Tag: Ingliston

Royal Highland Show to display over 800 exhibitors

The Royal Highland Show, running from June 20th – 23rd 2024, promises to offer an unforgettable experience with a wide array of trade stands featuring everything from artisanal crafts to cooking demonstrations and agricultural machinery. With over 800 exhibitors spread across the 110 acre site, it is set to surprise and delight show-goers with this year’s theme being ‘acres of epicness’.

For the foodies: 

Stuffed full of food and drink, the show offers boundless opportunities to sample Scotland’s finest produce. There are also cookery demos on offer in the Food for Thought Cookery Theatre, with some of the country’s top chefs including Head Chef at The Globe Inn, Fraser Cameron, FutureChef Winner, Phoebe Lawson, and Head Chef at Benugo, Emma Clark-Szabo, to name a few. There will also be a huge choice of food vendors serving everything from haggis neeps and tatties to freshly prepared fish and chips and from lobster rolls to Greek gyros. 

With Scottish staples such as Mrs Tilly’s, Mackies of Scotland, Innis and Gunn and Highland Park, there are options for those with a sweet tooth or looking for a tipple to tide them over. The world-renowned Johnnie Walker whisky will have a pop-up bar showcasing their vintage truck, ensuring the taste of Scotland’s quintessential whisky is shared with visitors. There will also be a Taproom Bar from Innis & Gunn.  

For the shopaholic: 

For the avid shoppers, a vast range of retail opportunities await, spread across numerous shopping villages, offering clothing, shoes, crafts, gifts, pet supplies, art, toys and a range of premium shopping outlets which can be found at the Countryside Village. Event attendees also might be surprised to find the Renewable Village, offering a variety of sustainable products and services including wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, biomass companies and more.  

This year the Home and Gift Hall has had a layout revamp and now includes the Scottish Handcrafts Championships. There will be a number of notable clothing retailers available such as Beaumont & Bear, Elm of Burford and Lanx Shoes. Hoggs of Fife, known for its hand welted country footwear, will also be offering a 20% discount on all items for RHASS members.  

For music lovers: 

For those wearing their dancing shoes, the West Stage line-up is not to be missed. Performances to suit all music tastes from folk rock and swing to reggae and opera will take place in addition to daily ceilidh sessions.  

Additionally, tickets are available to purchase for the Royal Highland Hoolie presented with Farmer’s Bash which is back with eight live folk and country music acts performing on the evenings of Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June. From viral sensation Nathan Evans, Scottish folk pioneers Tide Lines and the eclectic sounds of the Peatbog Faeries, the diverse range of sounds offers a little bit of something for everyone. 

For families:

Experience a world of fun and creativity at the Royal Highland Show, where kids go free! Explore and discover activities linked to food, farming and the working countryside under one roof at the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Discovery Centre. Circa Alba’s exciting mix of movement and circus skills, including juggling, parkour, capoeira, along with professional face painting and Annie the alpaca and her family from the Alpacas Trekking Centre, will let little imaginations soar. Dive into abstract art where kids can engage in animal-themed arts and crafts, creating personalised keepsakes to take home.  

For the farmers: 

The Royal Highland show offers farmers the chance to see some of the best livestock and machinery available up close and personal! As well as the latest labour, time and money-saving gadgets being on display at the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards.

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC) will also be present throughout the show, with visitors encouraged to stop by and experience what it means to be part of Scotland’s largest rural youth movement.

David Tennant, Head of Royal Highland Show, said: “This year’s Royal Highland Show is bigger and better than ever and it’s all thanks to the wide variety of exhibitors. The diverse array of trade stands is a true celebration of everything Scotland has to offer in agricultural heritage, artisan crafts and rural communities.

“We are on track for a sold-out show, so if you’d like to experience a mix of entertainment, sample Scotland’s wonderful larder and see the very best in livestock, from the traditional to the unexpected, it’s worth purchasing your tickets now. It’s not to be missed!”  

