant soundtrack.

Over in the Udderbelly, Throw Catch Collective, who have graced stages from Las Vegas to Circus Oz, arrive with a pioneering new show. Escalate pushes boundaries to challenge all preconceptions of the art of juggling and create an explosive hour of entertainment.

Over in Bristo Square alongside Colin Cloud, is Britain’s Got Talent’s finalist magician Magical Bones: Soulful Magic – Volume 2 with a limited run of the most awe-inspiring and high-energy magic show you’ll see and returning favourites The Thinking Drinkers Pub Quiz: Fancy Another Round? returning after last year’s sell-out run.

Rounding off the programme is Daniel Cainer’s Jewish Chronicles, an Edinburgh favourite telling stories through song.

THEATRE AND MUSICALS

Cowgate sees a thought-provoking and diverse line-up of debut and returning writing including The Society for New Cuisine which depicts an existential crisis confronting social taboos and questions how far we’ll go to find true satisfaction; Tomorrow is Not Promised, the story of a Black British woman who finds herself homeless and alone after an earthquake; Molly, delving into the night-time world of substance abuse; and Declan, a surreal, queer monologue with a hazy grasp on reality. 24, 23, 22 is a gig-theatre show set in the heat of a moment about scuzzy beats, stolen bags and reversing the flow of time.

George Square hosts 5-star Best Man, a dark comedy about relationships, regrets and a speech that goes off the rails. Bristo Square’s Jersey hosts Sad-Vents, an irreverent, tragicomedy using live-streaming and music in which audiences are encouraged to use their phones throughout! Audiences can also head to Bristo Square’s Box Office to embark on two immersive productions around the streets of Edinburgh, hosted by Agent November – Robyn Yew and Major X Ploe-Shun.

Joining Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder is: Without is an intimate, vibrant and authentic new contemporary musical, telling a story of unlikely friendship, the power of music, and what a ‘home’ truly is; singer-songwriter Connor Morel fronting a live three-piece band in an original gig-theatre show A Lovely Day To Be Online. Rounding out the programme is Fall and Flow, which will awe and inspire combining traditional Asian arts with western physical theatre training and Nobody’s Talking About Jamie, endorsed by the one-and-only Michael Palin as guaranteed to “make you feel better”.

COMEDY

Alongside BATSU! Underbelly’s comedy line-up is a wonderfully assorted collection of work worth celebrating, spanning from heart-warming stand-up to riotous improvisation including Joe Sutherland is Cancelled. Joe is returning to the stage to put the world to rights with a new PR strategy.

Who else to put in the iconic Udderbelly than iconic comedians? Edinburgh Comedy Allstars returns with a host of your favourite comedy names. Every Friday and Saturday join us for the biggest line-up of comedians, with previous names including Joanne McNally, John Bishop, Ahir Shah, Nina Conti, Phil Wang and Fern Brady.

More stand-up comedy can be found with Geoff Norcott (Have I Got News For You) and his new show Basic Bloke, in which he gives his thoughts on our wider society, as well as the return of Bilal Zafar with a show about how his housemate tried to get him arrested five times.

Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Emmanuel Sonubi is back with new show Curriculum Vitae, and 2022 sell-out Ange Lavoipierre is back with Your Mother Chucks Rocks and Shells, an absurd sketch show where it’s always 2am. Returning for limited runs are improv-favourites Austentatious and podcast-hit Drunk Women Solving Crime, and making the jump from online success to the Fringe stage are Tim Murray with a Wicked-ly queer comedy Witches, Joe McTernan: Live Advice that Won’t Change Your Life and Tom Lawrinson’s Hubba Hubba . Alongside this is a host of wonderful female-led comedy, including one-woman shows like Coffee Kid; Eme Essien: FINE PRINT; Sophie Sucks Face, a side-splitting musical comedy; Medico; Charlie Vero-Martin: Picnic; and five-star, sell-out one-woman show Bad Teacher; and a brand new hour from Sooz Kempner for everyone who remembers the year 2000 in Y2K Woman.

Ruby McCollister brings her gothic dark comedy Tragedy, about addiction, fame, obsession, and the ghosts of Shakespearian actors to Cowgate; fresh from Off-Broadway Six Chick Flicks… parodies your favourite movies in one hysterical, fast-paced show; in Bristo Square, Ashley Blaker: Normal Schmormal is a heart-warming stand-up show about the joys of raising children with special needs and award-winning Alice Fraser: Twist, is about the moment you think you’ve got a handle on things and life throws you a twist. Viral TikTok sensations Shoot From The Hip bring their unscripted and downright unforgettable improv comedy and Ireland’s favourite internet comedians make an appearance in An Evening With Michael Fry and Killian Sundermann.

