Scottish producer, Angus Soft Fruits, has unveiled the ‘World’s Largest Strawberry Crown’ as it celebrates the arrival of the country’s finest strawberry, AVA Magnum®, onto our shelves.
Measuring 30 inches in diameter, 31 inches in height and weighing 8kg, the regal masterpiece used more than 400 AVA Magnum® strawberries and took more than 50 hours to craft.
As well as celebrating the Scottish strawberry season, it pays homage to the closing days of His Majesty’s inaugural Wimbledon, the ultimate occasion for a strawberry fit for a King.
AVA Magnum® reigns supreme in the world of strawberries with its perfect heart shape and ruby red colouration. Unrivalled in flavour, sweetness, and quality, the berry is exclusively grown by a group of growers in the north-east coast of Scotland.
The impressive structure has been created by food artist, Prudence Staite – known for her impressive collection of designs including an edible labyrinth, made out of 10kg of Belgian chocolate, to celebrate the launch of the Maze Runner films, a replica Angel of the North made out of chips, and a We Wish You a Merry Christmas playing chocolate vinyl.
The ‘World’s Largest Strawberry Crown’ was inspired by the St Edward’s Crown, which was used in this year’s Coronation. Replicating details of the crown, Prudence used AVA Magnum® berries to replicate the velvet cap and strawberry flowers for the Ermine band.
Jill Witheyman, Head of Marketing at Angus Soft Fruits, commented: “The AVA Magnum®, represents a true triumph in the world of strawberries, where flavour, sweetness, and quality converge to create an extraordinary sensory experience.
“It felt fitting for us to celebrate His Majesty’s Coronation year and inaugural Wimbledon, where the nation comes together to savour strawberries, with this incredible piece of art. The strawberries will now be skilfully transformed into strawberry jam and gifted to friends of AVA Berries®.”
Britain is a nation of strawberry fanatics with more than 87,000 tons of UK grown fruit sold every year across the country, reaching their peak during Wimbledon where organisers estimate around two million strawberries are eaten during the championships.
AVA Magnum® is part of Angus Soft Fruits’ AVA Berries® range. Exclusively grown by a select group of growers based across Perthshire, Fife and Angus, AVA Berries® harness the region’s unique microclimate and daylight hours to produce strawberries of unparalleled quality.
AVA Magnum® are bred to develop sugar slowly, which results in an exquisite sweetness. They are currently sold as premium lines in the UK’s top supermarkets including M&S Red Diamond, Aldi’s Specially Selected, Sainsburys’ Taste the Difference, ASDA’s Extra Special and in Costco as AVA Berries®.
The varieties of AVA Berries® have been carefully bred to prioritise flavour, appearance yield and sustainability. AVA Magnum® are grown in the ideal Scottish climate; these strawberries develop their sugars slowly resulting in an exquisite sweetness that captivate the taste buds.
The Scotch Whisky Experience has revealed three new immersive tour areas which will open to the public in mid-July.
Visitors will be transported to a peaceful Highland glen, leaving the bustle of Edinburgh’s vibrant Royal Mile behind them. Beautiful immersive technology creates a tranquil introduction to the elements and ingredients that shape the spirit.
This is “Origins”. Famous for our “four seasons in one day” visitors can discover the secret of how the landscape enriches the soft Scottish water and undulating barley fields turn from green to gold before the grains are harvested.
From the Origins we move to “The Art of Whisky Making”, where visitors will discover how single malt Scotch whisky is made. Mixing an enchanting kinetic sculpture with fascinating media, the distilling process can be seen from inside and out. The process is visualised in a way never seen before, embodying the art of whisky making.
The pure new spirit moves to “Maturation”. Seated inside the cask visitors will witness the charring, firing and filling, allowing for a unique and magical view of how the cask changes the character of the whisky as the years tick past.
The three new immersive areas form part of the full tour experience. Setting the scene for how single malt Scotch is produced, before discovering the whisky producing regions, the art of blending, and tasting a dram in one of the world’s largest Scotch whisky collections.