Explore a wide variety of products and services at the Royal Highland Show. Mark your calendars for June 20-23, with limited tickets available please visit https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/ to book your spot. 

Programmes for the show can be purchased from the Official Royal Highland Show Merchandise Shop opposite the Main Ring clock tower or from roving sellers throughout the site.

Please drink responsibly – UK Chief Medical Officers recommend men do not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily and women, 2-3 units daily.

For more information please visit www.Drinkaware.co.uk

TONIGHT: Hit Wrestling Show Set for Comic Con Crossover

BBC Stars Grado and Lee Greig will be part of the action 

Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), Scotland’s premier wrestling promotion, is set to rock the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh at Comic Con Scotland on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October.

Fans attending this year’s Comic Con Scotland can enjoy free wrestling throughout the weekend at the convention. The ring will be set up next to the panel stage and features the best wrestlers in the country battling it out between Q&A panels with A-list stars Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, and more.  

Joining the action-packed lineup are two renowned BBC stars – Grado and Lee Greig. Grado, known for his role as Police Constable Hugh McKirdy in BBC Scotland sitcom Scot Squad, is a household name in Scottish entertainment.

Lee Greig (also known as Jack Jester), fresh from his appearance in BBC Scotland comedy “The Scotts,” brings his unique brand of mayhem to the ring.

At night, fans can attend a separate, ticketed ICW event in the same building: ICW Fight Club. This special event is tailored for wrestling fans of all ages, and is a perfect opportunity for families to bond over the thrills and spills of Scottish wrestling in a wrestling-only setting. 

Tickets for the Saturday night ICW Fight Club event are available in two formats – Family of 4 Tickets and Single Seats. Importantly, Comic Con Scotland tickets are not required for entry, making it convenient for wrestling enthusiasts to attend this show separately.

Don’t miss this historic weekend of family-friendly wrestling entertainment. You never know who might turn up!

Date: October 7th, 2023

Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM, with the event running from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Location: Royal Highland Centre, Royal Highland Centre Ingliston, EH28 8NB.

City Council and West Town Edinburgh Ltd agree joint approach for the sustainable expansion of Edinburgh

Proposals for a new £2 billion, sustainable ‘20-minute neighbourhood’ on 205-acre West Town site ‘set to transform Scotland’s Capital’

West Town Edinburgh Ltd, the development consortium which owns more than 200 acres of prime development land to the west of Edinburgh, has agreed a joint approach with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver a major new ’20-minute neighbourhood’ for the city. 

Both parties have agreed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ which sets out how they will work closely together to prepare a delivery strategy for the sustainable expansion of Edinburgh at the West Town site. 

The agreement was announced by Cammy Day, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council and Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum Property Group, developers of West Town, at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREIIF) in Leeds

The 205-acre West Town site – located between Ingliston Park and Ride and the Gogar Roundabout at the western gateway of Edinburgh – is one of the most strategically important development areas in Scotland.

The £2 billion project presents the opportunity to help meet the housing needs of the nation’s capital whilst delivering a significant sustainable urban expansion for the city.  

The area is identified in the City of Edinburgh Council’s City Plan 2030 as having the potential to become a vibrant, high-density city extension with a capacity for 7,000 homes, along with the commercial and community facilities required for a 20-minute neighbourhood.

The proposals for West Town also align with the ambitions of the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4, which was approved in February 2023. The Edinburgh Tram route runs directly through the site, and a new station will be created to ensure the whole development has access to quick and efficient public transport.

Subject to the development of a delivery strategy as set out by the joint Memorandum of Understanding, as well as the approval of City Plan 2030 and in accordance with all relevant Council policies and the appropriate planning consents, it is hoped that work will start on site next year with the first phase of homes and community amenity being ready for occupation from early 2026. 

Welcoming the agreement, City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh is quickly becoming a trailblazer for the type of affordable, sustainable homes our residents need and this overlooked land at West Town could pave the way for thousands more. 

