Heritage Portfolio, part of Sodexo Live! has announced the extension of its partnership with The Signet Library, for a further 12 years. The partnership has been in place for more than 25 years to date. The new contract includes investment from Heritage Portfolio to enhance the historic building. The upgrades include the installation of a new lift, which will provide step-free access to the building's Upper Library event space for the first time. Work will begin in spring 202

Cold Town Beer has released a limited-edition craft ale – the ‘Barrel Aged Imperial Stout’, which is aged in Speyside whisky casks. Fewer than 1000 cans are available, online and through independent Scottish retailers, up till 19 December, while stocks last.  Ian Kennedy, head of production said: “Only a small number of dedicated beer lovers will get the chance to taste this one-of-a-kind release this Christmas. “We’re incredibly proud of what it represents, as part of our on

Chef, Roberta Hall McCarron and Shaun McCarron, of Ardfern, The Little Chartroom and Eleanore restaurants have launched Ardfern Provisions, a product range of sauces and pantry staples. Inspired by the flavours and home comforts of Ardfern restaurant, the range has begun this month, with two sauces:  nori hot sauce and brown sauce, in 240ml bottles, priced at £7.50 per bottle. Paired with oysters across the restaurants and used in the Ardfern Bloody Mary, the nori hot sauce c

New research from Business Gateway has revealed that 55 per cent of Scottish smes anticipate growth in their business over the next year. The findings came from the second annual Business Baseline survey, which gathered responses from over 500 smes, entrepreneurs and business owners across Scotland. The objective of the survey is to gain insight into the opportunities and challenges faced by Scottish businesses, as well as the types of support they may require. Two new questi

Planning consent has been granted by the City of Edinburgh Council, to transform a sandstone office building on the edge of the New Town into a 102-bedroom hotel. Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate is now set to progress with the redevelopment of Albany House, located at 58 Albany Street on the corner of Broughton Street, with completion scheduled for summer 2027. Artisan has agreed terms with Whitbread plc to operate the completed hotel under its hub by Premier Inn

Chef Stuart Ralston’s Michelin-starred Lyla restaurant, on Royal Terrace, is becoming a restaurant with rooms.  The Georgian townhouse will have four rooms available, from February 2026. The décor of the rooms will feature neutral tones, velvet and marble. A private dining room for up to 12 guests is also opening, in late April, on the first floor. A solid oak table will be the centrepiece and the building’s original fireplace is to be reinstated. Guests staying at Lyla will

Sponsored Are you looking to find a new home in 2026? Paul Hilton, ESPC chief executive, shares his predictions for some of the most popular places to buy a home in the new year, in Edinburgh and beyond: If you’re planning a fresh start in 2026, you might be thinking about moving to a new area. But with so many neighbourhoods to choose from, finding the perfect place to put down roots can feel overwhelming. Based on ESPC’s latest data and research, we’ve identified the locat

The Data-Driven Innovation Programme, a strategic partnership led by the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, has won the Collaborative Initiative of the Year award at the Institute of Economic Development (iED) Annual Awards 2025. The awards celebrate achievers in the public and private sector, across individual, team and organisational categories. This year saw a record-breaking number of entries, with almost 60 submissions received for seven award categories

The cream of local businesses has been recognised at the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards 2025. More than 150 guests attended the ceremony, where Capital Service Solutions Group won the ‘best business of the year’ award. The firm delivers services across Scotland and England from its West Lothian HQ, where it employs more than 170 local staff supporting clients in health care, life sciences, education, hospitality and manufacturing. Congratulating

A new survey has revealed that only 25 per cent of Edinburgh residents mark Scotland’s national day.   It also found that at a national level, just one in four (26 per cent) Scots say they celebrate St Andrew’s Day, which takes place on 30 November.   According to the research, commissioned by Aldi Scotland, almost four in 10 Scots are unable to identify the date, with some mixing it up with Burns Night, in January.   Women are more likely than men to know the date (64 per ce