Susan Morrison, Chief Executive of The Scotch Whisky Experience, said “We are so excited to share the new experience with our visitors. This is the culmination of three year’s hard work by our passionate team.
“The immersive storytelling and brilliant technology within the tour will offer visitors a real insight into Scotch whisky.”
Following three years of careful planning, the new experiences have replaced the “barrel ride”. The Scotch Whisky Experience has combined technologies in an exciting new way, not yet seen at a visitor attraction in the UK.
The story of whisky production has been brought to life. It will entertain and enchant new generations of whisky lovers discovering whisky for the first time.
The July launch of the new tour at The Scotch Whisky Experience will ensure even more visitors learn about the extraordinary world of Scotland’s whisky heritage.
“The maturation process is highly complex but this portrays it perfectly.” – Richard Paterson, Master Blender, Whyte and Mackay
“There is nowhere you can see how whisky matures like this.” – Sandy Hyslop, Master Blender, Pernod Ricard
“This newest addition to Edinburgh’s tourist attractions continues our mission of showcasing Scotland’s national drink in a very contemporary, modern way.” – Malcolm Leask, Managing Director, International Beverage and Chairman of The Scotch Whisky Experience
Corstorphine restaurant Prahna Indian Grill has announced it will run a series of summer Union Canal Sunday afternoon tea cruises in Edinburgh and West Lothian following the success of two trial events.
The award-winning restaurant, which specialises in a range of Scottish-infused Indian dishes, piloted two canal outings on 28 May and 11 June when customers boarded a specially commissioned dining barge at the Leamington Liftbridge in Fountainbridge.
For the next two hours the guests were treated to a classic ‘Afternoon Chai’ which included barbecue chicken sliders, chocolate fudge cake and a glass of prosecco while travelling along the Union Canal to the Slateford Aqueduct and back.
The events, organised in partnership with the Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust, proved so popular that Prahna has today announced a series of further afternoon tea cruises throughout the summer.
Further outings departing from Edinburgh will now be held on 23 July and 13 August.
The restaurant has also announced it will also trial its first Sunday afternoon tea cruise sailing from Linlithgow on 16 July with further departures from the West Lothian town expected to follow.
Prahna co-founder Arun Ramanan said: “We had an amazing response to our first Union Canal Afternoon Chai cruises. We’re now delighted to announce we’ll be running further sailings from Edinburgh and also Linlithgow throughout the summer in partnership with the Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust.
“As well as showcasing our unique and incredible Asian food, these events offer local residents and tourists a unique experience which connects them with the beauty and heritage of the Union Canal, an amazing but often overlooked part of Scotland’s history.”
Prahna opened its doors for trading in 2020, just as the global pandemic hit the UK. Rather than pulling down the shutters, co-founder Arun Ramanan and his team reached out to the local community and delivered hundreds of free meals to mainly elderly people who were shut in their homes at the time.
He has kept his focus on the local community and is involved in a number of events and activities to support people in the west of Edinburgh area.
Earlier this year Prahna was named as Scotland’s leading establishment at the Scottish Asian Restaurant Awards.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Can chocolate be healthy?
The 7th of July marks World Chocolate Day and we are taking the opportunity to talk about one of the nation’s favourite snacks!
Many of us are fond of this creamy confectionary and there has been various health claims made over the years. In this #HealthyTip we look at chocolate and discuss how it can form part of a balanced and heart-healthy diet.
What is chocolate?
Chocolate is made with the cocoa bean which contains substances called polyphenols. These contain antioxidants that help protect against heart disease and lower cholesterol.
Cocoa beans are processed to make cocoa solids that are used in chocolate. Cocoa solids on their own contain no added sugar and contain some fibre making them heart healthy. However, most chocolate consumed contains lots of added sugar and fat which makes it not so heart healthy.
What chocolate is healthiest?
Dark chocolate is the best option as it contains more cocoa solids (which contain the heart-healthy stuff).