“We are leading the way as a city to harness new technologies to make developments greener and fairer – building low and zero carbon homes which are energy and cost efficient – so I’m looking forward to working with West Town Edinburgh to build on our net zero ambitions. 

“Wherever you are in Edinburgh and wherever you choose to go, everyone should feel connected to all of the amenities they need to live well locally, so I’m pleased to see their vision for a 20-minute neighbourhood approach.

“As a Council we’ve been modernising planning and procurement policies so that we can maximise the amount of affordable and social housing and community benefits each new development brings. 

“Currently, over 150 households bid for every council and housing association home that becomes available, so we must set our sights on this development unlocking a huge amount social housing. With demand for affordable homes higher than ever before, this is what our city desperately needs.”

Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum, added: “This agreement is a major step forward in realising the ambition we share with the Council for the area and for the city, further strengthening the long-term collaborative process that is set to deliver a positive and high-quality  transformation of the west of Edinburgh. 

“The amount of space on the site combined with its superb location allows for a natural extension for the city providing 7000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a new 20-minute neighbourhood.

“West Town has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland – the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway to Edinburgh. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to advance our shared vision to create a new, sustainable urban quarter for the city.”

Drum Property Group is currently delivering a variety of transformative mixed-use projects across Scotland, including the award-winning Buchanan Wharf and Candleriggs Square developments in Glasgow. 

For more information on West Town, visit www.west-town-edinburgh.com

Royal Highland Show launches tickets for 2023 as gates close on barnstorming return to Ingliston

Tickets to the 2023 Royal Highland Show are now on sale as the gates close on this year’s barnstorming event, which welcomed 194,000 people over the four days (23-26 June). 

And with over 200,000 viewers of live online content on RHS TV, the reach of the Royal Highland Show has never been greater. 

Celebrating 200 years of showcasing the best of the country’s food, farming and rural life, high-profile figures attending included First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack, and Minister for Environment and Land Reform Màiri McAllan. 

40,000 children attended for free in line with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) charitable remit. 

A limited number of Super Early Bird tickets for the 2023 Royal Highland Show (22nd – 25th June) will be released today via the Show’s website (royalhighlandshow.org) priced at £27.50 (plus booking fee) with children 15 and under going FREE. 

Commenting on the success of the 2022 Royal Highland Show, Bill Gray, RHASS Chairman, said: “It has been phenomenal to finally celebrate the return of the Royal Highland Show, and the attendance figures this year prove that the public felt the same way. What we offer is a totally unique day out, which everyone, no matter their walk of life, can enjoy to the fullest. 

“The success of this very special bicentenary Highland Show is a testament to the hard work of the hundreds of staff and RHASS Directors who work tirelessly to put on this incredible event – one that’s loved equally by the farming community and urban audiences.” 

Highlights for this year’s show included 305 trophies, collectively valued at over £4 million, awarded to the 919 cattle, 1913 sheep, 1911 horses and 123 goats competing  

Furthermore, respected industry accolades were awarded to agri-tech pioneers in the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards. Pollock Farm Equipment and Penderfeed Livestock Equipment won Gold awards this year. 

The Scottish Championships saw food and drink producers recognised for outstanding produce across competitions in Dairy, Honey, and Bread categories – Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour and Strathearn Cheese Co were amongst the winners. 

Plans were also unveiled to name an equestrian ring in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee year. The ‘Jubilee Ring’ is home to equestrian events in the showground, including show jumping.  The ring will be formally unveiled at the 2023 Royal Highland Show. As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative and in partnership with Scottish Woodlands, native and ornamental trees will be planted around the Jubilee Ring. 

The show also demonstrated innovation with the launch of the RHS App, all the action being livestreamed through the Show’s online channel, RHS TV, and live and on-demand broadcasts through Facebook – the live/on-demand content has been viewed over 200,000 times in total from 82 countries. The content is available to view on demand via the RHS website. 

