Tag: food and drink

Cheers to 30 Years!

Scottish Bar and Pub Awards celebrate with public voting now OPEN!

Scotland’s longest-running hospitality awards turn 30 – and they want Edinburgh to have their say! The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards are back, celebrating three decades of raising a glass to the nation’s best boozers, hospitality heroes, top-notch gastropubs, and brilliant beer gardens.

Last year set the bar sky-high, with stand-out Edinburgh winners such as Montpeliers David and Ruth Wither who won the Lifetime Achievement Award, Teuchters Landing (Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering), Black Ivy (Best Outdoor Area) and Lochrin Rooftop Bar (Hotel Bar of the Year). Now, the search is on again and organisers are excited to hear who your favourites are for 2025!

It’s not just about the pubs – it’s also about the people behind the pints! From whisky wizards and rising stars to standout bar managers shaking up the scene, the awards shine a spotlight on the personalities powering Scotland’s licensed trade.

And with Schweppes on the hunt for a ‘Mixologist of the Year,’ it’s time to nominate those who stir, shake, and serve with serious flair.

If you’re interested in supporting your much-loved local venue, whether it’s for the lively atmosphere, exceptional food, or outstanding service, your vote can help highlight the pubs that make Scotland’s hospitality scene special. They have to be in it to win it, and your vote could make all the difference!

Voting is quick and easy at www.scottishbarandpubawards.com/awards, where you can back your favourites across multiple categories.

But don’t wait – voting closes on the 14th of June. Finalists will be revealed soon after with the judges then hitting the road for mystery visits across the country.

The winners will be crowned at a glittering Oscar themed ceremony in Glasgow on August 26th!

Event organiser, Susan Young, reflected on the milestone, saying: “Over the past 30 years, we’ve seen some incredible talent recognised at the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards and this year will be no different!

“Despite the challenges, hospitality remains one of Scotland’s most vibrant and rewarding industries. It’s a real privilege to shine a spotlight on the passionate people working hard behind the scenes in some of the country’s best-loved venues – that’s what these awards are all about! 

“I hope their customers make the effort to vote for pubs, bars, restaurants and staff that make hospitality special.”

The full list of categories includes Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year, Brugal 1888 Cocktail Bar of the Year, Caledonia Inns & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur, DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, Campari Bar Apprentice 2025, De Kuyper Award for Cocktail Excellence in Neighbourhood Venues, Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award, Favela Independent Multiple Operator of the Year, Fireball Best Late Night Venue, Hospitality Health Employer of the Year, HOSPO Manager of the Year, Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering, Jameson Best Irish Bar, Schweppes Mixologist of the Year, Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year, Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality, DRAM Best Beer Garden, Jump Ship Brewing Gastropub of the Year, New Bar of the Year and Sunday Mail Pub of the Year.

Deadline for Nominations  – 14th June 2024

For a full list of this years categories and to vote please go to:

 www.scottishbarandpubawards.com/awards/

Or vote by emailing:

entryspba@mediaworldltd.com and tell us your nominations and why they should win.

Follow us online:

https://www.facebook.com/scottish.bar.pub.awards/ https://www.instagram.com/scottishbarpubawards/

GIVEAWAY: Free Pret Sandwiches For Pic-NICs This Bank Holiday!

This May Bank Holiday weekend, Pret A Manger is making pic‘Nic’ prep easier than ever for customers whose name starts with ‘Nic’. 

300 lucky customers from across the country will be able to enjoy a freshly made sandwich on Pret for the pret-fect al fresco picnic.

So, if your name is Nick (or begins with ‘Nic’…), you can claim a free, delicious sandwich at select Pret shops across the UK over the bank holiday weekend. No need for the last-minute panic, Pret’s got Nic’s covered to fuel the feel-good vibes for your pic‘Nic’ this long weekend – all you need is your ID.

Here’s how it works:

  • Who can claim? Anyone with a ‘Nic’-name (Nick, Nicholas, Nicole, Nicola, Nicolette, Nico), can pop into one of the participating Pret shops (but hurry as limited to 50 on the day) and show their ID to claim their free sandwich at the tills.
  • What’s on offer? One free freshly made sandwich from the Pret menu for your park lunch.
  • How many? The first 50 ‘Nic’s’ at each location have the chance to enjoy a free sandwich
  • How do I redeem? Just pop into one of the participating shops on the specified day. Select a sandwich from one of the langars then head over to a team member at the tills and show them your ID to prove your ‘nick’ name before getting a free sandwich. The activity is limited to the first 50 ‘Nick’s on the selected day at participating Pret shops and is only redeemable for a sandwich (excludes baguettes, wraps or rye rolls)
  • When & where?
  • Manchester: 1 Portland Street, M1 1RG, (near Picadilly Gardens) Saturday 24th 
  • Glasgow: 268 Byres Rd, Glasgow G12 8SH (near Glasgow Botanic Gardens) Sunday 25th
  • Edinburgh: 135 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4BL, (near Princes Street Gardens) Monday 26th
  • London: 244 Great Portland Street, W1W 5QX, (near Regents Park) Monday 26th
  • London: 81 Piccadilly Street, W1J 8HY, (near Hyde Park & Green Park) Monday 26th
  • Liverpool: Unit 100, Kinsey Rd, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, Chester CH65 9JJ, (Near Stanney Woods Country Park) Monday 26th