The annual highlight of the Underbelly programme, Underbelly’s Big Brain Tumour Benefit is returning to McEwan Hall; a stupendous evening of comedy in which all Box Office income is doubled and donated to The Brain Tumour Charity.

Don’t miss the improvised murder mystery CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation; award-winning Haus of Dench with Drag Queens vs Vampires and Britain’s Got Talent winner Jon Courtenay with Mental Flavour. Grace Jarvis’ This Is The Last Goldfish That I Am Going To Eat For You; Anesti Danelis’ comedy concert This Show Will Change Your Life; Myq Kaplan’s advice to his past-self in ImPERFECT; award-winning Durham Revue with Death on the Mile; and a hilariously heart-warming show celebrating Guy’s and St Thomas’ Chemotherapy Ward Tom GK: Chemodian.

Also joining the comedy line-up are Mitch Benn: The Point; Alex Franklin: I Must Reach The Summit, Please God I Must Reach the Summit; Finlay and Joe: Past Our Bedtime; Aidan Greene: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Stutter!; Will BF: The Last Gun; Sigmund the Viking: Valhalla Calling; Elliot Steel: Love and Hate Speech; Failed By Design; Troll; Jazz or a Bucket of Blood; Paul Foot: Dissolve with more names to follow.

FAMILY SHOWS

Following a national tour and a summer at London’s Old Vic, stepping onto the McEwan Hall stage is The Wardrobe Ensemble, Old Vic and Royal & Derngate, Northampton’s adaptation of Judith Kerr’s Mog The Forgetful Cat, a ‘miaow-vellus’ musical treat for all.

Mog is a very forgetful cat. She forgets that she has a cat flap, she forgets that she’s already eaten her supper and she forgets that cats don’t have eggs for breakfast every day! But Mog’s forgetfulness might come in handy…

Following their aquatic adventure Splash Test Dummies, the Dummies will be back in town with their original family favourite, Trash Test Dummies. This side-splitting, slap-stick circus-comedy takes the household wheelie bin to new heights and delivers a dump-truck full of hilarity.

Brace yourself for an hour of award-winning, explosive, scientific chaos with The Alphabet of Awesome Science. Join professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge for a thrilling voyage, a tongue-twisting race from A-Z that is equal parts messy, fascinating and gross.

Newcomer to the festival, Who Stole My Hammer?, is sure to be a family favourite with Vikings, villains and mayhem in a journey of Norse mythology and mischievous tales for all ages.

Edinburgh Fringe favourite, Louis Pearl, is back for his fifteenth Fringe year with Amazing Bubble Man. Be amazed by the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy, science and fun to keep you mesmerised.

Hit musical The Stamping Ground returns for Scottish tour in 2023

  • Featuring the iconic music of Runrig, and in the year of the band’s 50th anniversary, the show visits Inverness, Stirling, Edinburgh, Greenock, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Perth from 05 May to 24 June
  • New performers Juliet Cadzow, Robin Campbell, Jenny Hulse, Naomi Stirrat and Ali Watt join returning cast Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter, and Brian James O’Sullivan.
  • Winner Best Music and Sound at the 2022 CATS Awards

The Stamping Ground, the must-see new stage musical featuring the hits of Runrig, one of Scotland’s most beloved and iconic bands, is set to hit the road on a Scotland-wide tour later this year.

An exciting co-production between Raw Material and Eden Court Highlands, the show first premiered in Inverness in July 2022, earning glowing reviews and audience acclaim.

Following the success of last year’s premiere performances The Stamping Ground will now tour to some of Scotland’s biggest stages from 5 May to 24 June 2023. once again opening in Inverness at Eden Court before visiting Stirling (Macrobert Arts Centre), Edinburgh (Festival Theatre), Greenock (The Beacon), Aberdeen (His Majesty’s Theatre), Glasgow (The Kings Theatre), and Perth (Perth Concert Hall).

A heart-soaring musical story about love, life and the land, The Stamping Ground follows the story of Euan and Annie, who return to their rural Scottish community after years away seeking a fresh start with their teenage daughter. But there’s a heatwave in the Highlands and they soon find themselves lost in this once familiar place, now filled with more tourists than residents.