The higher the percentage of cocoa solids the better, so try choosing ones with 70% cocoa solids or more. Avoid milk and white chocolate as these are low in cocoa solids and high in fat and sugar.
Enjoy as part of a balanced diet
Chocolate can be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced diet and there is no need to feel guilty for eating it.
The key is to swap it for a healthier version (dark chocolate) and consume it in moderation as it is still high in saturated fat and calories which consumed in excess can lead to weight gain and contribute to high cholesterol and heart diseases.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is bringing the States to Scotland with its Fourth of July, American-themed celebration.
Hosted within the hotel’s dining and event space, Eve, and in its recently opened suntrap courtyard, guests will be able to celebrate Fourth of July in style with live music, city-themed cocktails and classic BBQ serves.
Running from 7:30pm till late, the free ticketed event is taking place on Tuesday, the 4th of July.
With a USA theme, guests can enjoy live entertainment from The Banjo Lounge giving hip-hop classics a bluegrass twist, providing the perfect soundtrack to get up and dance.
Paying homage to its American counterparts, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh guests can enjoy themed cocktails from each of the US Virgin Hotels.
From the Nashville Peach Julep cocktail to the Watermelon flavoured Miami Heat, Virgin Hotels will be bringing the taste of America to the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
No Fourth of July celebration is complete without the perfect menu, and Virgin Hotels’ acclaimed chefs will be serving up US staples; fried chicken wings, burgers, grilled corn on the cob, apple pie and the true American classic, smores.
The US-themed celebration will also see American-style pop-ups take over Eve, with a Corn Hole game, hot dog stand and a special VIP area complete with props, hats and all things red, white and blue, serving as the perfect backdrop for the ultimate Instagrammable moment.
David Moth, Virgin Hotels Vice President of Operations and Interim General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh said: “As an international brand, Virgin Hotels loves to treat its guests to experiences from around the world and this time we’re tying into our American roots with a traditional US Fourth of July celebration.
“From a line dancing worthy band to hot dogs and US themed cocktails, we’re ready to bring all things USA to Edinburgh and mix up our usual menu with a special limited time offering.
“With a glorious open-air courtyard, there’s really no better place to celebrate this summer occasion than at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, we’re just keeping our fingers crossed for that US sunshine!”
For more information and to book free tickets please visit:
Fourth of July is just one of many events taking place at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, including a host of seasonal activations and brand takeovers throughout the year.
To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s channels on social media here:
THOUSANDS OF NUT CHOCOLATE BARS SET TO BE SAMPLED ACROSS FIVE CITIES IN JUNE
Do you consider yourself to be a bit ‘nutty’? Are you nuts for nut chocolate? A new survey* by chocolate brand Ritter Sport, has revealed that the people in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester are some of the nuttiest, fun and nut chocolate-loving in the UK.
Now they are going to be rewarded with an epic and totally nuts giveaway, unlike anything seen on the streets of these cities before!
This June, thousands of free Ritter Sport nut chocolate bars are being given away in five truly nutty sampling events in each of the cities**. But beware, it’s not just the general public who will be looking to get their paws on the free nut chocolate: a scurry of giant, nut-loving red squirrels has heard just how nut-packed Ritter Sport Nut Chocolate is and will try anything to squirrel the chocolate away for themselves … read on to find out more.
Speaking about the survey results and the upcoming ‘Go Nuts for Nuts’ activity Josephine Skinner, Senior Brand Manager, Ritter Sport, says: “We’re delighted to discover that people living in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester are embracing their fun-loving, adventurous sides and what’s more, they love chocolate, including nut chocolate.
“So, what better way to celebrate and thank them than by sampling many thousands of bars of our moreish Ritter Sport nut chocolate in their cities during June! People are in for a real treat and, just like our chocolate, the activity is going to be totally nutty too – you won’t want to miss it!
“The Ritter Sport nut range includes Milk Whole Hazelnuts, Honey Salted Almonds, Dark Whole Hazelnuts, White Whole Hazelnuts and Cashew, packed full of the best nuts and covered in 100% certified sustainably sourced chocolate.”