So, if your name’s Nic (or Nicole, or Nico…), this one’s going straight in your picnic basket!

Burger King reopens restaurant with 1000 burger giveaway

It’s a great day for burger fans in Fort Kinnaird!

After much anticipation, Burger King® UK will officially re-open the doors to its newly designed restaurant in Fort Kinnaird, allowing hungry locals to indulge in BK classics such as the flame-grilled Whopper®, classic Chicken Royale® and juicy Bacon Double XL once again. 

 Burger King® UK is celebrating the reopening by giving away 1,000 FREE Whopper® or Chicken Royale burgers* to lucky customers for one day only – TODAY! (Tuesday 21 May).

The newly remodelled Kinnaird restaurant brings customer experience to a new level, with all-new in-restaurant innovations such as table service and a sensational menu that caters to all customers, whether they’re looking to start their day with a delicious breakfast butty and coffee for just £2.99 enjoy a family feast on delivery, or indulge in a late night snack. 

Burger King® UK has also confirmed its extended hours at the Kinnaird restaurant, which is now open from 8AM to 11PM.This means customers can make the most of Burger King® UK’s delicious menu from morning to late.

Austin, Restaurant Manager at Burger King® UK, said:“The team and I are thrilled to return and serve our customers in Kinnaird. We look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new guests to experience the renovated restaurant, and we’re confident they’ll have a fantastic time while enjoying our delicious meals.” 

The re-opening of Kinnaird is the perfect opportunity for Burger King® UK fans to make the most of the tasty deals and discounts available on the Burger King® app. Whether it’s the classic Whopper® or Chicken Royale, customers can make savings all year round!

Tiny Plates: Tuesdays at PCHP

How messy can you get? Pretty messy, in our experience! No problem, though. We fully believe in telling our little ones to “play with your food.” How else would they get the chance to explore flavours and textures and then decide what they want to eat?

Everything we prepare for you and your tiny people is colourful, delicious, and ultra-nutritious. We want you to explore food with your child, share ideas of what works for you, or learn new ways to offer new foods to your little ones. Most of all, we want you to have fun in a relaxed atmosphere with other mums and littles.

If you live in Granton, Pilton, Muirhouse, Drylaw, Royston or Wardieburn, and you’re a mum, grannie or auntie who is caring for your under 5, and you’d like to know more about healthy food, weaning or picky eating, then you can sign up here:

https://forms.office.com/e/X81msFBkPA

Tiny plates currently runs on Tuesdays from 1pm until 2.30pm

🍎🍐🌽🥕🥝🍅🫐🫑🥑🍠🍇🍉🍓

From pig crisis to pulled pork pioneers – Oink celebrates 25 years

A Scottish hog roast business famed for the freshly roasted pig visible from its three Edinburgh shop windows is celebrating a quarter century of roasting.

The prominent Oink shops celebrate just one product – the 14 hour slow-roasted pork, which available in three sizes of rolls, or in a box, with optional haggis stuffing, crackling, apple sauce or chilli sauce.

Founded by two Borders’ farming families off the back of the 1999 pig price crash, the brand, which has been copied around the world from China to Argentina, is targeting 2025 as being its record year, with an aim to surpass 250,000 rolls sold.

Adam Marshall, who co-founded Oink with Sandy Pate and farms land near Reston in Berwickshire, said: “When we started out, we weren’t trying to build an empire — we were just two farmers trying to stay afloat during a tough time for the pig industry.

“We built our own ovens, turned up at farmers markets, and hoped people would give it a try. To still be here 25 years later, serving hundreds of thousands of rolls a year, is something we’re really proud of.

“We’ve stuck to what we know, kept it simple, and done it our way. The fact people still queue up for it means a lot to us.”

The collaboration started when Adam Marshall and Sandy Pate founded Reiver Country Farm Foods and began selling produce from their farms and neighbours locally.