The heart of their community, the local pub, is for sale and tensions are rising about the future of this place they call home. As relationships ignite and smoulder, Euan and Annie find themselves swept into a battle to save the heart of the community. But can they save each other?

Featuring exciting new arrangements of some of Runrig’s most iconic hit songs, including The Greatest Flame, All Things Must Change, and of course The Stamping Ground, the musical shares the soaring power and beating heart of some of the band’s most celebrated music. All of the songs in the show are written by Runrig’s founding members Calum and Rory MacDonald, with 2023 also marking 50 years since the brothers formed the band on the Isle of Skye in 1973.

★ ★ ★ ★ “breathes compelling new life into Runrig’s songs” – The Times

★ ★ ★ ★ “Should be guaranteed a long and joyful theatrical life”- The Scotsman

The production will be bolstered with new cast members joining the ensemble for the tour. They include Juliet Cadzow, (an icon of Scottish stage and screen famous for her roles in the likes of River City and Balamory), Jenny Hulse (who has starred as Amber Murdoch in River City since 2015, as well as hit Netflix film Outlaw King), Ali Watt (a regular performer with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, earning rave reviews for his performances during their 70th anniversary season in 2021), Naomi Stirrat (Grid Iron’s Muster Station at EIF 2022), and Robin Campbell (Magnetic North’s Lost in Music)

They will join returning cast members Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter, and Brian James O’Sullivan. The performers are also joined on stage by musicians John Kielty, Jon Mackenzie, and Stuart Semple to help bring the soaring power of the songs to life.

The Stamping Ground is written by award-winning playwright Morna Young (concept by Alan B. McLeod) with musical direction & arrangements by John Kielty, directed by Luke Kernaghan and with design from Kenneth MacLeod. The creative team includes Simon Wilkinson as Lighting Designer, Garry Boyle as Sound Designer, and Jade Adamson as Movement Director.

Margaret-Anne O’Donnell and Gillian Garrity, Raw Material, said: “Scottish based independent production company, Raw Material are delighted to be touring their hit, feel-good musical, The Stamping Ground, across Scotland in 2023. 

“Audiences in the highlands, both those new to Runrig and lifelong fans of the band united in their appreciation with standing ovations when the show premiered at Eden Court in Summer 2022. 

“If you are a fan of musicals, a fan of live theatre or just looking for a great night out then this is definitely one not to miss!”

Calum MacDonald and Rory MacDonald of Runrig said: “It is so good to see that The Stamping Ground is not only returning to Eden Court but going on a Nationwide Tour.

“There has been such a positive reaction from fans and public alike, with still so many that have not had the opportunity to see it first time around.”

Free Chicken Western coming to Edinburgh next month

Adrenalism Theatre Presents 

The Good, The Bad and The Poultry

Give a man a chicken and he’ll eat for a day, give a chicken a gun and he’ll be the most ‘impeckable’ gunslinger this side of Texas.

Touring Scotland, Spring 2023. 

Adrenalism Theatre are clucking proud to present the first full tour of their chicken western The Good, The Bad and The Poultry.

Taking in venues across Scotland from 18 March – 7 May, this non-verbal exploration of fear sees two cowboy chickens, a turkey  and ‘Hennio Morricone’ (the live poultry band) explore being brave in the face of danger. 

The Good, The Bad and The Poultry is a free, outdoor performance for cowboys of all ages. “The Good” and “The Bad” chicken, along with the dim-witted turkey, find themselves in a typical Western Showdown, over the highly coveted big golden egg. Tensions rise, with all the tropes of your favourite western from a fast-paced chase to a tense standoff, and a musical shootout with everyone’s weapon of choice – handbells. Will our poultry find a way to coop-erate?

Once the precious big golden egg is laid in the perfect place, the peaceful coop suddenly becomes a saloon with a musical barman, seed shots and classic Wild-West interior.

This epic western will roll into town in Giffnock, Fife, Dunoon, Irvine, Arran, Aberdeen, Wick, Edinburgh, Cumbrae, Mull, Hawick, Duns and St Andrews.

Wrap around activities for families will see little cowboys making their own wanted poster, going on egg hunts and more – a whole day of eggcellent fun for all! 

The Good, The Bad and the Poultry is an outdoor, walkabout performance suitable for all ages. A fun, silly show featuring audience participation for all of the family. 

Adrenalism is a recipient of the Creative Scotland Open Project Fund.