Going nuts for nuts, funny habits… and chocolate body paint
Over half (56%) of the people surveyed in these cities who described themselves as “slightly nutty” said chocolate is one of their favourite things to eat and, when it comes to nut chocolate, far from being polarising, an impressive 37% stated that they regularly consume chocolate containing nuts!
People from these five cities also value having a good time. According to the study, 58% of respondents in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester “like to have fun” – this rises to 61% in London – while 40% consider themselves “fun-loving, with a crazy and adventurous spirit”.
Almost 3 in 5 (59%) who like to have fun said they regularly consume chocolate, and respondents who like to have fun are also more likely to enjoy trying new flavours of chocolate (53%). A further 33% overall said they would love to “run around a city in a giant chocolate treasure hunt” – wouldn’t that be fun!
Those who took part were also happy to divulge the unusual habits or behaviours that may have contributed to their being perceived as having “a crazy and adventurous spirit” and / or being “slightly nutty”.
Up to 44% admit to “not being able to stop laughing at something funny”, 35% say they have been heard “speaking to pets or imitating animal sounds during conversations”, while 31% have been known to “break into spontaneous dance or sing silly songs to entertain themselves or others”.
Nearly a quarter of all those who took part – 21% – admitted to having used chocolate as “edible body paint for a playful and indulgent experience”, while only slightly fewer people – 19% – said they’d like to “bathe in a bath full of chocolate”. However, people in Manchester (23%), Edinburgh (21%) and London (20%) are more likely than those in the other three cities to fancy a bath full of chocolate.
Overall, the research suggests that the residents of Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester are truly some of the nuttiest in the UK. They are fun-loving, adventurous, and enjoy trying new experiences and flavours, with a love of great-tasting nut chocolate made with high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients.
Dates revealed – but there’s a plot afoot….
The news of the thousands of free bars of nut chocolate being given away has caught the attention of the great British red squirrels, which now plotting to get their paws on the chocolate before the public does.
“Rumour has it that the squirrels are planning to congregate in these cities and track down our nut chocolate bars,” concludes Ms Skinner.
“It remains to be seen whether they will get their paws on them, but one thing is sure: the competition for these nutty treats is set to be fierce.”
Ritter Sport has assured the public that they will take all necessary precautions to protect their chocolate from the squirrels and ensure that everyone gets a chance to sample their delicious nut chocolate bars. So, nutty city residents, get ready for a fun and adventurous June filled with chocolate and a squirrel chase like no other!
ICE CREAM lovers attending the Royal Highland Show can get their hands on samples of some weird and wonderful ice cream flavours including Pink Panther; Kaffir Honey & Cereal; and Dragon fruit and Watermelon sorbet.
Following an intense development process working with consultant chefs, Mackie’s of Scotland is bringing 77 giant tubs filled with 26 new and exciting flavours to the Edinburgh event on 22 June to 25 June, range from fruity mash-ups to reimaginings of popular sweet treats.
The Scottish ice cream firm hopes to gauge public response – and will put the most popular flavours into its 19.2 parlour in Aberdeen. The feedback may even steer its next flavour launch to hit supermarket freezer aisles.
Mackie’s, which has a stand within the Scotland’s larder tent, hopes visitors will be adventurous with their scoop choices, with the weather set to remain warm and mostly sunny.
Angus Hayhow, Head of Marketing at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “We have been attending the Royal Highland Show for a decades now, so it’s great to be back once again.
“The team are constantly working on ways to diversify our products and bring innovation, and what better place to showcase them out than at Scotland’s biggest annual agricultural show. The visitors are always an enthusiastic audience at our stall!
“This year’s flavours are made to cater to a variety of tastes with some more traditional mango, strawberry and chocolate-based flavours to some more unusual creations, with a host of dairy and gluten free options as well.”
“We hope that this year’s flavours follow in the footsteps of our other playful ice cream launches and create a buzz to match the atmosphere of the weekend.”