Then, inspired by what was believed to be the only hog roaster at the time, a business in York, the entrepreneurial pair brought a homemade roasting oven and started venturing up to Castle Terrace to take part in the first established Edinburgh Farmers Market.

Their piping hot pulled pork rolls proved an instant crowd-pleaser, attracting a growing band of hungry regulars, which paired with the demand from tourists, especially those from Asia and mainland Europe, then inspired the move to bricks and mortar in the Scottish capital.  

Oink owners Adam Marshall (Pink shirt) and Sandy Pate

Sandy Pate, who farms around 12 miles away from Adam in Longformacus, said: “We were just two mates with a passion for great meat and a desire to show city folk what Borders farming could deliver.

“We never imagined that a weekend stall would become something that would draw such loyal customers from near and around the world.

“At the end of the day, it’s about making people happy with something that tastes brilliant – and diversifying our farming businesses to ensure a viable and prosperous future for our families.”

The pair opened the doors to their first dedicated shop, Oink, in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town in 2008. Nestled on the cobbled Victoria Street, the shop quickly became a firm favourite among tourists, students, and workers alike.

A second opened on the Royal Mile in 2014, followed by a Hanover Street shop in 2018.

Oink has grown into a treasured part of the city’s food scene, dishing out thousands of hand-pulled rolls each week and building a fiercely loyal following. Its famous fans include Radio 1 DJ Greg James, comedian and foodie Ed Gamble, the Australian Rugby Team and Phil Rosenthal – who featured the Victoria Street shop on hit Netflix show “Somebody Feed Phil”. 

Though the original Reiver farm shop in Reston has closed its doors, it laid the foundations for everything that came after. Their commitment to quality and flavour has also powered a thriving outside catering business. The Oink mobile service caters weddings, corporate events, and private parties across Scotland, with pork roast options all prepped in their specialist unit.

Looking back, the founders, who both turn 65 this year and have no plans to slow down or retire, are proud that the business continues to be family-run and fiercely independent, with Adam and Sandy supported by their partners and families and a team of 30 employees.  

Oink owners Adam Marshall (Pink shirt) and Sandy Pate

Adam added: “Edinburgh’s food scene has changed a lot over the years — there’s more chains, more trends, and a lot of investment.

“We’ve just stuck to what we know: good pork, cooked slow, served simply.”

For more information about Oink, visit: https://www.oinkhogroast.co.uk/

Mega Margaritas hit Hard Rock Café Edinburgh for the heatwave

With a mini heatwave set to bring sunshine to the city this weekend, it’s the perfect time to enjoy some summer-style drinks and until 11th of May,

Hard Rock Café Edinburgh is turning up the heat, bringing the fiesta to the capital in true rock ‘n’ roll style with a limited-edition menu bursting with bold flavours and vibrant mega cocktails.

The go-to spot this weekend for laid-back drinks and great food.

On the drinks list:

Three Mega Margaritas, each served in a 36oz glass, perfect for sharing (or keeping all to oneself):

  • Baja California Blackberry: a juicy blend of Patrón Silver Tequila, triple sec, and blackberry syrup, finished with strawberries and a sugar rim.
  • Mexico City Mango: sweet with a spicy kick thanks to sambal chili, mango purée and Love-All Spice rim.
  • Cancún Orange Cadillac: a bold mix with Cointreau, orange juice and a Grand Marnier float.

All priced at £17.25.

On the menu:

  • Legendary Fajitas: flavour-packed grilled chicken and steak with charred corn, feta, pickled onions, guacamole, and house-made cilantro lime crema, served with warm tortillas.
  • Chips & Queso: loaded with seasoned ground beef and green onions, perfect for sharing. Optional upgrades: pico de gallo (£2.95) or guacamole (£4.95).

For more information and to view the menu, visit here.

flavoursDownload

Aldi offers virtual work experience to aspiring young people in Edinburgh

Young people in Edinburgh interested in exploring a career in retail can now sign up to Aldi’s virtual work experience programme.

Open to students in the UK aged 13 and over, the free online course is designed to build skills and introduce students to the wide range of careers available in retail – from warehouse operations to office-based roles.

Created in partnership with Springpod, the programme includes a series of videos and guidance from Aldi colleagues, alongside interactive quizzes and activities.

Upon completion, participants receive a certificate to enhance their CVs or future applications.

Lisa Murphy, Training and Development Director at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi, we understand that not everyone has access to in-person work experience. That’s why we’ve created a flexible virtual programme that allows participants to learn at their own pace, fitting around their schedules.

“This initiative not only provides young people with a real insight into what it’s like to work at Aldi but also makes it possible for them to experience this, no matter where they are in the UK.