The Duck & Waffle Edinburgh is inviting guests to leave the ordinary behind, this festive season, and to step into the 'Chamber of Magic' – a world where wonder, mischief and wizardry collide. Guests can expect to see a cosy fireplace framed by glittering trees and a flurry of letters spilling upwards, with a watchful owl perched among them; a dreamy ‘sky’ of drifting clouds and twinkling stars above the grand-hall-inspired dining room; and lush garlands wrapping the banquett

Canopy Kitchen & Courtyard, part of The University of Edinburgh, is joining forces with Simpsons Special Care Babies (SSCB) to mark the charity’s 40th anniversary, with a ‘Tree of Light’ installation, honouring families supported by the neonatal unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The installation will be housed at Canopy Kitchen & Courtyard, the café/restaurant located in the university’s Futures Institute, at the former site of Edinburgh’s Old Royal Infirmary. It will

Sponsored AI is driving major improvements across health care – and that includes hearing aids. This could be very welcome news for many people: over half of the UK population aged 55 and over suffers from hearing loss, according to the RNID.   To find out more about how AI can enhance hearing, we had a chat with Stephen Fairfield, audiologist and founder of Edinburgh’s Fairfield Hearing, which provides a range of support for hearing loss.   The firm’s services include ‘at-ho

This festive season, Somewhere by Nico is offering a new, five-course, cocktail ‘experience’ that blends nostalgia, storytelling and inventive mixology. Available until 31 December, ‘Now that’s what I call Christmas cocktails’ invites guests to relive the warmth, wonder and joy of a childhood Christmas.  Each of the five courses has been crafted to evoke a distinct festive moment – from decorating the tree to leaving out treats for Santa.  Annie Gaddis, head of social & conte

New research from St. James’s Place (SJP) has revealed that saving with other people is one of the strongest motivators for building better financial habits, particularly among younger generations. According to the study, nearly half (47 per cent) of UK adults find it easier to save when working towards a shared goal with a partner or family member. This rises to 64 per cent (9.7 million people) for 18–34-year-olds. Nearly nine in 10 (87 per cent) savers working towards a spe

Leith-based, independent whisky business, Tailored Spirits has launched the latest four releases, in its ‘Experimental Series’.   The firm specialises in Scotch whisky and premium spirits, working with private clients and businesses worldwide to source, mature, design and bottle luxury whiskies and other spirits.  The Experimental Series invites whisky drinkers to explore the diverse flavours of Scotland’s most characterful distilleries through limited-edition micro-releases,

In a poll of 100 UK charity board directors, finance directors, investment managers and investment directors looking after £3.7bn in investments, wealth-management group, Rathbones, found that 87 per cent of charities are being negatively impacted by probate delays. More than one in 10 reported being very badly affected.   Over half (57 per cent) of respondents said delays have meant that they have sold vital assets, such as property, to fill the financial gap. Around half (5

Japanese restaurant, Umi, on Shandwick Place is hosting a sake-pairing dinner, on 4 December at 6.30pm, inviting guests to experience an evening dedicated to the craft and flavour of Japanese sake. Guided by Miss Masayo Nuttall of World Sake Imports, sake aficionados will explore a range of premium sakes, along with a seasonal, six-course menu created by Umi’s culinary team. The dinner will include dishes such as miso-glazed black cod, and a yuzu dessert, with candied kumquat

As Christmas approaches, Christmas fair, Deck the Halls, is inviting Edinburgh residents to share their most cherished festive memories, to be showcased on special ‘memories trees’ at the SEC in Glasgow this month. The memories trees will showcase cherished Christmas memories from across Scotland. Visitors can explore the displays and reflect on past festive traditions while making new memories at the show, which runs from 28-30 November. Memories already submitted for the tr

Thermapply, a specialist in engineered anti-slip surface systems, has successfully completed the first phase of a major project to enhance both safety and aesthetics at Scottish Gas Murrayfield stadium, the home of Scottish Rugby. The project saw the installation of the firm’s patented anti-slip, stadium-stairs system, Thermagrip, across multiple key areas of the stadium, including the royal box, player access routes and spectator steps, ahead of Scotland’s opening match in t