Every year at the Show, one of the eight member regions of RHASS is showcased – this year it was the turn of the Highlands Presidential Team to celebrate their area. With the theme ‘Scotland’s Natural Capital – Highlands and Islands’, a specially created exhibition focused on tourism, culture, food & drink, renewable energy and tackling climate change in the region. A large section of the Scotland’s Larder food hall was also dedicated to producers from the Highlands and Islands. 

The Royal Highland Show, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, took place 23 -26th June 2022. 

For further information and to watch the action back via RHS TV please visit www.royalhighlandshow.org. 

Aldi Scotland returns to the Royal Highland Show with more Scottish suppliers than ever before

Aldi Scotland is returning to the Royal Highland Show with its biggest presence ever as it continues to bolster its support of local Scottish suppliers.  

After a two-year hiatus, this year’s Royal Highland Show will celebrate its 200th anniversary, returning to Ingliston to showcase the best of Scotland’s food, farming, and rural life.  

To mark the occasion, Aldi Scotland will showcase 22 of its popular suppliers from all over the country, giving visitors the chance to try a range of Scotland’s best quality products; from Angus Soft Fruits’ delicious Scottish berries (above) to a variety of Robertson’s Fine Foods’ Specially Selected Sausages. A selection of Brownings the Bakers’ most-loved meat and vegetable pies and baked goods will also be on offer.

Visitors to the Aldi Scotland marquee can also try locally produced Scottish Buffalo Mozzarella following the retailer’s recent deal with Fife-based The Buffalo Farm.

Made from the milk of grass-fed water buffalo, which are selected from the best herds across Europe, The Buffalo Farm’s Mozzarella is sumptuously creamy, full of flavour, and has a wonderfully soft texture.  

The popular budget retailer, which was named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket in 2021 by Which?, is renowned for its relationship with Scottish suppliers and championing of local produce. Aldi Scotland currently works with over 90 local suppliers, stocking 450 Scottish products, and is constantly on the lookout to bring more of Scotland’s vibrant food and drink industry to its 102 Scottish stores.  

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “The Royal Highland Show is a huge event in the Aldi Scotland calendar, and one that we have really missed over the past couple of years. Everyone is looking forward to returning this year and celebrating the very best produce that Scotland has to offer.  

“At Aldi Scotland, we are incredibly proud of the strong relationships we have developed with our Scottish suppliers over the years which allow us to consistently provide exceptionally high-quality products at everyday low prices.  

“I am so pleased to be welcoming back visitors to our stand this year and am grateful to our suppliers who allow us to showcase the very best of Scotland’s larder.”  

This year’s Royal Highland Show runs from Thursday 23rd June until Sunday 26th June at Ingliston, Edinburgh.

The Royal Highland Show returns

Scotland’s biggest and best display of food, farming & rural life celebrates 200 years

The Royal Highland Show is set to return this year, with the first full Show since 2019 taking place at Ingliston from Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th June. 

2022 is a significant milestone in the Royal Highland Show’s history. With celebrations planned to mark the 200th anniversary since the very first Show was held way back in 1822, this year Scotland’s biggest and best outdoor event is truly back with a bang! 

The four-day event provides a unique opportunity for visitors to get up close to prize livestock, taste an amazing array of premium food & drink, and experience rural life at its most vibrant.  

With a big wheel, newly redesigned food & drink hall, Scotland’s Larder, a bustling Countryside Area, tons of activities for the kids, huge exhibits of machinery, exciting displays of farriery & forestry and shopping opportunities aplenty – there’s something for everyone! 

Changes for 2022 

In a change for this year, all tickets, including car parking, must be booked in advance with no tickets available on the gate. As always, kids aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult (free tickets must also be booked in advance). 

This is to allow the effective management of numbers on each day, ensuring the safety of visitors and staff.  The benefit of purchasing in advance will ensure visitors can secure their spot for their preferred day as it is expected that the Show will sell out due to pent-up demand. 

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit royalhighlandshow.org. 