“Since launching, we’ve already attracted more than 2,000 sign-ups and hope to inspire even more young people to explore careers in retail through this accessible and engaging platform.”

Aldi is also looking to recruit more than 500 new apprentices across the UK in 2025, with opportunities across stores and warehouse roles now live. 

Young people interested in signing up to the virtual work experience can visit:
https://www.aldirecruitment.co.uk/early-careers/apprenticeships.

North Edinburgh Community Festival: Talking Tatties!

THE TATTIE PROJECT

The festival has teamed up with R2 and Lauriston Farm to bring you food demonstrations and free HOT tatties n toppings and Leek & Tattie Soup.

Many organisations in North Edinburgh have planted potatoes at Lauriston Farm over the last month or two. These tatties wont be ready for our festival but we have been extremely lucky to have received a very kind donation of tatties from Potato House/Skea Organics and Denhead Farm.

Potato House

Denhead Farms Farmstand

At the festival we will have 5-6 food demonstrations from cooks in our local community showcasing diverse cultural recipes using the humble potato as the main ingredient.

MasterChef Sarah Rankin Cooks, will be putting our cooks through their paces pre festival so that they are ready to take on the day at the festival.

Scran Academy will be providing hot baked potatoes from Denhead Farm with toppings courtesy of Asda and Empty Kitchens Full Hearts SCIO will be handing out free Leek and Potato soup using the potatoes from The Potato House.

Potato House is the baby potato of Skea Organics, and grew out of a need to service smaller orders for gardeners, allotment growers, market gardeners and independent gardening and hardware stores.

They also supply eating potatoes to shops, box schemes and restaurants as well as to the general public. The Potato House website is dedicated to the gardeners and small passionate growers who are looking for high-quality seed potatoes with unique taste and specific characteristics.

So many thanks to Potato House, Denhead Farm, Sarah Rankin for the potatoes.

Recipes from the cooks will also be available to view on The Love of Potatoes website too. The Love Potatoes website is dedicated to chefs and passionate home cooks looking for fantastic potato recipes using high-quality potatoes.

Post festival, the cooks will host lunch clubs showcasing their recipes again in the lead up to the Harvest Festival at Lauriston Farm in September.

On the day, we are looking to hand out over 1500 tattie dishes!

Edinburgh Shopper Scoops over £700 for CHAS in Aldi Supermarket Sweep

Aldi Scotland’s much-loved Supermarket Sweep challenge recently returned to Edinburgh, and one lucky local winner has raised £726.77 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) while picking up the same amount in Aldi favourites for herself. 

Aldi’s popular Supermarket Sweep is inspired by the legendary gameshow and arrived at the Chesser store on 16 April 2025. Lucky shopper Amy Utzinger. who was chosen as the winner of a competition, took part in the five-minute trolley dash for CHAS.

As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Aldi Scotland matched the cash value of Amy’s haul, donating all proceeds to CHAS to help support over 500 babies, children and young people across Scotland with life-shortening conditions and their families. In 2025 every penny raised through the initiative will go directly to CHAS, with £10,000 pledged in support. 

Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Amy Utzinger, said: “What a fantastic experience! I’ve never had five minutes fly by so quickly.

“I had a strategy all planned out, but it flew right out of my head as soon as I started, and I just started grabbing things.

“The people at Aldi were so kind and helpful, and I was so pleased to help CHAS get more donations, they deserve every penny. Thanks so much to Aldi for a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

Iain McAndrew, CHAS Director of Income Generation and Engagement said: “This year CHAS has been supporting 51 families in the NHS Lothian area. Children and families can access a range of expert care depending on their needs, from palliative care, respite stays, family support as well as bereavement and spiritual care, helping families make the most of every precious moment together.

“Our work to keep the joy alive for children and families is made possible by the kindness and generosity of our volunteers, supporters and fundraisers, and partnerships with organisations like Aldi Scotland, without whom we could not deliver our vital services for children and families to ensure that no family in Scotland faces the death of their child alone.”

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland said: “Our annual Supermarket Sweep holds a special place in the Aldi calendar, and we’re so pleased to bring it back for another year. Congratulations to Amy who managed to raise a fantastic £726.77 for CHAS, while snapping up a whole load of Aldi favourites for herself.

“CHAS is an incredible organisation which does invaluable work for families in Scotland.  We are committed to raising as much money as possible so the charity can continue to provide vital hospice care to children with life-shortening conditions, and unwavering support to families during the most difficult moments imaginable.”

For more information about CHAS and how to support its work, visit:

https://www.chas.org.uk/