Mackie’s, which is a family run business, has been producing ice cream since 1986, all of which is carefully crafted using milk and dairy from its Aberdeenshire farm.
The list of flavours available at the show include; Dragonfruit & Watermelon Sorbet, Kefir, Honey & Cereals, Quark Cherry Cheesecake, Orange & Mascarpone, Jaffa Cake, Blackcurrant & Liquorice, Lotus Biscoff, chocolate rum truffle, After Eight and Mackie’s twist.
The Royal Highland Show sees over 1000 yearly trade exhibitors to the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, displaying the best of farming, livestock, machinery and technical innovation across Scotland.
Rizza’s of Huntly is proud to announce its victory in the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition for the second year in a row, earning them the opportunity to showcase their latest creation, Scottish Tablet Ice Cream, in Scotmid stores across Edinburgh.
As one of the five Scottish businesses chosen to win the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition, Rizza’s exemplifies Scotmid’s commitment to supporting local producers and promoting Scottish sourcing. Rizza’s prides itself on using Scottish ingredients whenever possible, bolstering the Scottish supply chain. The tablet used in their ice cream is sourced from Aldomak, a Glasgow-based supplier and fellow Scotmid partner.
Aldomak, a family business with 80 years of expertise, crafts their ‘Totally Tempting Tablet’ in small batches using traditional family recipes dating back to the 1900s. The collaboration between Rizza’s and Aldomak share a dedication to quality and authenticity.
Donald Morrison, Director at Rizza’s, said:“Winning last year’s competition allowed us to sell our ice cream throughout Scotland reaching new customers who hadn’t heard of us before – we even had some get in touch afterwards asking when we would be in store again!
“We are obviously delighted that we have secured a second listing, this time for our Scottish Tablet Ice Cream. We look forward to hearing what Scotmid customers think of it!”
Jessica van Tromp, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, praised the winners, saying: “Our competition celebrates local Scottish producers, and we are always impressed by the quality of products available in our country.
“Rizza’s Scottish Tablet Ice Cream is an exceptional product that we think will excite customers across the country. We can’t wait to see it in Scotmid stores!”
The other Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition winners from this year are:
We hae meat: Chippy-style battered sausage and battered black pudding
The Royal Highland Show is gearing up for the 2023 event taking place this week from Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th June at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
The country’s largest agricultural event returns for a four-day celebration of the very best in food, farming and rural life. Visitors can expect to get nose-to-nose with prize animals, taste an astounding array of artisan food & drink and experience Scotland’s rural life at its most vibrant.
What’s new this year
The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championships is an exciting addition to the show schedule for this year. Competitors from 30 countries from around the world including New Zealand, South Africa and Chile will battle it out on the stage to claim the championship – this thrilling display of skill is a must-watch on the Saturday and Sunday of the Show.
The Royal Highland Show will also see the culmination of the popular ‘Flock to the Show’ campaign, which saw 38 hand-painted fibreglass sheep travel around Scotland over the last couple of months.
Come and find our flock at the Show, starting at the Macklin Motors stand in the Lifestyle Area, and travel around the Showground to see if you can find all the Flock and the clues attached to them. Enter the competition once you know the winning phrase and you could be in with a chance of winning a year’s supply of Taylor’s Crisps.
The colourful Flock will be auctioned off in September this year to raise funds for the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland’s (RHASS) Bicentennial Fund. The bidding process will be launched at this year’s Royal Highland Show, so make sure if you want to purchase one of the Flock you keep a look out for more information.
Register your interest in an individual flock member here:
The new Agri Innovation Arena, located within the Agricultural Zone, will showcase some of the newest and most innovative products and machinery close up, with live demos and industry talks from leaders across all sectors of the agricultural industry.
We have brand-new poles for this year’s Pole Climbing Championships. These have been donated in kind by Kirkennan Estate, Palnackie which is managed by Scottish Woodlands. In May this year, these 90ft poles were transported from Dumfries & Galloway to our Forestry Arena by Cadzow Heavy Haulage Ltd. Make sure you check out our new poles in action at this year’s Show.