What’s new in the competition rings  

The sights and sounds of the bustling show rings will be a welcome experience for competitors and visitors alike this year – with many having not witnessed them for three years. 

This year, two new sheep classes for Valais Blacknose and Dutch Spotted will feature – widely acknowledged as one of the cutest sheep in the world, the Valais Blacknose are famed for their curly coats and spiralling horns. 

Two new equestrian classes will also make an appearance – Maxi Cob of the Year Championship and Mountain & Moorland Junior 122cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year. This is in addition to a number of classes being upgraded to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifier status, which will add an extra element of excitement to the show rings! 

To celebrate the Show’s bicentenary, a range of special commemorative rosettes, prize cards, sashes and medals will be awarded this year – including medals with gold finishing, a change from the usual bronze version awarded in other years. The magnificent Fletcher McDiarmid Trophy, an incredibly ornate and historic award, will also return this year to be presented to the Overall Beef Champion.  

Entertainment like never before 

2022 will see an exciting addition to the Showground – a big wheel be taking centre stage for visitors to marvel at the view of the Show from above! The ‘Ingliston Eye’ as it’s being called will be located in the Lifestyle Village and offer a bird’s eye view of all the action.  

And as if the Royal Highland Show wasn’t enough to entertain – The Big Top is coming to Ingliston and visitors this year will have the chance to extend their stay to attend an evening concert. 

The concerts will take place outwith the main showground on the west side, well away from all areas where livestock and horses are stabled, penned or stalled.  

Of course, there will also be the usual entertainment offerings across the Royal Highland Show itself – expect everything from pipe bands and ceilidhs to choirs and pop music! 

RHS TV & app 

The Royal Highland Show will take to the small screen to livestream this year’s 200th anniversary event across the globe.  

In what has been described as a ‘game changer’ for the Royal Highland Show, organisers have successfully secured £200,000 of funding from the Scottish Government to drive this ground-breaking initiative. 

The free-to-view RHS TV will see a dynamic mix of live and pre-recorded content broadcast throughout the four days, featuring the perfect balance of livestock judging, equestrian classes, culture, interviews, food & drink and of course, the grand parade. 

Not only beamed across the globe, RHS TV will also be transmitted across the showground on giant screens throughout the four days. The content captured will be available to watch back on the Royal Highland Show YouTube channel. 

In another move taking the Show experience digital, this year will also see the launch of the Royal Highland Show app, which will enhance the experience for showgoers – more details on this will be revealed in the run up to the event. 

These innovative additions to the Royal Highland Show ensure that not only Show exhibitors and competitors, but Scotland at large is put on the map as the Show experience is broadcast to an international audience. 

Showcasing Scotland’s food & drink 

This year sees some exciting developments for food and drink at the Show.  

The food hall experience has been completely re-designed – ‘Scotland’s Larder’ as it’s now known, will offer an unrivalled showcase for the very best produce from Scotland and around the UK.  

There is a focus on Scottish produce of course, with over 75% of exhibitors in Scotland’s Larder based in Scotland. 

Tying in with the Highland & Islands Presidential Team initiative, there will be a Bothy placed in the centre of the hall. This will house a café hosted by the team at Mimi’s Bakehouse, serving delicious cakes and coffees. 

This new area has been designed to completely enhance the food and drink experience at the Show, with congestion eased and more opportunities to stop and savour the variety of tastes on offer. 

And with the Scottish Championships taking place, expect to see lovely loaves, beautiful butter, and heavenly honey on display, with well-known names and artisanal producers alike competing for the most prestigious produce awards in Scotland. 

Winners of the 2021 Scottish Championships for Dairy, Bread and Honey products will be celebrated at the Show in the Champions Corner, providing a lunch menu using Championship ingredients. Winners from this year’s Scottish Championships will also be announced and celebrated! 

Brand-new Kids Zone 

Another exciting new feature for 2022 is the introduction of a dedicated Kids Zone in the Countryside Area. 