Press Kit available to download here

Run Time: 40 mins

Age Recommendation: 4+

https://www.adrenalism.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-poultry

Listings

March 

Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock -18 March

Forgan Arts Centre, Fife – 25 March

Dunoon Burgh Hall, Dunoon – 26 March

April 

Harbour Arts, Irvine- 1 April

Aberdeen City Council, Duthie Park – 6 April

Lyth Arts Centre, Wick – 8 April

WHALE Arts, Edinburgh – 11 April

Millport Community Hall, Cumbrae – 12 April

Mull Theatre, Mull – 15 April

Hawick Museum, Hawick – 22 April

The Beacon, Greenock – 29 April

Arran Theatre Trust, Arran- 30 April

May

Dunsplayfest, Duns – 1 May

The Byre, St Andrews – 7 May

Further Dates to be added

Creative Team

Created By Lewis Sherlock, Andrew Simpson, Ruxy Cantir and Richie Merchant

Produced By Christiana Bissett

Designed By  Fergus Dunnet

Citizen Live: Citizen Ticket launches in-house events promotion arm

Scotland-born online ticketing and livestream events platform, Citizen Ticket, has today expanded its UK and European presence through the launch of a new promotion arm, Citizen Live. 

As part of the expansion, the newly formed Citizen Live will host between 80 and 100 events this year in London, further afield in the UK, and Europe. Tickets for Citizen Live will be sold exclusively through Citizen Ticket, with every ticket sold, 5p goes towards planting trees in the UK – making it one of the most sustainable event ticketing platforms on the market. 

The new promotion arm, Citizen Live, will be led by Harpo Scaini & Alesandro Sforza. Between them, Scaini and Sforza have over a decade of industry experience in creating, producing and selling out shows, and have hosted more than 300 events across the UK and Europe. 

To celebrate the launch, Citizen Live will be hosting a launch event at Amazing Grace in London Bridge on Tuesday 28th March. Scaini and Sforza have secured Emma Noble to help mark the monumental night for the brand.

Tickets for the event start at £13.50 and can be purchased via the Citizen Ticket website. 

Harry Boisseau, Co-founder & CEO of Citizen Ticket, said: “We’re delighted to have Harpo and Alesandro on board and look forward to embarking on this next chapter for the business. 

“Through ticketing thousands of events and analysing the data from Citizen Ticket, we can really get a grasp of what ticket purchasers are looking for and what there is demand for. We’re excited to host a wide range of events over the next year.”

Commenting on the launch, Harpo Scaini and Alesandro Sforza, said: “We share a passion for producing live events and we know that every detail matters. We’re excited to launch Citizen Live and continue promoting a strong line-up of events going forward.”

Citizen Live aims to create an established UK-based promoter that can also operate in Europe. It will tailor a live music product, expand a roster of artists, and venues and create the best live shows. The data and marketing reach of the Citizen Ticket platform will help market the shows and feedback data to help understand the type of shows that there is customer appetite for.

In 2023 Citizen Live will host 80-100 events at a mid-capacity range (200 – 600) with plans to focus on a larger scale, higher production and more ambitious live content within the next few years. 

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay: First Footin’

Your First Footin’ lineup is here! 🎶

Enjoy a trail of FREE entertainment in Edinburgh venues on New Year’s Day, embracing Hogmanay traditions of friendship, food & drink, and live music.

Explore the city, discovering (and rediscovering) some of Edinburgh’s incredible venues, landmark attractions and independent pubs alongside a feast of Scottish artists including Callum Beattie, Swim School and many more! 🤩

See the full schedule and line up at www.edinburghshogmanay.com/event/first-footin/

Live from Covent Garden: La bohème in cinemas this week

THIS week, Puccini’s opera of passion, friendship and heartbreak hits the big screen. On Thursday 20 October 2022, La bohème will be broadcast live from Covent Garden to 900 cinemas in 34 countries around the world.

Puccini’s masterpiece has enchanted audiences since its premiere in 1896, quickly becoming one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide. Richard Jones’ production offers superb lighting by Mimi Jordan Sherin and stunning sets and costumes by Stewart Laing – starting with a freezing garret under the stars, and perfectly evoking fin-de-siècle Paris. A timeless love story, it is both the perfect starter opera for cinema fans, and a treat for even the most seasoned operagoers.

Kevin John Edusei makes his Royal Opera debut conducting a world-class, international cast: American soprano Ailyn Pérez as Mimì; Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez as Rodolfo; Moldovan baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky as Marcello; Australian-American soprano Danielle de Niese as Musetta; British baritone Ross Ramgobin as Schaunard; and British bass-baritone Michael Mofidian as Colline. Encore screenings will run from Sunday 23 October 2022.