Fantastic food & drink
The Royal Highland Show is a haven for food lovers – from the tasty delights of Scotland’s Larder food area to the huge range of takeaway options throughout the showground, visitors are spoiled for choice.
Scotland’s Larder will be brimming with delicious food and drinks. Some are brand new to the market in Scotland, while others, like Glenkinchie, are global brands. Take the chance to meet the producers and hear first-hand from them why they love their products as much as we do. Don’t forget to check out The Bothy situated in the centre of Scotland’s Larder, with all produce supplied by Mimi’s Bakehouse.
The Show’s Food Charter ensures that only locally produced and ethically sourced food is served at the Show – from delicious venison burgers and tasty fish and chips to a bowl of Scottish strawberries bursting with flavour.
The Food for Thought theatre also offers an interesting schedule of events to attend, including chef demonstrations from names including ‘The Kilted Chef’ Craig Wilson, MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, award-winning development chef Paul Terris, and head chef of The Crown Hotel in Peebles, Kirsty Elliot. Celebrating how Scottish food & drink has been enjoyed over the last 200 years is a key theme this year, alongside how science has helped develop and progress this industry.
If learning speciality techniques is more your thing, then don’t miss out on Innis & Gunn’s Masterclass with Master Brewer & Founder, Dougal Sharp, and masterclasses in all things meat and butchery from the experts at Quality Meat Scotland.
Innis & Gunn remains the Show’s official brewery partner and principal beer supplier and official sponsor of the Royal Highland Hoolie. This year you can hear from some of the Innis & Gunn team themselves in their beer and brewing masterclass in the Food for Thought Theatre.
This year the Royal Highland Show has launched its own special ‘Golden Shears’ lager with Caledonian Brewing. This will be available in bars across the Showground.
Lovely livestock and competitions
Of course, the stars of the Show are the animals, and there will be over 5,000 of the finest animals competing over the four days. Sheep, cattle, goats, horses – there’s so much to see!
From the adorable Shetland Pony to the majestic Clydesdale, there is so much to delight equine lovers. The showjumping Grand Prix is always a spectacle, as are the exciting Pony Club Games, as well as the incredible sight of the harness, grooming & decoration classes.
The Show offers a unique chance to see top-quality livestock up close, including the iconic Highland Cattle and ‘the world’s cutest sheep’, the Valais Blacknose. Over 5,000 animals will be competing – including 1,044 cattle, 2,089 sheep, 2,087 horses & ponies, and 140 goats.
This year at the Royal Highland Show, 57 Horse of the Year Qualifiers will take place, offering a variety of opportunities to qualify for the prestigious event held in Birmingham.
Alongside the livestock and equine classes, there are numerous other competitions to witness. New for this year, the Scottish Dairy Championships display will be situated in the Food for Thought Theatre.
Step inside the Handcraft Marquee and witness some of Scotland’s finest handcrafts with this year’s competition theme being ‘Rainbow’. The Honey Marquee, located in the Countryside Area is not to be missed, as well as hosting a range of honey and bee related competitions.
Entertainment for the whole family
There is truly something for everyone at the Royal Highland Show. Away from the animal stalls and food tent, there’s plenty to catch your attention – from the thrilling heights of the Pole Climbing Championships, Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations, Axe Throwing and fingernail-biting mountain bike skills in the Forestry Arena.
To the more relaxed Countryside Area, where kids can try out circus skills, take Annie the Alpaca for a walk, get their face painted, learn some traditional woodcraft and wildlife tracking skills and let off steam on the play equipment.
The Agri Innovation Arena is a new addition for 2023 and is designed as a platform for showcasing the innovative machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture. Visitors will see the very latest tech on display and in action – a must for machinery enthusiasts!
