Following the announcement that the Bank of England has held the base rate at four per cent, Ben Thompson, deputy chief executive at Mortgage Advice Bureau commented: “It’s no surprise that the Bank of England has acted with caution, choosing to hold the base rate at four per cent. “This decision breaks the streak of quarterly rate cuts, and with the autumn Budget fast approaching and meaningful tax rises likely to be imminent, the Bank is clearly waiting for certainty on the

ESPC’s house-price report for August-October, which covers Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders, has revealed that Edinburgh properties were snapped up within 22 days during this period.   The residential suburb of Restalrig in the east of the capital saw the highest demand from buyers: 45 per cent of properties listed for sale in the area set a closing date.    The average selling price in the city rose 1.6 per cent, to £314,321.   Commenting on activity across all

Dunfermline-based, Italian restaurant, Casa Mia is a finalist in two categories of this year’s Scottish Italian Awards – best family-run business and best family-friendly restaurant. The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday 30 November, at the Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central hotel. Casa Mia, which opened its doors eight years ago, has just appointed a new head chef, who has more than 20 years’ experience.  Graziano Fragole is a childhood friend of chef/proprietor Fabio

Visitors to Newhailes House and Gardens in Musselburgh have the chance to win tickets and vouchers for a Christmas shopping fair at the SEC in Glasgow.   ‘Deck the Halls’, a new seasonal event taking place at the SEC from 28-30 November, is teaming up with the National Trust for Scotland, to host a festive gift hunt at Newhailes.   The gift hunt, which is being held on the weekend of 7-9 November gives visitors the chance to seek out hidden ‘golden’ envelopes containing ticke

Judging is underway for this year’s Business Excellence Awards run by the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce. The final nominations came in last week, with the winners to be announced at a gala dinner at the Macdonald Houstoun House Hotel, Uphall, on Friday 28 November. The awards showcase organisations that have achieved business excellence across all the categories. Joint headline sponsors for the 2025 awards are DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) West Lothian Regional Grou

Funding-solutions specialist, UMi, has announced a UK-wide roadshow, ‘FUEL’, to help businesses understand, prepare for and access the finance they need to fuel their growth or overcome cashflow hurdles. The first of the events will be held in Edinburgh, at Murrayfield Stadium, on 28 January.  The roadshows will bring together funders and experts to support local business leaders from different industries, commercial backgrounds and disciplines to help them identify what type

The dynamics between farming and forestry and some of the many challenges facing the rural economy will be explored at the launch of The UK Forest Market Report 2025 in Edinburgh on 18 November and in London, on 19 November. Published annually by  Tilhill Forestry  and  Goldcrest Land and Forestry Group , the report records forestry transactions and investment trends across the UK. Xander Mahony, head of forestry investment at Tilhill and Jon Lambert, partner at Goldcrest Lan

Effective Hospitality Management (EHM) has announced that it has been certified as a B Corporation (B Corp) company. The firm said that this underscores its longstanding commitment to building commercially resilient hospitality businesses while creating positive social and environmental impact. Kevin Keenan, EHM co-founder and director commented: “Hospitality should enhance places and people as well as profits. Achieving B Corp certification formalises that commitment. We’re

The owners of Pilgrim Bar, in Robertson’s Close, on the Cowgate, have announced plans to refurbish the bar next year, with around £20,000 earmarked for further improvements to the facilities. This follows a £20,000 upgrade which took place over the summer, including an investment in all live sports channels, as well as redecoration and new furniture. The owners also reported that the bar has experienced a 15 per cent growth in turnover over the past few years. A new manager,

Furniture retailer, Sterling Home is lighting up the festive season with a donation of Christmas decorations and furniture to children’s hospices and hospitals across Scotland. The family-owned business is giving back, with a donation of items including cushions, throws, garlands, table runners and other seasonal pieces to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland). These will be used to decorate and refresh rooms in children’s hospitals and hospices, creating comforting envi