Our cinema programme has brought opera and ballet to audiences across the globe since 2008. For the 2022/23 Season, an astonishing 13 productions from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera will be broadcast to more than 1,300 cinemas from the UK all the way to New Zealand.

Each broadcast offers audiences the best seat in the house, and includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and insights into the rehearsal process.

The programme forms an integral part of our plan to secure our future, expand audiences and continue to help facilitate the vital recovery of cinema domestically and internationally.

Virgin Hotels announces brand new all day dining and entertainment venue

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh will open its latest concept Eve on 7th October 

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, the luxury lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, announces its latest concept, Eve – an all-day dining space that will provide an array of food, beverages and entertainment. 

The vibrant social space will officially open to the public on 7th October and is set to perfectly complement Edinburgh’s enviable food and drink scene from morning lattes to lights out. For those eager to get ahead of the crowd, reservations can now be made directly on the hotel’s website at www.virginhotels.com/edinburgh/dine-and-drink/eve/. 

To celebrate the launch, Eve will be offering all guests 50% off food for every reservation made from 7th-29th October and will be putting on a variety of live entertainment seven days a week throughout the month. 

Situated at ground floor level, with an entrance from Cowgate, Eve will hold up to 160 guests and is designed to be a playful environment to eat, drink and socialise in the heart of Edinburgh. With performance being at the core of the history of the Virgin brand, Eve will put on a diverse range of events showcasing the best of both Scottish and international culture. 

From exclusive one-off activations that will firmly put Eve on the map to weekly intimate events including ‘Musical Mondays’, ‘On Demand’ and ‘Live & Unsigned’, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. 

Alongside the lively entertainment, guests can order up a storm with a menu perfect for sharing with friends and family on any occasion whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.

The menu caters to all tastes with everything from small plates – including beef brisket croquettes and Scottish salmon crudo – to large plates offering flat iron steak and charcuterie boards as well as a selection of juicy burgers, hearty sandwiches and refreshing salad bowls.   

The interiors of Eve are like no other. The walls are adorned with floor-to-ceiling unique murals specifically curated by award winning Dutch graffiti artists, Studio Giftig, for the venue. Incorporating themes of space exploration, Scottish history, and Virgin legacy, these distinctive artworks create an immersive space that both celebrates and transcends the area’s rich history.  

Opened until late, guests are encouraged to enjoy a post dinner cocktail from a range of bespoke creations all with locality in mind, helping to bring a sense of Scotland into each of the flavours.

From Park Bench Aperitivos such as Strong-Beau, a nod to the nation’s favourite fruity cider, to twists on classic cocktails such as the ‘Pin-Up’, a reimagining of the Pornstar Martini and East 8 Holdup, the cocktail menu brings some nostalgic flavours firmly into the 21st Century. 

Eve is situated within the newly opened Virgin Hotels Edinburgh located in the landmark India Buildings in Edinburgh’s Old Town, a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle.

The hotel features 222 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites and multiple dining and drinking outlets including Eve and Commons Club, all with their own unique space and distinct design. 

The hotel site is home to a 19th century church, known as Greyfriars Hall, that is being beautifully restored and repurposed as a special event venue. In addition, the hotel will offer a rooftop sanctuary with unobstructed Edinburgh Castle views. 

Scott McArdle, General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, commented: “We have already started to see Virgin Hotels Edinburgh come to life over the last few months and Eve is going to add even more flavour to what we already offer.

“This vibrant and lively space will be at the heart of the city’s entertainment with fantastic food, unique cocktails and an array of performances – there really is something for everyone to enjoy.” 

All guests can sign up for the brand-wide guest preferences and loyalty program ‘The Know’, which grants a personalised hotel experience that allows for access to room upgrades, member rates, special events and a complimentary cocktail hour in Commons Club – all when booking directly with Virgin Hotels. 

All Chambers and Suites have integrated tech capabilities, which can control lighting, thermostats, TVs, and order room service directly via the mobile app, Lucy which is exclusively available to Know members.

Lucy also gives guests the ability to check in prior to arrival and can be used as an access key to their Chambers. Chambers are also pet friendly, with complimentary ‘pet-menities’ available, including dog beds and food and water dishes.  

The hotel has been developed and is owned by Flemyn and managed by Virgin Hotels. 