Meanwhile, qualifiers for Britain’s Fittest Farmer competition will be taking place on the Sunday of the Show in the Agri Innovation Arena. Launched by Farmers Weekly in 2018, it is a fun way of sparking a vital discussion about the physical and mental health of the nation’s farmers.
Prepare for off-road fun with the Land Rover Experience Scotland, with an adventurous driving experience at the Show. Strap in and be ready for a bumpy ride as expert drivers demonstrate to you just what these fantastic vehicles are capable of.
One of the many hubs for kids at the Show is the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Discovery Centre, where kids can learn all about the production of food, explore the life of the soil, plant some seeds, bake some scones and even milk Mable, the fibreglass cow all in an interactive and fun environment.
If you can’t visit the Show this year, then luckily the Show can still come to you through the RHS TV, available to watch on the Royal Highland Show website all four days of the Show – with a special Golden Shears channel on Saturday and Sunday. With cameras streaming videos live from the showground, you can tune in wherever you are in the world to join in the action and experience a taste of the Show.
Visitors are also encouraged to make use of the Royal Highland Show App to make the most of their day out – through it, you can view the Show programme, competition schedules and access a handy interactive map of the showground. New for this year, you can search for your favourite trade stand using the search bar in the app, explore the entire Showground at the click of a button, and don’t forget to check out RHS merchandise in the online store as well.
Music & fashion
The Royal Highland Hoolie, hosted in partnership with Farmer’s Bash, is an exciting addition to evening entertainment this year.
Taking place on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the Show, it will showcase some of Scotland and Ireland’s best homegrown music talent.
Skippinish, Derek Ryan, Skerryvore and Lisa McHugh feature in the line-up for what is shaping up to be a fantastic couple of nights. Tickets to the Royal Highland Hoolie are still available and can be purchased on the day or in addition to your Show ticket.
Tickets for the Royal Highland Hoolie can only be purchased by those already attending the Royal Highland Show and have purchased a ticket for Friday 23 or Saturday 24th June. The Hoolie is only for those aged 12 and over, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult over 21.
Fashion lovers are in for a treat with a fashion show by British Wool taking place this year. It will showcase the best of British wool across a wide range of brands including Harris Tweed and Lochcarron of Scotland. There will also be exclusive discounts at the Show across a range of British wool brands.
Across the four days of the Show, we will have a fantastic line-up of traditional ceilidh bands, pipe bands and choirs, including Ian Muir Ceilidh Band who is a frequent visitor to RHS and guest on BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor as well as Pipe Bands from West Lothian, Perth & Kinross and South Queensferry and the wonderful Farmers Choir. Head over to the West Stage where you can hear all of this and more from some of Scotland’s best jazz, folk-rock and bagpipes.
Getting there
A comprehensive travel plan is in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Royal Highland Show as efficiently as possible.
Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. You can travel by Edinburgh Trams all the way from Leith, through the City Centre to Ingliston Park and Ride where a shuttle bus will take you straight to the Showground.
Travelling by bus, Lothian Buses will have the 97 and 98 services running from Central Edinburgh direct to the Showground. It is best to book your ticket in advance, services for the bus and tram start at 6am.
If visitors do want to take the car, booking your parking tickets in advance is required – there will be no parking tickets available on the day.
The Royal Highland Show is the flagship fundraising event for organisers the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
RHASS Head of Show, David Tennant, commented: “More than just a fantastic day out, the Royal Highland Show offers an invaluable insight into the story of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life.
“There is truly something for everyone, whether you are interested in animals, machinery, food, or music – and you’re always sure to discover something that you’ve never seen before.
“With Friday and Saturday tickets selling out last year and the very last few remaining for this year’s event, we’d recommend purchasing soon if you haven’t already to avoid last-minute disappointment!
Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 22-25 June 2023.
Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online, with no tickets available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number and it is advised to purchase early – especially with the new addition of the Royal Highland Hoolie music event on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th this year.
Friday and Saturday tickets for the Royal Highland Show have now sold out following huge demand for the event taking place later this week at Ingliston (22-25 June).