This interactive experience is sure to delight kids and parents alike and will feature activities like a nature trail, featuring outdoor play equipment and John Deere mini tractors! 

Children will be able to take part in activities and find out more about the history of the Royal Highland Show in a fun, interactive way.  

This is in addition to the ever-popular Discovery Centre, run by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and designed to help curious young minds learn more about the countryside and where their food comes from! 

To help celebrate the 200th show this year, RHET is producing the ‘Great Big A-Z of Food and Farming’ story. 

A page a day will be released throughout June, with the whole digital book being released on the 26th of June. This story will cover a wide range of topics in a user-friendly way and be linked to various activities to get involved with. 

RHET will also be offering digital engagement via its Showtime Discovery Trail. The trail will take young visitors around several points on the showground to learn more about food and farming. 

The RHET Discovery Centre will also host a grand finale for the charity’s ‘Year of Beef’ project, creating several interactive experiences for families and school pupils around beef farming. 

Getting there 

As usual, there is a comprehensive travel plan in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Show as efficiently as possible.  

Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. Travel by tram or get dropped off right at the gates by the bus. 

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! 

Be sure to visit the Royal Highland Show website to view the full public transport travel plan. 

RHASS Chairman Bill Gray commented: “To be able to celebrate the 200th anniversary of that first Show is really special – not just for us as directors, staff and members of the Society but also for the wider communities that have missed the opportunity to get out and about and meet one other.  

“The absolute highlight of this year’s Show will be the chance to show off our new pavilion to our members and guests. It is a wonderful building and fitting to be at the heart of our showground at Ingliston. Let’s meet there, celebrate and be proud to be a part of this wonderful event.” 

Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 23-26 June 2022. 

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit royalhighlandshow.org. 

Lothian Buses announce new links to Vaccination Centre at Ingliston

Lothian Buses has today (Friday 19 February) announced its intention to introduce new daily transport links to the NHS Lothian Vaccination Centre located at the west of the city at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.

From Sunday (21 February), Skylink services 200, 300 and 400 will be rerouted to provide vital links direct to the Royal Highland Centre from across Edinburgh and will assist thousands of individuals as they make the essential and important journey to the Vaccination Centre located within the grounds.

Services will stop at the Ingliston Road stop every day between approximately 07:45 hours and 21:00 hours.

The company has launched a dedicated Vaccination Centre journey planning webpage where locals can find information on how to travel to NHS Lothian Vaccination Centres across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Nigel Serafini, Interim Managing Director at Lothian Buses, said: “We are delighted to be able to support NHS Lothian with the rollout of the Covid-19 Vaccination programme by making it easier for residents across Edinburgh and the Lothians to travel to their appointments, as well as offering vital public transport links for those keyworkers and volunteers helping within the centre.

“Our teams have worked hard over the last 12 months to ensure our buses are clean, safe and accessible for those that require to make essential journeys.”

Lothian also recently announced that Lothian Country’s Service 275 will be rerouted to serve the Vaccination Centre at Pyramid’s Business Park, West Lothian, providing vital links across the region for locals attending vaccination appointments.

Information on services operating to Edinburgh Airport via Royal Highland Centre is outlined below:

  • Skylink 200 – Ocean Terminal <> Airport via Newhaven, Granton, Muirhouse, Drylaw, Blackhall and Clermiston.
  • Skylink 300 – Surgeons’ Hall <> Airport via Tollcross, Shandon, Slateford, Sighthill and Gyle Centre.
  • Skylink 400 – Fort Kinnaird <> Airport via Niddrie, Royal Infirmary, Gilmerton, Fairmilehead, Oxgangs, Clovenstone, Sighthill and Gyle Centre.

UK Government to support Scottish rural businesses at this year’s Royal Highland Show

The UK Government will show its support for Scotland’s agriculture, food and farming sectors when it takes part in the 2019 Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh later this week. Continue reading UK Government to support Scottish rural businesses at this year’s Royal Highland Show