Reservations for the hotel are also open and can be made directly on the hotel’s website www.virginhotels.com/edinburgh.  

Follow along on social media: Instagram @Eveedinburgh, Facebook @Evevhedinburgh  

What is the UK’s favourite game show?

  • Countdown is the most popular UK game show with 996,000 annual searches 
  • The Chase comes in second place, with 840,000 searches per year 

The UK’s most popular game show gets almost one million searches each year, new research has revealed.  

The study, commissioned by gaming experts Mahjong Challenge analysed the average number of yearly Google searches for more than 60 game shows on UK TV to reveal the top 10. 

The most popular UK game show is ‘Countdown’ with more than 996,000 annual searches. The words and numbers quiz challenge was the first program to be aired on Channel Four back in 1982, and 40 years later holds the top spot in UK Google searches. 

ITV’s ‘The Chase’, presented by Bradley Walsh, is the second most popular game show with 840,000 searches per year – twice the average of the top ten game shows.

The show sees contestants battle against a professional quizzer in an effort to win a cash prize, with individuals walking away with as much as £75,000! 

‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ takes third place with 456,000 annual searches. The show, originally hosted by Chris Tarrant and later by Jeremy Clarkson, first aired in the UK in 1998 but has since aired in more than 120 countries in more than 80 languages, making it one of the most successful game shows on TV. As such, it is not surprising to see it in the top 10 most searched for UK game shows. 

With 360,000 searches per year, ‘Catchphrase’ sits in the fourth position. The show first aired in 1986 and is currently presented by Steven Mulhern. Contestants try to guess the correct catchphrase with the help of a photo or animation. 

The fifth most popular UK game show is ITV’s quiz program ‘Tenable’ hosted by Warwick Davis, where contestants try to find the top ten answers in a given category. Next is BBC’s ‘Mastermind’, which sees players answer challenging questions to collect the most points. In seventh place is ‘Blankety Blank’, a comedy game show where contestants try to match the answers of a celebrity panel guessing the missing word in a statement. All three game shows have more than 300,000 searches per year. 

Rank UK Game Show Monthly Search Volume Yearly Search Volume 
1 Countdown 83,000 996,000 
2 The Chase 70,000 840,000 
3 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 38,000 456,000 
4 Catchphrase 30,000 360,000 
5 Tenable 28,000 336,000 
6 Mastermind 26,000 312,000 
7 Blankety Blank 25,000 300,000 
8 Tipping Point 22,000 264,000 
9 Crystal Maze 21,000 252,000 
10 Question of Sport 21,000 252,000 

A spokesperson for Mahjong Challenge commented on the study: “Game shows have been a staple in many homes across the UK since the 1950s and some of the most successful game shows on TV originated here in Britain.

“It will be interesting to see how the popularity changes over the coming years though, since 75% of Countdown viewers are in the 55 plus age range, whereas The Chase has a wider target audience. 

“Game shows face more competition than ever before to capture the attention of younger audiences, since they are used to having access to endless entertainment at the touch of a button through services such as Netflix and Prime Video.” 

Haute Dolci opens its doors in Edinburgh this Friday 

Luxury restaurant chain Haute Dolci will be opening its doors to diners in Edinburgh on the 9th of September, creating 30 local jobs and introducing its famous dessert and brunch menu to its first-ever Scottish store.

The flagship store is located in the vibrant St James Quarter and will form part of the cosmopolitan landscape of the city, offering shoppers a chance to enjoy the best in decadent sweet treats and mouth-watering savoury dishes.

The grand opening will start at 7pm and will include a variety of entertainment throughout the day, so diners are urged to get there early to make the most of a DJ, magician and other exciting acts.

Daniel Gillett, the restaurant manager for Haute Dolci in Edinburgh, said: “We’re delighted to be able to open our first ever Scottish store, bringing Haute Dolci’s stylish and friendly atmosphere to the people of Edinburgh.  

“The team has worked incredibly hard to ensure we’re ready to welcome guests to the grand opening and we are so excited to see lots of faces over the course of the day!” 

The grand opening follows the famous key hunt, which offers lucky dessert-lovers access to loyalty club benefits and discounts. Clues are still being shared via the restaurant chain’s social media channels — Facebook and Instagram in the run-up to the opening.        

For more information on the Haute Dolci brand or to make a reservation at the new Edinburgh restaurant, please visit hautedolci.co.uk.   

Haute Dolci franchise opportunities are available across the UK; please contact Franchise@hauteworld.co.uk for more information.