Property firm Rettie is forecasting that Scottish house prices are set to rise by three per cent in 2025, with modestly improving economic conditions underpinning limited growth for the full year.   On a 12-month rolling basis, the average house price in Glasgow has continued to outpace Scotland’s main cities, growing by over five per cent to nearly £218,000.  Edinburgh and Dundee have both grown by one per cent. However, the average house price in Edinburgh (around £338,000)

Leith-based Barry Fish restaurant has been recognised in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland , just eight months after opening. The guide said: “Yet another terrific eatery in the foodie haven of Leith, this instantly likeable restaurant unsurprisingly offers a fabulous feast of fish. From whole sole to the signature sea-trout pastrami, the cooking is fuss-free and cleanly executed to show off the natural flavours of the ingredients.   “At lunch, share plates fro

Edinburgh property portal ESPC has revealed the capital’s top-performing rental postcodes for Q3, highlighting where buy-to-let investors are achieving the strongest returns. Using rental data from Citylets alongside ESPC’s latest house-price analysis, the report identifies the areas that delivered the most attractive yields between July and September. Five postcodes emerged as particularly strong performers for landlords and investors. The ever-desirable EH3 postcode, encomp

The inaugural Scottish Women’s Well-being Summit is taking place on Saturday 15 November, at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews.   More than 200 women are expected to gather for the event, which will feature speeches from special guests such as Kate Muir, women’s-health campaigner and documentary maker; Lee Donald who recently scaled the summit of Mount Everest; Dr Heather Currie MBE, gynaecologist and founder of Menopause Matters; and Dr Jo Salter, the UK’s first female figh

The Duck & Waffle is celebrating Thanksgiving, on Thursday 27 November, with a three-course feast full of seasonal flavours and classic favourites. The Thanksgiving menu features roasted turkey and a mushroom and camembert wellington, served with all the traditional trimmings, including cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy. Side dishes include marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, truffle mac and cheese, green-bean casserole, and more. The feast concludes with a show-stopping bou

As the Chancellor faces mounting pressure to address a fiscal shortfall ahead of the Budget, an economic analysis of previous wealth taxes by Rathbones, suggests that more than £100bn of wealth could shift overseas, or into less productive assets, if a wealth tax were imposed here. The wealth-and-asset-management firm also says that a wealth tax could cost the government £600m to set up, with ongoing compliance and administrative costs to taxpayers of £700m a year or more. It

Venture capital (VC) investment into Scotland’s start-up and scale-up businesses increased in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest KPMG Private Enterprise Venture Pulse report.  Scottish businesses raised £116.1m in the third quarter of 2025 – up more than 200 per cent from £36.2m in Q2.    A total of 23 investments were completed between July and September; the same number as Q2, signalling the sustained confidence of VC investors in supporting Scotland’s small

A quartet of businesses from across Edinburgh and Midlothian have emerged triumphant at the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2025. Oscha Slings, which makes baby carriers, picked up the Sustainable Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Scottish Enterprise. Graphic-design business, Studio Lutalica, was named Purpose-Led Business of the Year. Computer-games specialist, Glitchers took home the Innovation Business of the Year award and marketing consultancy, LOOP Agencies wo

Umbrella Vinyl, on Valleyfield Street, is bringing a ray of sunshine to the darker months with the launch of 'Sunshine Sundays'.   Starting on Sunday 2 November, the secondhand-vinyl shop will transform into an ‘uplifting, tropical escape’ on the first Sunday of every month, from 12-4pm, until spring 2026.  Laura Thomson, co-owner of Umbrella Vinyl, said: “The days are getting shorter and darker, so we wanted to offer people a bright, fun haven.  “On the first Sunday of the

Saltire Rare Malt has launched its first-ever ‘Christmas Special’ – a Tamnavulin 17-year-old single malt, limited to just 247 bottles. The malt was distilled on 8 February 2008 and bottled on 10 February 2025. It was chosen for its ‘rich winter character’ and depth of flavour.  Founded in Falkland in 2024, by lifelong friends Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie, Saltire Rare Malt is an independent bottler dedicated to exceptional single casks. After three decades of working togeth